What are leadership styles?
Leadership Styles
leader's typical way of behaving towards group members is termed as leadership style. It refers to the behaviour exhibited by a leader during supervision of employees. The style represents the leader's predominant way of acting with his group. Although, the style varies with leader, organizational researchers have listed the following three basis styles:
1. Autocratic style: The autocratic leader assumes full responsibility for deciding on the group's project by assigning tasks to members and permitting no participation in decision-making process. He centralizes authority and decision-making in himself and exercise complete and full- fledged control over his subordinates. He sets group goals and structures the work. He gives orders and the subordinated are expected to obey them. Communication tends to be one way i.e. downward.
An advantage of autocratic leadership is that the decisions are very speedy. It is most suited at the time of crisis or when the subordinates are inefficient.
2. Democratic style: Democratic style is widely known as participative or employee-oriented leadership The essence. of this style is the consultation, the leader consults the subordinates. Before arriving at decisions, participative leadership styles take into consideration the wishes and suggestions of the subordinates as well as the leader. All members qf the group are seen as important contribution to the final decision. The communication is two ways i.e. upward as well as downward
Some of the major advantages of democratic style of leadership are explained as follows:
- Increased member's moral and support for the final decision and better decisions through shared information.
- Ideas among group members participating in decision-making can lead to improve manager/ worker relations.
- High satisfaction and decreased dependence on the leader
- Multi directional communication permits fruitful exchange of ideas and information between the leader and the led and helps in encouraging member commitment to the decision.
3. Free rein style: Free rein style of leadership is also known as Laissez faire style. It goes a step further of democratic style and turn an entire problem or project over subordinates. Subordinates are asked to set their own goals and develop plans for achieving them. Thus, in this type of leadership style, a manager avoids power and relinquishes leadership position. The leader is a silent spectator. In essence, this approach is characterized by the absence of any active leadership in the group. It is the total abdication of responsibility. The leader merely functions as a group member, providing only as much advice and direction as requested. There is very little control or influence over group members of the leader.
