Leadership Styles

Learning leadership skills can be a steep challenge. To be an effective leader in today’s changing world, you need more than a one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. You must adjust your leadership style to face the challenges of the moment.

First, a quick review of several leadership styles that produce a positive work climate and outstanding performance:

• Visionary leaders articulate a shared mission and give long-term direction
• Participative leaders get consensus to generate new ideas and build commitment
• Coaching leaders foster personal and career development
• Affiliative leaders create trust and harmony

In the short-term, directive leaders who simply give commands and pacesetters focused only on hitting targets can be effective. In the long-term, however, such styles produce a negative climate and very poor performance.

Examining business impact

Without a range of effective Leadership Styles, leaders are:

• 3x more at risk of being seen as a poor leader
• 3x more at risk of derailing as a leader
• 30% less likely to be promoted within 2 years

Their teams are also impacted:

• Decreased engagement and motivation
• Higher turnover (individuals are 3x more likely to leave within 2 years)