| There are three basic styles of leadership. All of us | | | | The leaders discovered that their style didn't work in |
| use these three styles. Now, let me pause here for a | | | | every situation. They learned that they had to be |
| minute and say that I am not suggesting you change | | | | flexible in their leadership styles. |
| your style. What I am suggesting is that you become | | | | There is still a place for autocratic leadership in the |
| flexible with the styles. Would you agree with me that | | | | corporate world because we have emergencies and |
| your style works some of the time and fails miserably | | | | other situations that require quick decisions and quick |
| some of the time? Why is that? Because one style | | | | actions. But what we have to do in order to maximize |
| doesn't fit every situation. What I am suggesting is that | | | | our effectiveness is not get stuck in one style. Use the |
| you use a more flexible situational leadership when it | | | | style that best fits the situation. |
| comes to the Leadership Styles. Use the style that | | | | Democratic: The second style of leadership is the |
| best fits the situation and the people involved. | | | | Democratic style. This is the leadership style of |
| Having said that, what are the three Leadership | | | | teamwork. It is run by democracy. We put things to a |
| Styles? The styles are: | | | | vote to make decisions and the majority rules. This is |
| 1. Autocratic | | | | great for building team loyalty and participation but let |
| 2. Democratic | | | | me ask you a question. Should every decision at your |
| 3. Free Rein | | | | office be put to a vote? Of course not. So, when is |
| Let me explain what each style is and when to use it. | | | | this a good leadership style to use? When you need to |
| Autocratic: The Autocratic Leader is more like a | | | | get buy in (by having open discussions where you can |
| general. The commander of an army. They are quick | | | | answer questions and sell your vision) and when the |
| decision makers and they tell others what to do. We | | | | decisions aren't a major importance. Use this style to |
| saw this style a great deal in the corporate world in | | | | create rapport and teamwork. |
| the 1950's through the 1980's. We still see it today but | | | | Free Rein: In this style of leadership, we get out of the |
| not quite as much as those earlier decades. Why did | | | | way and let our team do their thing. It is a style where |
| we see it so much in the past? Well, where did the | | | | there is definitely no micro management. That is good. |
| CEOs and Presidents of organizations get their | | | | The challenge is that your team members have to be |
| training? Many of them came out of the military. Is | | | | excellent, well trained, and go getters for it to succeed. |
| autocratic leadership a good style for the military? | | | | If you have a lot of entry level workers or workers |
| Absolutely. Particularly in war time. Why? Because we | | | | who are new to the job, this is not the best style to be |
| are in crisis or emergency mode. Decisions had to be | | | | in. Those workers will need more of your input and |
| made and made quickly or people would die. | | | | guidance for at least the short term. |
| Autocratic leaders took action and won wars. | | | | Well, there we have it. |
| After the war, these leaders came back and took | | | | Three styles of leadership: autocratic, democratic, and |
| their place in the corporate world. They discovered | | | | free rein. They all have their pluses and they all have |
| that their civilian counterparts didn't take to orders like | | | | their minuses. Use the style that best fits the situation |
| their military counterparts. This caused them some | | | | and the team members involved and you will find |
| challenges. | | | | yourself succeeding in all leadership situations. |