Leadership Styles
Prepared by Mr Rabeel Sabar
Approaches of Leadership
• Task oriented
• People oriented
Styles of Leadership
• Autocratic
• Democratic
• Delegative (Free reign)
Autocratic Style
Basic Concept behind is:
• Self ruling
• People avoid responsibility
In past used by empires in the history
Autocratic Style
When it should be used?
• For control
• When there is a little margin of error
• Staff in in-experienced
Examples:
• Military
• Manufacturing or production
• Construction
Autocratic Style
Advantages
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Group projects
Quick decisions
Clear directions
Maintain discipline
Prevention of power struggle
Autocratic Style
Disadvantages
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Any means can be used to achieve the goal
Dependency
Blocks the innovative and creative thinking
No personal development
Conflicts because of imposed decisions
Autocratic Style
How to implement this style effectively?
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Respect your sub-ordinates
Explain the rules
Be consistent
Educate before you enforce
Listen, even if you don’t change
Democratic Style
Concept behind is:
• Managers and employees should work
together
• Assume that people are not lazy
• Show confidence and get confidence
Democratic Style
When to use?
• When you have experienced staff
• When there is a complex decision to be made
Examples:
• Creative groups (e.g. advertising, design etc.)
• Consulting firms
• Service industry
• Education
Democratic Style
Advantages:
• More individual responsibility (Empowerment)
• Friendly environment
• Personal development
• More motivation
• Great results
• Ownership
• Reduced employee turnover
Democratic Style
Disadvantages
• Slow decision making
• Hard to keep employees satisfied
• Not suitable for new staff
How to implement this style effectively?
• Keep open communication
• Focus the discussion
• Respect the ideas
• Explain don’t just apologise for idea selection
Delegative (Free Rein) Style
Concept behind is:
Leader allows employees to make the decisions.
Leader is still responsible for the decisions.
Employees analyze the situation and determine
what needs to be done and how to do it.
Leader sets priorities and delegates.
Delegative (Free Rein) Style
When to use?
• When you have more experienced staff than you
• When there is a creative and innovative solution required
• When you cannot do everything and employees need to
take ownership of their jobs
Examples:
• Creative Teams
• Technology Firms
• Service industry
Delegative (Free Rein) Style
Advantages:
• More individual responsibility (Empowerment)
• Open environment
• Remarkable results
Delegative (Free Rein) Style
Disadvantages
• Wrong decisions at some occasions
• Leader has little control.
• Team has little direction or motivation.
How to implement this style effectively?
• Show confidence and trust in employees
• Delegate right task to right person
• Respect the ideas from everyone
• Reward and give incentive for creativity and innovation