Leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Because there is no blueprint for what makes a great leader, it can help to find a particular style that fits your personality and goals, which leads us to the six leadership styles commonly found in the workplace.
Visionary
The big picture is always in mind. Instead of focusing on the day-to-day, they think about what comes next and even after that. It isn’t about ordering people to do things; it is about providing perspective on the goal and helping make it a reality.
Directive
This method is about giving orders and seeking compliance. Useful in an underperforming team might not be the best approach for properly managing people. It can be effective but requires walking a tightrope to ensure that the message is not lost.
Participative
This leader will engage others in the process, looking to generate ideas and solutions from the team. This concept relies on a group rather than a single person to generate ideas and make decisions.
Setting rules and boundaries are crucial to ensure that everyone knows what their roles are and what the rules will be.
Affiliative
The focus here is more on the people and the relationships between them. The goal is to create trust that can forge great teamwork. This is about meeting the needs of the individual to foster the best results.
Pacesetting
Consider leading by example. Some leaders don’t give rah-rah speeches and aren’t great at cracking the whip. They show how they expect things to be by simply doing it themselves.
The key is to not step in too frequently, allowing team members to do their jobs without feeling stepped on along the way.
Coaching
This type of leader effectively identifies the strengths and weaknesses of their team. The coach will identify gaps in development, provide support and feedback, and provide potential growth opportunities for each of the team members.