Best 10 Effective Management Styles For Leaders

Best 10 Effective Management Styles For Leaders

Joined
Apr 27, 2019
Posts
32
Reaction score
12
In this article we are going to discuss various styles of management used by managers and leaders to manage and lead their teams or groups.

What is management styles?
Management styles refers to approaches or methods used by managers and leaders to guide, manage, inspire and lead their teams toward archiving targeted goals. It involves how managers organize works, delegate works and make decisions.

The management styles vary from manager to manager. The managers may have the same responsibilities to perform but each manager may use different style of management to perform their responsibilities and reach the goals. There are several factors that can influence the choice of management styles, such of these factors include; type of organization, level of management, type of employees, nature of task, company's culture and personalities of a manager.

As a manager, it's very important to have knowledge of various management styles and know how and when to apply them because they have great impact to employee's motivation, engagement, creativity and performance.

Now let's dive into various effective management styles.

There are lot of management styles used by managers and leaders to lead and achieve team's goals, but in this article we are going to discuss 10 mostly used styles which are;
  1. Democratic management style
  2. Autocratic management style
  3. Laissez-faire management style
  4. Transformational management style
  5. Transactional management style
  6. Bureaucratic management style
  7. Micromanagement style
  8. Servant leadership style
  9. Charismatic
  10. Situational management style

1. Democratic management style:
It is also known as participative management style. Democratic style is a management style in which all members have equal participation in a team. The managers and leaders who use this style tend to collaborate with their team members and give them a room to contribute their ideas, opinions and suggestions during decision making process. Though every one is listened in a team, still managers have the power to make decision on their own. Democratic style is a most recommended style since it encourages creativity and keeps team members feel valued which can also raise motivation and increase performance and productivity in a team. However, democratic style is not good when there is no enough time for discussion, in a situation where quick decisions are required.

2. Automatic management style:
This is a management style where a leader or manager is a sayer. In autocratic style, a manager makes decisions based on his or her perspectives without involving his or her team members. Autocratic managers usually rely on giving orders and directions than inspiring their teams toward goals achievement. They always don't like to ask for feedback and punish employees or team members when the do against or underperform. This is not a recommended style as it demotivate employees and sometimes may lead to turnover and absenteeism at workplace. However, this style saves time since there is no room for discussion, so decision are made quickly by a leader himself.

3. Laissez-faire management style:
Laissez-faire is a French originated word which literally means "let it go". This is a handoff approach whereby employees perform their duties independently without being supervised or interfered by their managers. Employees under laissez-faire style have freedom to make decisions and find out solution against challenges they face on their own. The managers who use this style don't give their employees directions on how to perform a job but also don't like to ask for feedback. These managers are only available when employees need help from them. This style of management can improve leadership and problem solving skills to employees but can't work with employees who are not self motivated.

4. Transformational management style:
This is a management style that relies much on inspiring employees to grow and be more creative. The leaders who use this style always lead by examples and focusing on pushing foward mission and vision of a company. They also like to seek for feedback from their top managers or leaders and their employees. Transformational style foster environment that support creativity and innovations, though some employees may fail to cope with rapid changes, since this style needs employees who can adapt dynamic environment easily.

5. Transactional management style:
Transactional style based on using rewards and punishments to inspired and motivate teams to reach targeted goals. This style is more effective in straight forward tasks, tasks that are bored in nature and when the time is limited so tasks must be done very quickly. However, this style may discourage creativity and self-motivation since employees may start to work for rewards or avoiding punishments.

6. Bureaucratic management style:
This is a management style that based on the use of rules, policies and procedures than managers interests to lead a team. This style reduces ambiguity to team members since it follows rules and procedures, so everyone's duties are clearly stated. However, it discourages creativity and innovations since it is too strict.

7. Micromanagement:
This is a management style where a leader oversees every detail of work. Micromanagement style ensures tasks are done in the required standards. Employees supervised by a micromanager always feel uncomfortable due to excessive supervision, this may lower job satisfaction and discourage autonomy which can lead to lower performance.

8. Servant leadership style:
In this style, a manager acts as a servant of his or her workers. Managers who use this style prioritise employees needs than their own interests and company's needs. These managers usually don't like to criticise their employees or give them extra works. Instead, they focus at creating good relationship with their employees. Moreover, employees under this management style feel valued, trusted and engaged, this can raise their working morale and create good relationship with their leaders. However, it can be very hard to balance employees needs and company's or team's goals.

9. Charismatic management style:
This style relies much on manager's charisma and personality. Charismatic leaders have high motivational and inspirational ability as they can unify team members and make everyone engaged.

10. Situational management style:
This involves mixing different management approaches, whereby a manager changes styles according to the situation. Situational management style helps managers to be able to manage or lead any type of a group and in any situation. However, this style requires a manager to have knowledge of all management styles.

Reference: 10 Management Styles For Effective Leadership (Pros, Cons, When to use them) And Factors Influencing Management Styles
 
Back
Top Bottom