What is your leadership style? Are you authoritative, bureaucratic, or innovative? Many of us have never thought about it. If we have, we say we are only one style and forget the rest. But in reality, your leadership style can change depending on the circumstances you are in. For example, being a rule following bureaucrat may not be the best style in a volunteer organization. However, it might be perfect in a solo practice.
I have recently started the new Toastmasters International program called Pathways. One aspect of Pathways is learning your own leadership styles. Therefore, Toastmasters provides a questionnaire and the answers narrow down which of the eight leadership styles you lean towards. Listed below are the eight leadership styles that Toastmasters International recognizes:
AFFILIATIVE
An affiliative leader is collaborative and emphasizes teamwork. This type of leader avoids conflict and motivates others by developing harmony.
ALTRUISTIC
The altruistic leader’s motivation is to serve others. She tries to empower followers by meeting their individual needs. This type of leader takes time to create the community by active listening and empathetic responses to the members.
AUTHORITATIVE
An authoritative leader is most effective in creating change in a group. This leader tends to have more experience and demands respect from others. As a result, he clearly states his expectations to achieve the end-result.
BUREAUCRATIC
Similar to authoritative, the bureaucratic leader establishes rules and strictly enforces them. Discipline motivates the group. Therefore, this style is ineffective with self-motivators. But it is effective for quick decisions.
COACHING
A coaching style of leadership concentrates on helping individuals realize their full potential. This leader challenges individuals to build their skills. She also rewards them with positive feedback. Hence, this style is most effective in one-on-one settings with individuals that are receptive to change.
DEMOCRATIC
The democratic leader relies on achieving consensus by communication and collaboration. Therfore, this can be a long term process but is effective when an entire team is involved.
INNOVATIVE
Usually referred to as a visionary, an innovative leader has a vision of the future and encourages innovation. This leader motivates by acknowledging other’s creativity through collaboration. As a result, this style is most effective in solving difficult problems with risk taking individuals.
PACESETTING
Lastly, the pacesetting leader is focused on productivity. She often expects others to move quickly and leads by example. Hence, this style is most effective with self-motivated and highly skilled individuals.
Many of us have two or three inherent leadership styles. However, those style are not always the most effective in certain situations. Consequently, by understanding the various styles, we can adapt to become the best leader for the group.
Contact me for complimentary 30 minute session to examine your leadership styles!
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