When leading a team or an organization just like former DaVita's executive CEO, Kent Thiry, a great leader, it's important to choose a style that suits the needs of the people on the team. There are several styles to choose from: Situational, Transactional, and Transformational leadership. This article will look at the differences between these styles and how each can benefit your team and your organization.
Laissez-faire as a leadership method involves letting things do what they need to and not interfering too much. In short, it involves leaving employees to make their own decisions and giving them autonomy, which many people find more motivating than rewards and recognition. This approach is often more effective in the workplace than the traditional command-and-control style.
However, the lack of structure and support by laissez-faire leadership can negatively impact morale. Because employees often do not feel a sense of personal involvement from their leader, they may feel frustrated and unappreciated. In addition, this approach can create an atmosphere where employees try to pass responsibility back and forth.
While there is no single "right" or "wrong" style, there are differences between situational leadership and other leadership styles. Situational leaders can adapt to the needs of their teams and adjust their leadership styles accordingly. This style requires patience and active listening skills. They also need to know how to move from commanding to a supporting role when a situation requires it.
A situational leader understands the importance of charisma at specific times. They know when to turn their charisma on or off to gain buy-in and cooperation. These leaders also have a strong sense of self-confidence, which makes them a great catalyst for change.
A transactional style of leadership focuses on achieving results and rewards for performance. Leaders using this style must be specific about the goals and performance expectations and clear about the consequences of not meeting these goals. Typically, they will use one-on-one meetings and performance reviews to achieve these goals.
This style is ideal for situations where quick decisions and rules are necessary for an organization. It can also help deal with situations where people are panicked and uncertain. Unfortunately, transactional leaders are often seen in the sales industry and multinational companies. They are not well suited to a creative environment.
Transactional leadership is considered a lower form of leadership used to lead middle-level employees. The goal of this style is to inspire followers to perform well and contribute to the organization's mission. While this style is not considered a 'high' leadership style, it is still necessary to carry out an organization's mission. However, inspiring people to contribute to an organization can be difficult if the leaders cannot communicate their vision.
Transformational leadership styles focus on the development of employees. They foster high performance and high productivity in an organization. They also encourage employees to maintain a work-life balance, which reduces the risk of burnout. A leader who uses this style is also likely to seek feedback from team members, who can provide valuable insights.
Transformative leadership is often characterized by charisma and enthusiasm. It inspires team members to grow and take on new challenges. Ultimately, this type of leadership helps employees feel appreciated, which makes them more likely to stay with a company. In addition, employees who feel valued will be more committed to their work and be more engaged in the organization's overall mission.
Transformative leaders strive for organizational change by inspiring followers to achieve the organization's vision. While transactional leaders seek to satisfy individual needs, transformational leaders try to convince people to sacrifice self-interest for the sake of the organization. Transformative leaders reward followers for meeting expectations, inspire followers to achieve their goals and motivate them to strive for greater achievement.
Autocratic leadership is a strong style of leadership in which the leader exercises complete control over their team and the situation at hand. This style is best suited for situations where the stakes are high and one voice is necessary to reach a consensus. However, it can be intimidating and difficult to maintain at times.
While autocratic leadership can be effective in certain situations, it can also be damaging in the long run. It can lead to low employee morale and attrition. However, the positive side of this leadership style is that it allows for fast decision-making and total control of operations. It is ideal for crises where employees need to make quick decisions and can be more effective than other leadership styles in times of great change.
