4 main leadership styles with examples.
Sometimes styles of leadership vary based on the person, role, and circumstance. But there are four main types of leadership styles, each at different ends of the spectrum. Each one has it’s positives and pitfalls.
Here’s how the different leadership styles work:
1. Pacesetting.
Pacesetters hold themselves and others to high standards. They put a lot in and expect a lot back. This can be inspiring and motivating, but the constant push for productivity can also create pressure within a team.
With this style of leadership, you lead by example and are very results orientated. But sometimes, the strive for perfection can make it harder for employees to see how their individual efforts fit into the big picture.
Examples of pacesetting leadership.
High productivity industries like research and development (R&D) and legal sectors can thrive with a pacesetting leader. Things need to happen quickly, effectively and exceed ambitious targets. Experienced teams may respond better to this type of leader and find their work ethic gratifying. But this style must be balanced with other approaches to avoid employee burnout.
2. Democratic.
A democratic leader gives everyone a voice. The word democracy literally means, ‘run by the people’. So is this is a fair, non-hierarchical way to run a team. One of the most challenging parts of being a leader is making sure you take everyone’s opinions on board, but this leadership style is designed around the thoughts of your team members.
Democratic leadership can lead to high employee engagement and cultivate a sense of psychological safety, as staff are comfortable sharing ideas and helping with problem solving. But, with so many opinions to consider, decision making can be slow. This style can also overlook expertise, with all members of staff weighing in on issues that may be out of their scope of work.
Examples of democratic leadership.
Democratic leadership shines in cases where brainstorms are needed. Having an array of opinions from different backgrounds, paygrades and expertise can help you to formulate innovative, out-of-the-box solutions. But in times of crisis, where decisions need to be made quickly, this leadership style may fail.
3. Coercive.
Coercive leadership styles are characterised by top-down decision making, and a generally authoritarian approach. It’s based on instructing employees on what to do, and how to do it. These leaders often have full control over their staff and work very closely with them. It’s built on a rigid structure, rules, regulation and dictation.
This style often results in increased productivity and workplace safety as all employees must follow instructions closely. This also means there may be less deviation as there’s more rule enforcement. However, this is the least effective leadership style in most applications. As while it may bring short term results, it has a corrosive long-term effect on company culture and morale.
Examples of coercive leadership.
In most settings, there’s not much of an advantage to this style. But it may work in crisis situations, where decisive action and a clear chain of command is essential. This may work in an emergency room or other serious scenarios where there is little or no room for error, like in the construction industry.
4. Affiliative.
Affiliative leaders create strong connections and bonds between staff – creating a supportive environment for all. It’s about building a community, rather than just creating an administrative machine. These leaders look to the future to understand potential pitfalls and create a sense of confidence in staff to overcome them.
This leadership style focuses on conflict resolution and harmony, by prioritising the needs of employees, and encourages resilience, creativity and positivity. It seeks to motivate employees through praise and usually offers flexible working conditions to foster trust with your team.
But affiliative leadership leaves less room for criticism, which can decrease learning opportunities within the team. It also means employees may be less open to giving negative feedback. While it aims to motivate employees through rewards, it could demotivate others who then only work for this.
Examples of affiliative leadership.
Affiliative leadership can build a positive culture, but it may not be the best to address major performance issues, crises or challenges. This leadership style works well at a time when a team member is going through a hard time and needs some extra support. Providing emotional support to a vulnerable employee shows you value them and care about their wellbeing.
Other leadership styles in business.
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to leadership styles. Here are some other types of leadership style you may want to use or explore more:
- Authoritative leadership – motivates individuals by connecting them to your company’s larger vision. It prioritises setting clear guidelines over micromanaging.
- Laissez-Faire leadership – puts complete trust in employees, with minimal interference. It’s the least intrusive form of leadership.
- Strategic leadership – marries growth and strategy with team management. It’s motivating and encourages visualisation and planning.
- Transformational leadership – aims to create a lasting positive impact, encourage team members to reach their full potential and lead them to meet company goals.
- Transactional leadership – uses rewards and punishment to motivate and manage teams and can help offer clarity on expectations.
- Coaching-style leadership – focuses on individual growth and dedicates time to employee development, particularly relevant in performance evaluations.
How to understand your leadership style.
It can be hard to know where to start when looking into management and leadership styles. But there are many paths to finding the right one for you. You may want to begin by considering these points:
Understand your motivations.
Before you can motivate others, you need to be aware of what drives you. Think about the tangible and intangible motivations that inspire you to do your best work. This may be your salary and perks, or the opportunity for growth and a sense of purpose. Knowing what makes you tick, may help you to unlock the same drive in the people you lead.
Try different styles.
Take a hands-on approach and test out different leadership styles to see what works best for you, and your team. Your leadership style will likely evolve and develop over time, as your experience grows.
Look to your professional experience.
Consider the experience you already have under your belt. What leadership style has worked for you in the past? What style have your managers taken – are there any that stand out as particularly motivating? Thinking back on your own experiences may help you decide.
Observe leaders you admire.
Watching leaders that you look up to can help inspire the leadership styles you think work well, or the ones you can relate to. This could be in meetings, presentations or just in conversations with line reports. Take notes of what parts you like and consider if they align with your own qualities.
How to demonstrate your leadership styles with Adobe Express.
Once you’ve got to grips with your leadership and management style, Adobe Express can help you to showcase it as and when needed. Use the free online tools to:
- Craft a CV that reflects your leadership style. Select one of our CV templates and write a CV that shines a light on your leadership style. Showcase your leadership skills to have the best chance of impressing future employers.
- Weave examples of your leadership into a cover letter. This is your chance to sell yourself – don’t forget to highlight examples of your leadership style in your cover letter to add further detail to your application.
- Create a presentation to highlight your leadership style. You can even create a presentation to demonstrate your leadership style, as part of an interview, the start of a new leadership role or to onboard new members of the team.
- Post about your leadership style and any positive impact it’s had on LinkedIn. Share your leadership experience on LinkedIn. This is a great way to network, and you may meet likeminded connections who share your leadership style.
