What Kind of a Leader Are You?
As a business owner, you must lead your team. Individuals lead all successful businesses with good leadership skills. A good leader will direct both the business and its workers into a glorious path. How do you lead your team?
What kind of a leader are you?
There are 3 different styles of leadership based on the level of your authority. These leadership styles refer to your leadership behavior towards your team. Did you know your leadership style reflects your personality, philosophy, experiences, and values as an individual?
Let’s look at these 3 leadership styles in management and learn their advantages and disadvantages.
Autocratic Leadership
An autocratic leader is the type of leader who makes all the decisions without asking the people’s opinion he leads. An autocratic leader is always in control of his subordinates and decision-making. This leadership style establishes an authority that will make people obey your requests and orders at a snap of your fingers.
- Advantages of Autocratic Leadership
- Decisions are made quickly for orderly operations.
- The leader will be in control in challenging situations. They are suited for crisis management.
- Good for managing the inexperienced and incompetent individuals in the team.
- Disadvantages of Autocratic Leadership
- The low motivation of the team. It’s hard to stay motivated if only the leader makes all the decisions.
- Little room for developing the creativity and potential of the individuals under their team.
- People tend to be defensive. They will always look for ways to avoid responsibility.
Democratic Leadership
A democratic leader involves the team in the decision-making process. The leader asks for their thoughts and opinions before making a final decision. The leader carefully considers the suggestions given by the team.
- Advantages of Democratic Leadership
- It motivates the whole team to do better.
- Each individual’s ideas in the team are used in the decision-making process.
- The people being led will feel more committed to their work, and they will not fret about participating even in managerial tasks.
- Disadvantages of Democratic Leadership
- Quick decisions are not feasible. It is time-consuming to ask for everyone’s ideas.
- There are instances that decisions made are meant just to please everyone.
- Participation of the team members might be used for manipulation to suit personal benefits.
Free-rein Leadership
If a Democratic Leader involves their team in the decision-making process, Free-rein leaders direct the tasks or the entire problem to its members. They [members] will be asked to develop a plan, goal, and resolution to a particular issue. The leader acts as a passive observer and does not lead the team in the proper direction. The leader only gives a helping hand when being required. There is no control over the group.
- Advantages of Free-rein Leadership
- Working alone may be motivational for some individuals.
- It encourages suggestions, innovations, and creativity among the group.
- Great opportunities for self-expression.
- Disadvantages of Free-rein Leadership
- Some things will suffer due to a lack of coordination.
- Lack of control will lead to disruption.
- Individuals may go on their ways of doing things which will later become chaotic and confusing.
Have you identified yourself in these leadership styles? Knowing these styles is a big plus to you as a leader, as you know the dos and don’ts. The best thing we can do is be flexible and know when to step in or let others step up. Good leadership takes the whole team and the business into the path of success.
