Spencer Schar was recently appointed company president of The Club at Bella Collina, having previously served as the organization’s operations manager and as a strategic advisor at DCS Real Estate Investments in Florida. This article will explore popular leadership styles, providing an overview of their pros and cons.
The Authoritarian Leader
Authoritarian leaders, or ‘autocratic leaders’ as they are otherwise known, provide each individual team member with clear expectations for what they need to do, when, and how. Strongly focused on command and control, this leadership style creates a clear division between leader and followers. Authoritarian leaders made decisions independently, inviting little to no input from the rest of the group. Research suggests that this leadership style is less conducive to creative decision-making. Abuse of authoritative leadership often culminates in controlling, bossy, and dictatorial behavior. However, authoritarian leadership can be advantageous in certain scenarios, for example where the leader is the most knowledgeable member of the group or where there is little time for group decision-making. The autocratic approach is most appropriate for scenarios that require rapid decisions and decisive actions.
The Delegative Leader
Offering little to no guidance, delegative leaders leave decision-making to individual group members. This style of leadership can be beneficial in situations involving highly specialized experts, although it can lead to poorly defined roles and a lack of motivation. Delegative leadership tends to result in groups that lack leadership direction, with members blaming each other for mistakes, refusing to take personal responsibility, making less progress, and becoming less productive.
The Transformative Leader
Often identified as the single most effective leadership style, the term was coined in the late 1970s. The transformational leader motivates and inspires followers, directing positive changes in groups. Energetic, passionate, and emotionally intelligent, the transformative leader is committed not only to helping the business achieve its goals but also to simultaneously enabling and empowering each group member to fulfil their potential. Research shows that this leadership style culminates in elevated performance and greater group satisfaction, as well as improving well-being among individual group members.
The Participative Leader
Also known as democratic leadership, participative leadership involves leaders inviting feedback from employees and involving them in decision-making processes. This style of leadership requires leaders to be inclusive, utilizing good communication skills with a willingness to share both power and responsibility. Participative leaders encourage collaboration through accountability, which often leads to collective efforts to identify problems and develop solutions. Historically prevalent, the participative leadership style has been utilized by many leaders in many organizations, albeit with the style having become more complicated since teams became more decentralized in a post-COVID-19 world.
The Transactional Leader
Otherwise known as “managerial leadership”, transactional leadership relies on reward and punishment systems, placing an emphasis on structure. This reward-based system requires leaders to set clear tasks and goals, clarifying with team members how they will be rewarded for achieving those goals or punished for their failure to meet expectations. Although rewards can take many forms, they typically involve financial compensation, such as a bonus or commission. This give-and-take leadership style helps to clearly delineate the roles and responsibilities of each employee. Nevertheless, incentives must be consistent with the company’s goals and supported by additional gestures of appreciation.
The Servant Leader
Servant leaders consistently put the needs of others first. This leadership style places an emphasis on creating strong relationships with team members and enabling them to reach their full potential. At its core, servant leadership hinges upon ethical decision-making, arriving at outcomes that are right for everyone. By taking into account the opinions of subordinates, servant leaders can maintain healthy relationships and peaceful work environments, instilling a sense of loyalty among team members and subsequently boosting overall productivity.
Lynn Martelli is an editor at Readability. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has worked as an editor for over 10 years. Lynn has edited a wide variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. In her free time, Lynn enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends.
