7 Prevalent Leadership Approaches: Which One Defines You?

The caliber of leadership can be the deciding factor between an organization's triumph and its downfall. Leaders are tasked with steering their teams towards achievements, and the manner in which they undertake this duty can profoundly influence team efficacy. Several common leadership approaches exist, each possessing distinct traits, advantages, and drawbacks. You might already resonate with a particular leadership approach or be curious about their fundamental distinctions. In any case, this article offers valuable perspectives on 7 prevalent leadership approaches (complete with pros and cons) and guidance on how to pinpoint your own.

What is a leadership approach?

When the term "leader" comes up, what's the initial image that forms in your mind? Someone possessing a formal title and a position of power, correct? While this holds some truth, a leader embodies much more.

"Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another." – John Maxwell

Leadership approaches are the strategies and methodologies a leader employs to propel their team forward. It’s a combination of how leaders communicate, oversee tasks, and arrive at decisions. No two leaders are identical, as each individual's personality, background, and competencies mold their leadership approach. Effective leaders are adaptable and can modify their style according to the demands of the situation. However, most individuals tend to exhibit one dominant style more frequently.

Why you should ascertain your leadership approach

An impeccable leadership approach is a misconception—each has its merits and demerits, and it's vital to be conscious of them. Recognizing your leadership approach enables you to capitalize on your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses. It assists you in evolving into a more effective leader.

For example, if you favor open and clear communication with your team, they will likely feel at ease approaching you with issues. Conversely, if you adopt an authoritarian stance, you will anticipate your team to adhere to your directives without inquiry.

As a leader, your conduct and actions greatly shape your employees' view of you. They will assess you based on your capacity to communicate, resolve problems, and manage crises. Grasping your leadership approach will simplify your ability to adjust to varying needs.

7 prevalent leadership approaches (with pros and cons)

1. Charismatic leadership

Charismatic leaders are admired for their allure, communication prowess, and zeal for their work. A team leader's vibrant and upbeat demeanor is often infectious, fostering a motivated environment. Such leaders are adept communicators who offer unambiguous direction on tasks, thereby enhancing the team's concentration.

Example: A critical project deadline is looming, but the team feels it's impossible to complete it on schedule. In this scenario, the leader convenes an online meeting to uplift the team and proposes adjustments to the strategy. If the revised strategy doesn't yield results, they acknowledge the issue and are amenable to granting an extension. If it succeeds, the team feels spurred by the support and completes the project ahead of the deadline.

Pros

• Boosted motivation: Inspire the team to strive towards a collective vision, enhancing motivation and involvement.
• Superior communication: Articulately convey their concepts and vision to their team members.
• Enhanced team morale: Cultivate a positive work setting by ensuring their team members feel esteemed and recognized.

Cons

• Dependency: When a leader is consistently supportive through thick and thin, it's natural for a team to become reliant on them. Their departure might make adjustment difficult for the team.
• Overconfidence in their capabilities: Charismatic leaders depend heavily on their likeability and motivational skills. The issue is that this doesn't always work. When a highly intricate problem emerges, the team will require more than just motivation.
• More rhetoric, less substance: They might say the appropriate things at opportune moments, but it won't invariably assist their team with their tasks. Their vision may initially impress, but over time, it might not deliver tangible results.

2. Transformational leadership

As the term implies, a transformational leader will facilitate the transformation of your team and organization. These are supportive figures who consistently encourage everyone to perform at their peak. They commend the team's strengths, motivate them to acquire new skills, and achieve superior outcomes overall. Employees typically cultivate a sense of allegiance towards such leaders.

Example: Before a team commenced work on a new project, the team lead elaborated on its potential. Each team member was assigned a specific set of duties but was also encouraged to propose novel ideas that could benefit the project. The team presented some fresh ideas to their leader. Following discussion, the leader opted to adopt some ideas that showed promise. Ultimately, the project's success surpassed everyone's expectations.

Pros

• Individuality: Fosters a workplace where everyone feels respected, listened to, and valued for their distinct abilities.
• High-achieving team: When individuals are spurred to do their utmost, it motivates them to exceed their own performance benchmarks.
• Visionary outlook: Possess a lucid and persuasive vision of the future, which aids in providing a sense of direction and purpose for the team.
• Superior professional development: Inspire individuals to learn new skills or augment their existing ones. In either case, these leaders transform their team members into more agile and proficient professionals.

Cons

• Potential for burnout: Individuals might feel compelled to impress their leader by acquiring new skills in their personal time. If their work-life equilibrium is compromised, it will inevitably result in burnout. Leaders can mitigate this by strongly emphasizing the maintenance of balance.
• Possibility of risk: Since this leadership method relies on discovering new and effective ways to accomplish tasks, it might lead to incautious decisions.
• Disregard for short-term objectives: Visionaries who consistently focus on the larger picture might overlook the organization's immediate goals.

3. Autocratic leadership (Authoritarian leadership)

An autocratic leader places little value on the team's input. They dislike having their leadership questioned, believing their methods are superior. The team is expected to execute everything precisely as directed. These leaders do not encourage modifications or alternative methods for any tasks.

Example: While working on a project, an employee wishes to attempt an alternative method that could shorten the turnaround time by three days. The employee presented the idea to the manager, only to be chided for challenging the established approach. Ultimately, the employee must strictly adhere to the manager's instructions.

Pros

• Rapid decision-making: In situations where time is critical, having a leader who can make swift decisions without extensive input from others can be beneficial.
• Clear hierarchy: Establishes order and structure within an organization with a distinctly defined hierarchy between a leader and the team.
• Accountability: Autocratic leaders make their own decisions, and the team must comply. Regardless of whether the outcome is success or failure, they can be held responsible.

Cons

• No scope for creativity: Some team members may possess superior ideas compared to the current approach. Since these leaders do not solicit others' opinions, it can stifle the entire team's creativity.
• Diminished morale and productivity: The team might feel devalued due to a leader who shows no interest in listening to them. If the team develops an aversion to work, they may become unmotivated and unproductive.
• Lack of communication: Inadequate communication can lead to setbacks and conflicts as team members are reluctant to approach their leader, thereby creating a communication divide.

4. Democratic leadership (Participative leadership)

A democratic leader makes decisions only after achieving a consensus from the entire team. The leader presents the issues to the team, and everyone contributes their approach to resolving the problem. This leadership style involves the team in constructive debate, thereby fostering teamwork and collaboration.

Example: A team underperformed for two consecutive quarters. The leader assembled them to identify the root cause of the problem. After a thorough discussion, they determined they were understaffed. The leader granted the team additional time for the next quarter to complete the project and also assured them that two new members would join their team shortly.

Pros

• Promotes collaboration: As every team member holds some authority in decision-making, it encourages them to collaborate.
• Enhanced job satisfaction: Because employees feel valued and heard, it contributes to their job satisfaction.
• Cultivates an open-communication atmosphere: The team feels at ease expressing their ideas and opinions before their leader.

Cons

• Time-intensive: The leader heavily depends on the inputs of the entire team. Reaching a conclusive decision is bound to take more time.
• More conflicts: If two team members have contradictory ideas, it might be challenging for the leader to achieve a consensus.
• Can be taxing for the leader: The leader must ensure that every team member has an opportunity to share their ideas and perspectives. This can lead to protracted discussions and decision-making processes, and potential leader burnout.

5. Laissez-faire leadership (Delegative leadership)

In this leadership style, team members possess complete control over their decisions. The leader offers minimal guidance but seldom intervenes in their processes and methodologies. Individuals have full autonomy, and the leader trusts them to complete the job on schedule. Employees who dislike being micromanaged admire these types of leaders.

Example: A marketing team is preparing for a client's new product launch. The marketing manager briefs the team on the product and its features. The team works autonomously to devise a go-to-market strategy. The manager has faith in the team's capability to create a winning strategy.

Pros

• Individual autonomy: People are responsible for their decisions and accept accountability for them.
• Encourages personal development: Assists employees in cultivating decision-making and leadership capabilities.
• Reduced micromanagement: The leader does not become excessively involved in managing the work to monitor what each employee is doing.

Cons

• Can lead to confusing situations: Employees might require more direction from their leader to comprehend their responsibilities.
• Less emphasis on collaboration: Everyone is solely responsible for their tasks, and their decisions might not align with the project's requirements. Consequently, collaboration might suffer.
• Inconsistent outcomes: The final results may differ when the team works independently. Some projects might be a resounding success, while others might falter.

6. Strategic leadership

Strategic leadership is an effective leadership approach in management. These leaders consistently concentrate on long-term organizational objectives and formulate their strategies accordingly. They possess a comprehensive understanding of the competition and adjust their strategy to maintain a competitive edge.

Example: A sports shoe company currently holds the second position in market share and has been striving to secure the top spot for some time. A new leader with extensive knowledge of the market landscape is appointed. The leader proposes new strategies while modifying current processes. They introduce a new line of shoes with distinct unique selling propositions (USPs) to attract new customers. Within a year, the company began to rank first.

Pros

• Higher likelihood of success: When the entire team collaborates on a long-term strategy, its chances of success are greater.
• Promotes organizational adaptability: Strategic leaders recognize when their strategies are ineffective. They are quick to change and adapt to minimize losses.
• Resource management: Strategic leaders plan in advance and can accurately ascertain the necessary resources, such as the number of employees and essential tools. For instance, creating a mind map from strategic discussions using a tool like DeepVo.ai can help visualize resource allocation and dependencies.

Cons

• Requires patience: Long-term goals are not achieved by a company overnight. Strategies might take time to demonstrate positive outcomes.
• Less focus on the present: Concentrating on the broader picture might lead such leaders to overlook employees' everyday issues.
• Can be expensive: Strategic planning and implementation can be resource-demanding, necessitating significant funds to achieve the goals.
• Less emphasis on individual growth: The entire organization focuses on long-term strategies. While it might benefit the organization in the long run, it does little for the employees' personal development.

7. Coaching leadership

Everyone possesses certain strengths and weaknesses. A coaching leader identifies them and assists the entire team in improving. They subscribe to the "one team, one dream" philosophy. These leaders adopt a hands-on approach to management, providing regular feedback, guidance, and support to their team. Employees usually feel valued and appreciated under such leaders.

Example: Instagram Reels are just gaining traction, and the marketing team is finding it challenging to maximize the platform's potential, as they lack experience with vertical videos. Their leader takes on the responsibility of helping the team understand the platform's intricacies. For an entire month, they learn by experimenting with various types of vertical content. Soon, the group started observing positive results and felt comfortable with the platform.

Pros

• Encourages personal development: Such leaders consistently help their team address their weaknesses and provide constructive feedback.
• Builds a positive work environment: Continuously supporting the team to become better versions of themselves fosters a positive organizational culture.
• Improves productivity: Employees constantly acquire new skills under their leadership, boosting the team's productivity and efficiency.

Cons

• Time-intensive: This leadership style relies on periodically analyzing your team members and identifying weak areas. Providing them with appropriate feedback and guidance can consume a significant amount of time.
• Not suitable for everyone: Pointing out weaknesses can be uncomfortable for some individuals, leading them to resist this leadership style.

How to identify your leadership approach

Pinpointing your leadership approach can be demanding, but it's crucial. Here are some steps that can assist you:

• Reflect on your conduct: Take a moment to ask yourself: How am I interacting with my team? Am I communicating effectively? Am I providing clear direction and support?
• Seek feedback from the team: If you're uncertain about their feelings, there's no harm in requesting feedback. Solicit feedback on your communication style and their perceptions of you as their leader.
• Leverage tools like DeepVo.ai to analyze your conversations. Understand your communication patterns with your team—are you an engaged listener? What are the sentiments expressed in your calls? Do you project confidence or use numerous filler words? DeepVo.ai's platform can provide high-accuracy speech-to-text transcription (supporting 100+ languages), generate AI summaries in seconds, and even create intelligent mind maps from your discussions, allowing you to focus on the core of your conversations. It's free to try and offers end-to-end encryption for security.
• Consider your decision-making method: Do you prefer to make decisions autonomously, or do you opt to involve your team in the decision-making process? Your decision-making style can be a strong indicator of your leadership approach.
• Assess your management style: Are you a hands-on manager who likes to be involved in every facet of your team's work, or do you prefer to delegate tasks and allow your team to work independently? Understanding your management style can help you identify your leadership approach.
• Take a leadership assessment: A variety of leadership assessments are available online. These assessments include questions about your values, beliefs, and leadership behaviors, potentially offering detailed insight into your leadership style.

The final note

A directive and micromanaging leader might be effective during a crisis where swift decision-making is paramount. The same style could be demotivating and restrictive for a team that requires more autonomy and independence.

It's important to recognize that no leadership approach is inherently superior to another—the most effective style is contingent on the situation and the team. A proficient leader is adaptable and can modify their style to cater to their team's needs and the tasks at hand.