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5 Leadership types and their qualities: Which one are you?

If you want an organization to function effectively, invest in an employee. But if you want the organization to grow, invest in a leader. Leaders are individuals who guide an organization like how a captain sails the ship.

As defined by theory, there are 5 types of leadership styles followed by leaders. No one glove fits all, and it is the prime responsibility of the leader to ensure the leadership style chosen aligns with the vision of the organization, and at the same time resonates with the employee’s goals. 

Here are 5 leadership styles that have been practiced widely.

  1. Participative Leadership
  2. Transformational Leadership
  3. Delegative Leadership
  4. Authoritarian Leadership
  5. Transactional Leadership

Different leaders follow different leadership styles, and below is a deeper explanation of the traits, pros, and cons associated with these styles. Identify which one you are and let us know in the comments section below.

1. Participative Leadership

leadership types
A picture depicting participative leadership

As the name suggests, it is a democracy-based leadership style. All the team members are involved in the decision-making process. It makes the employees feel included, motivated and engaged as they make critical decisions. Although the final decisions rest with the leader, the majority wins. Sometimes, if there are any disagreements within the team, taking a final decision can prolong.

Participative Leadership Traits: Curious, excellent communication & listening skills, broad-minded, encouraging, collaborative, and receptive.

Leaders who practiced this leadership style: Bill Gates, Indra Nooyi, and Donald Trump.

Pros and Cons of Participative Leadership

ProsCons
Motivation and productivity IncreasesTime-consuming
Improves job satisfactionPossibility of communication failure
Encourages employee creativityLack of security due to multiple people involved
Instigates teamwork and ownership

2. Transformational Leadership

leadership types
A picture depicting transformational leadership

This leadership type has four elements commonly referred to as the four I’s:

  • Idealized Influence
  • Intellectual Stimulation
  • Individual Consideration
  • Inspirational Motivation

In this style, the leader encourages the employees to attain a certain goal and in the process empowers them to become a leader themselves. Here, the leader acts as a role model from whom the employees can draw inspiration.

Transformational Leadership Traits: Simplicity, team-first attitude, communicative, risk tolerance, visionary, charismatic, and active listener.

Leaders who practiced this leadership style: were Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos.

Pros and Cons of Transformational Leadership

ProsCons
Communicating new ideasCan be deceptive
Ideal for collaborationConstant guidance & motivation required
Increased innovation and creativityLack of focus on short-term needs
Establishing trust

3. Delegative Leadership

Picture depicting Delegative leadership
Picture depicting Delegative leadership

This leadership style focuses on delegating initiatives to team members. Also known as laissez-faire leadership, this can be successful if employees are engaging, responsible, and competent. And based on research by leadershipandperformance.com.au, this was the least productive leadership style. 

Delegative Leadership Traits: Freedom in decision making, high trust level, access to multiple resources, and responsibility.

Leaders who practiced this leadership style: Warren Buffet, Herbert Hoover, Queen Victoria, and Paul Allen.

Pros and Cons of Delegative Leadership

ProsCons
Promote Creativity and Innovation Difficulty in adapting
Positive work environment is createdThe extent of command is not well-defined
Encourages competence and experience

4. Authoritarian Leadership

A picture showing authoritarian leadership
A picture showing authoritarian leadership

It is mostly like a one-person show where the leader makes all the critical decisions and the employees follow them. This leadership type can only be implemented if the leaders possess the required knowledge and skills and can be very effective in time-constrained situations. Also, it helps when employees need clear direction and guidelines about the work process.

Authoritarian Leadership Traits: Strong decision-making abilities,  decisive leadership, and efficient crisis management.

Leaders who practiced this leadership style: Adolf Hitler, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, Benito Mussolini, and Richard Nixon.

Pros and Cons of Authoritarian Leadership

ProsCons
Time saving on critical decisionsMore pressure on the leader
Creates consistent resultsCan instigate employees to rebel
Mistakes on plan implementation can be reducedLack of feedback
Higher level of clarityPossibility of higher churn rate
Boost in productivityEliminates innovation and creativity

And here we come with the last and final type of leader, and that is:

5. Transactional Leadership

A picture depicting transactional leadership
A picture depicting transactional leadership

As the name suggests, this type of leadership works on a transactional basis. You will be rewarded or levied a penalty based on task completion. It is up to the leader to set clear objectives and get them done, and offer a reward for the same. It is more of a give-and-take leadership style.

Transactional Leadership Traits: Left-brained, revel in efficiency, opposed to change, inflexible, and rule-oriented.

Leaders who practiced this leadership style: Howard Schultz, Joseph McCarthy, and Charles de Gaulle.

Pros and Cons of Transactional Leadership

ProsCons
Measurable time-bound goals are setLack of innovation and creativity
Productivity and employee motivation increaseEmpathy is not given importance
Minimizes confusionMore followers are created rather than leaders

Why choosing a leadership style is important?

Knowing the leadership style gives you clarity on how to deal with your team and organization. There will be clear defined roles and responsibilities that you would carry out while pursuing this leadership style. And more importantly, it plays a major role in self-progress and that of your team.

Concluding Thoughts

Now that you know the different leadership styles, which one would you implement as a leader? Which type of leader is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.

Also, if you are planning to take up critical roles in your organization, it is essential to follow a scientific and strategic approach to help the organization grow. And that is what is bundled into the 3-month Future Leaders Program, delivered by NUS Business School, in association with Great Learning. It is specifically designed for professionals transitioning into leadership roles.

Neil Dcruz
Neil is a content wizard who enjoys his passion turned into a profession lifestyle. He loves to talk, listen and travel. During his free time, you could either find him in the gym or with his pet dachshund watching movies, series, and documentaries. Football, cars, and music move his soul. Psychology and paranormal activities excite him. Calm, composed, and energetic are his traits.

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