Effective leaders use a range of four to six styles of leadership depending on the circumstances. Four styles promote performance and the others require caution. The main four styles are visionary, coaching and mentoring, affiliated, and consensus/democratic.
The visionary style is the first. This is a very positive style, with a strong emphasis on future direction and moving people toward shared dreams. This is a great way to build cohesion and trust among groups by setting clear goals and directions. It is group-focused and requires superior communication skills.
The second is coaching and mentoring. This positive style ties the individual’s goal to the company’s. It is person-centered and used to build long term performance capabilities. Because it is dependent on each individual, it requires excellent communication skills and persuasive skills.
The third is affiliative. This is often considered to be typical leadership behavior. It’s more persuasive than the natural world and creates an environment that encourages people to connect and work together towards common goals. It is a highly motivating process which has an immediate effect on the outcome.
The fourth style of consensus building is democratic. This is a very positive approach that considers all stakeholders. It encourages involvement from all the stakeholders to achieve commitment. It’s very effective at getting consensus and cohesion.
These four styles can be used more often by an effective leader for example Arif Bhalwani. They may switch between them depending on the circumstances. Care should be taken when using the two next styles.
The fifth style involves setting the pace. This is where there’s a lot of exciting goals, and the leader becomes an example that everyone can follow. It can cause problems because it sets a high standard and everyone falls short. If high-quality work is needed, and if there is a motivated, competent team.
The sixth style is inspired by the military command style. This style can be used in times of crisis. If a company is facing financial difficulties and requires a fast turnaround, it can be used. It provides direction for people so that they don’t have to think about it as much. It is not a good style, and requires a thick skin. It can be used for problem staff, but due to its resistance it generates, it generally only plays a small role in today’s work environment.
Each style is susceptible to failure because they require skill, flexibility and experience. They can work with an emotionally competent leader most of time. These styles can be described by building harmony and resonance in a group.
