Outline of Leadership Styles - Essay Example

Participative Leadership: This approach of leadership entails the leader involving several employees in the making decisions whenever a decision is made to determine the way on various landmark organization decisions regarding its operations and strategies. However, the leader still has the ultimate power in the decision-making process.

Autocratic Leadership: In this type of leadership, the leaders delegate to their employees what they want done and how they want it implemented, but they do not consider the opinion of the employees in the decision-making process. This approach of leadership is employed in cases when the forerunner has all the material to solve the problems or rather challenges facing an organization. In addition, the approach is mainly used on a short-time basis and in cases where the employees are highly motivated.

Laissez-Faire Leadership: This mode of leadership is used in cases whereby the manager provides little or no guidance and gives employees as much liberty as possible. The employees are fully involved in the affairs of the organization as well as the final decision-making.

The entire authority or power is given to the employees and they are responsible for determining goals, making decisions, and resolving problems on their own about the organization’s operations.

The characteristics of a successful leader are responsibility, understanding nature, and harmonious co-existence with followership.

The effects that a good leader has on others:
- Increased productivity.
- Increased motivation.
- Increased employee retention.

The effects that a poor leader has on others:
- Physical Effects.
- Lack of Motivation.

A leader can become a good leader by listening to employees what they think, trusting others, and being flexible.

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