“A leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way”
John Maxwell
Understanding Different Leadership Styles and Essential Leadership Qualities
Leadership is a fluid procedure. As all the organizations thrive in a dynamic environment, it shows that they keep changing and improving themselves to keep up with such an environment. Further in this article, take a look at what is leadership style, its types, and the best leadership styles & qualities to thrive in the VUCA world.
What is Leadership?
Leadership is the process of influencing the behavior of people towards the achievement of an organization’s common goals. In other words, it can be defined as the activity of influencing people to strive willingly for the achievement of group objectives. It also indicates the ability of an individual to maintain good interpersonal relations with his team. While also motivating them to contribute to the achievement of a common goal.
What is Leadership Transformation?
The phrase Leadership Transformation can be used to portray how a leader transforms himself along with his team. So, he can provide his and his team’s ultimate best qualities in the organization. Moreover, A leader helps himself as well as his followers to do the right thing for the success of an organization. Therefore, They set a proper direction, build an inspiring vision for their team, and also motivates them.
10 Types of Leadership Style
To help you understand the impact that each type of leader has on an organization, here is a list of 10 leadership styles and their effectiveness.
1. Democratic
In this leadership style, the leader consults his subordinates in the decision-making process and encourages them to give suggestions in setting goals and implementing decisions. Further, Lt helps to win greater confidence, cooperation, loyalty, and initiative from the group members.
2. Autocratic
This leadership style is the opposite of democratic leadership. So, Under this style, the leader centralizes all powers related to decision making and exercises complete control over his team members. So, The leader here determines the policy for the group without consulting them and does not give them information about the plans.
3. Laissez-Faire
Under this leadership style, the leader gives complete freedom to his team members in setting goals and avoids power. So, The leader here largely depends upon his group to establish its own goals and work out its problems.
4. Strategic
In this leadership style, the leader sits at the intersection between an organization’s main operations and its growth opportunities. He also accepts the burden of administrative interests and ensures that prevailing working conditions remain durable for everyone.
Also Read: Top 5 Ways To Reduce Inventory In Your Organization
5. Transformational
Transformational leadership is where a leader works with his group while encouraging, motivating, and inspiring them to innovate and create change that will help to shape the future success of the organization.
6. Transactional
Transactional leadership helps to establish roles and responsibilities for each employee, however, it can also encourage bare minimum work if the group members know how much their effort is worth all the time.
7. Coaching
This leadership style can be characterized by partnership and collaboration between a leader as well as his team. When a leader acts as a coach, leadership qualities such as hierarchy, command, and control give way to collaboration and creativity.
8. Bureaucratic
This leadership style relies on a clear chain of command, strict rules, along conformation of the followers. Moreover, It is based upon authorized responsibilities that are fixed under an authoritative person, who is the leader, for applying rules of management and decision making.
9. Servant
This leadership style implies a decentralized style, where the ultimate goal of the leader is to serve others. So Here, the leader primarily focuses on the well-being and growth of his team members and organization. A servant leader shares his powers with his team and puts their needs first.
10. Charismatic
Charismatic Leadership majorly focuses on the leaders themselves. Further, their ability to communicate with their team members and influence them as well. In addition to this, the leader makes use of their powerful personality as well as excellent communication skills to persuade his followers and work with them.
Leader’s Tip:
To adapt and innovate in unstable environments, cultivate a growth mindset and promote continuous learning.
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10 Best Leadership Qualities in VUCA World
- Complex Problem Solving– In the VUCA World, complex problem-solving skills are very important to survive. So, These are the collection of self-regulated psychological processes that are necessary for the VUCA environment
- Maker Instinct- Being a leader in the VUCA world, you should be able to exploit your inner drive for building and growing things along with connecting with your team members in the process.
- Problem Flipping- For maintaining your VUCA leadership, you should turn the dilemmas of your organization into opportunities and advantages and make the best use out of them.
- Be Transparent- Your ability for being open and authentic to your team about what matters without being self prompting is most important in the VUCA world.
- Adapt Changes- Flexibility is one of the key skills in VUCA World. And also, A leader should adapt to changes. Because they come and revise their plans to adjust with latest innovations and overcome the challenges while achieving goals.
- Be Resilient- Being resilient means that a leader should have the capacity to recover quickly from the difficulties that arise in his path. So, Being self-aware will help you to develop resilience.
- Creative– A leader can respond well to tough times by being creative. Possessing competency and leadership skills is important and can be put to use innovatively.
- Coordination– As a leader, you should be able to coordinate with your group for building trust and synchronization. Effective coordination will also give you access to collect reliable data, which will help to anticipate difficulties.
- Cognitive Flexibility- A leader can switch between thinking about two different concepts simultaneously. It shows his ability to adapt flexibility to the constantly changing environment.
- Decision Making- A leader should be able to make a proper decision by identifying them, gathering information, and assessing its alternative resolutions.
Also Read: 26 Best Leadership Books Of All Time
Ways to choose the best leadership style
Effective leadership is critical to the success of any organization, and choosing the right leadership style can have a significant impact on a company’s performance. Here are some ways to choose the best leadership style:
Assess Your Leadership Style: Understanding your own leadership style is the first step in choosing the best style for our organization. Consider your strengths and weaknesses, your personality, and your communication style. This can help you identify areas for improvement and the leadership style that will best suit your organization.
Evaluate Your Team: Consider the needs and preferences of your team members. Evaluate their skills, experience, and communication style, as well as their preferences for autonomy and collaboration. Furthermore, This can help you identify the leadership style that will best motivate and engage your team.
Assess the Situation: Different situations call for different leadership styles. Consider the context of your organization, such as its goals, size, culture, and industry. So, This can help you identify the leadership style that will best align with your organization’s needs and objectives.
Consider the Timeframe: Consider the timeframe for your organization’s goals. Short-term goals may require a directive leadership style, while long-term goals may require a more collaborative style. This can help you identify the leadership style that will best support your organization’s goals.
Seek Feedback: Seek feedback from your team members and stakeholders on your leadership style. This can provide valuable insights into areas for improvement and help you adjust your leadership style to better meet the needs of your organization.
In summary, choosing the best leadership style involves understanding your own leadership style,. For example evaluating your team, assessing the situation, considering the timeframe, and seeking feedback. By using these strategies, you can identify the leadership style that will best support your organization’s goals and position it for long-term success.
How to change from one leadership style to another?
Changing from one leadership style to another can be a challenging process, but it is possible with the right mindset and approach. Here are some steps to consider when transitioning from one leadership style to another.
Assess your current leadership style: Before making any changes, it’s essential to understand your current leadership style. Identify your strengths and weaknesses and evaluate how well your current style aligns with the needs of your organization.
Determine the desired leadership style: Identify the leadership style that is most effective for your organization’s current needs. Consider the organization’s goals, culture, and values and evaluate how a new leadership style could help achieve those objectives.
Seek feedback: Seek feedback from your team, colleagues, and superiors to get a better understanding of how your current leadership style is perceived and how a new leadership style may be received. This feedback can also help you identify areas where you need to improve and develop new skills.
Develop a plan: Once you have identified the desired leadership style and assessed your current leadership style. the next step is to develop a plan to transition from one style to another. This plan should include specific goals, timelines, and action steps to help you achieve the desired leadership style.
Practice self-awareness: Changing leadership styles requires self-awareness and self-reflection. Monitor your behavior and actions, seek feedback, and be open to making changes as needed.
Learn new skills: Adopting a new leadership style may require learning new skills. Identify the skills and behaviors needed to support the desired leadership style and work on developing those skills through training, coaching, or self-study.
Be patient: Changing leadership styles takes time, and it may not happen overnight. Be patient and persistent in your efforts, and keep focused on the desired outcomes.
In summary, changing leadership styles requires self-awareness, planning, and a willingness to learn and develop new skills. Assess your current style, identify the desired style, seek feedback, develop a plan, practice self-awareness, learn new skills, and be patient in your efforts to achieve the desired outcomes.
Signs that a leadership transformation is needed
Signs that a leadership transformation is needed may include declining employee morale, low productivity, high turnover rates, poor financial performance, and a lack of innovation or creativity.
Leader’s Tip:
Cultivate teamwork, give people power, and welcome different viewpoints for quick decision-making to build great teams.
Conclusion
Thus, hereby it can be concluded that leadership that is tough-minded and tender-hearted is what will survive in VUCA World. The balance of both forces will encourage an organization to accomplish high valued leadership qualities that are necessary for risk management and navigation through constant change.
FAQs
What is Transformation Leadership?
Transformational leadership is where a leader works with his group while encouraging, motivating, and inspiring them to innovate and create change that will help to shape the future success of the organization.
How can leaders prepare for a leadership transformation?
Leaders can prepare for a leadership transformation by developing a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, seeking feedback from others, and identifying areas where they need to improve. They can also seek out coaching or mentoring to help them develop new skills and behaviors.
What are some common obstacles to leadership transformation?
Common obstacles to leadership transformation may include resistance from team members or other stakeholders, a lack of resources or support, and the difficulty of changing entrenched habits and behaviors.
How can organizations support leadership transformation?
Organizations can support leadership transformation by providing training and development opportunities for leaders, creating a culture of feedback and continuous improvement, and providing resources and support for leaders to help them implement changes effectively
Key Takeaways
- Flexible, adaptable, and capable of navigating ambiguity and complexity are the traits of effective leaders in a VUCA society.
- Leadership qualities such as strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and effective communication are vital for guiding teams in turbulent times,” says Dr. David R. Miller.
- Success in a VUCA world requires nurturing creativity, building resilient cultures, and encouraging agile problem-solving.