I’ll never forget the day one of my lecturers taught on what I’m about to share with you. It was like my eyes had been opened, and all the pieces of the puzzle came together. As she continued unraveling the different types of people; the different types of leaders, we’ll come across in life, everything started to make sense. I suddenly began to understand why some of my teachers, bosses, political and religious leaders and others of authority acted, responded and lead in the way in which they did. Since coming to know and understand the different leadership styles, I’ve been able to work with many different people from many different countries in foreign countries. That’s because I’m able to identify what sort of leader they are and adapt to make that style work for me to bring unity to the team and accomplish our given tasks.

It’s quite obvious that this topic has changed my life, and everyday I strive to become a better leader of ethical and positive influence wherever I am.

I’ve decided that instead of sharing something interesting about insurance or telling you why insurance brokers are the way to go, I’m going to share my brain with you and tell you the different types of leaders you will come across in life.
It is true that not all styles are deem fit for every kind of situation, but knowing them means you’ll be able to interpret what style is needed for such circumstances and people.

1. Autocratic Leadership

This style is centred around the big boss. I’m quite sure that many of you have come across this leadership style a few times.

The autocratic leader holds all authority and responsibility. He/she makes decisions without consulting the team and expects implementation promptly and once the decision has been communicated to the team. An autocratic leader leaves very little or no time at all for spontaneity and works best in an environment where there is no flexibility for the team. We’ll find that a few teachers, certainly not all, fall under the autocratic leadership style and may fall under other styles too.

Just off the top of my head, I can think of a few autocratic leaders: Ridley Scott, creator of many profitable movies like Exodus: Gods and Kings, Gladiator and others. Rodger Ailes is another autocratic leader who is president of the Fox News Channel, and so is Helen Brown, the editor-in-chief of the Cosmopolitan magazine.

2. Transformation Leadership

A transformational leader initiates change in the workplace, groups, other organisations and even themselves. They tend to focus on that which is positive and use it to improve the areas of the organisation that needs improvement. Such a leader motivates team mates (and themselves) to do more than they originally intended and more than they believed possible. Their expectations are challenging and may intimidate others around them, but typically, transformational leaders achieve higher goals and higher performance.

One of my favourite characteristics about these leaders is that they empower their followers, thus, statistically, have more committed and satisfied teams. Typically, this type of leader is also a charismatic leader.

Martin Luther King, Walt Disney, Nelson Mandela and Oprah Winfrey. They are good examples of transformational leaders; leaders who think outside the box and “walk the talk”.

3. Laissez-faire leadership

The leader I once had. They tend to give authority to employees and want them to make decisions without having to consult him/her every minute. They find it very frustration working with those who need to be directed every step of the way, therefore working with other professionals and experts in that particular field is best for them. It’s not good for laissez-faire leaders to be in a team with only inexperienced members as they often “neglect” the team expecting everyone to get on and do the work necessary, as he/she is doing, but beginners find it difficult to do so for lack of knowledge, know-how and experience.
Departments or subordinates run by a laissez-faire leader are left to work as they choose with minimal or no interference, thus the need for other leaders in the department to lead and manage those who work best with a hands-on leader.
Martin Van Buren, was a laisez-faire leader, allowing “his people to use their talents to help build an organisational structure for democracy” and so was Queen Victoria.

4. Charismatic Leadership

History books are filled with events that occurred because of leaders who were skilled communicators. Leaders who communicated on a deep, emotional level that compelled and captivated vision, arousing strong emotions. This is a charismatic leader. They are inspirational and great motivators who encourage followers to perform highly, and to be committed to the organisation. Generally, in situations that call for a change or a crisis that calls for a revolution, charismatic and transformational leaders are best.
Psychology today suggests that charisma is a process and leaders are not necessary born, but made. They learn how to communicate to their followers to gain their trust. They learn to strategise and solve problems. They allow themselves to develop into leaders over time, and all good charismatic leader should grow to become transformational leaders.

5. Transactional Leadership

This leadership style is a form of management. It focuses on supervising, controlling, organising and short-term planning. Transactional leaders tend to assess performance, and they motivate through rewards or punishment. They achieve their goals by sticking to what’s worked before; the existing system. (Why reinvent the wheel?) While a transformational leader will tackle problems creatively with new approaches, a transactional leader sticks to the status quo, as they are uncomfortable with change.

A transactional leader places a lot of importance on corporate/organisation structure. They enjoy working in a place where a hierarchy is strongly in use and is followed thoroughly as it’s believed to enable employees to know what’s expected of him/her.

6. Democratic Leadership

This is a well-known leadership style that governments many western countries. Democratic leaders lean on subordinates and involve the team members in decision making. Unlike autocratic leaders, this headship is centred on secondary contributors, and is known for delegating roles and projects to others.

While ideas are exchanged freely and equality is a major aspect in the team, the democratic leader will offer guidance and have the final say over the matter.

Many enjoy being led by a democratic leader as they feel more engaged in the process and believe to be an important part of the group. Team mates are encouraged to give their opinions, which is a healthy aspect of teamwork. In return, this involvement prompts commitment to projects, and followers are more likely to care about the end result.

What leadership style are you? Did you find yourself possessing the qualities of more than one of these styles? We’d like to know.

Reference list:

WiseToast, 2017. 12 Different Types of Leadership Styles. [online] Available at: http://wisetoast.com/12-different-types-of-leadership-styles/

Future of Working, 2016. 11 Famous Autocratic Leaders. [online] Available at: https://futureofworking.com/11-famous-autocratic-leaders/

Advice America, 2017, Famous Transformation Leaders. [online] Available at: http://www.adviseamerica.com/famous-transformational-leaders/

Future of Working, 2016. 5 Famous Laissez Faire Leaders. [online] Available at: https://futureofworking.com/5-famous-laissez-faire-leaders/

Psychology Today, 2012. What Is Charisma and Charismatic Leadership?. [online] Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201210/what-is-charisma-and-charismatic-leadership

Joseph Chris, Driving Business Connections, 2015. 14 Transactional Leadership Style Examples. [online] Available at: http://www.josephchris.com/14-transactional-leadership-style-examples

Very Well, 2016. What Is Democratic Leadership?. [online] Available at: https://www.verywell.com/what-is-democratic-leadership-2795315