In this post, we explain what a leader is and look at what the three different leadership styles are.
Managers are increasingly recognizing that adaptability, speed and experience are essential factors for successful leadership. Both new challenges and tasks as well as fast-moving technological change and competition always lead to modification in the leadership and development of employees. In order to be able to lead in the sense of the company goals abilities motivating, a leader must possess a certain number of authority. Sufficient professional, social, personal and methodical competencies. These include goal orientation, persuasiveness, introductory skills and the ability to provide criticism and feedback.
Another core competence as a team leader is to motivate his employees and to make decisions together. It is therefore particularly important to integrate employees into the company's activities and to support them accordingly.
Nowadays, work tasks are much more varied and complex. In addition, they are increasingly dependent on the knowledge of their specialized employees. Consequently, a conflict arises between the company's goals and the requirements of the employees, which the managers are no longer able to distinguish. If goals and priorities are lost here, a problem with lasting consequences can arise. New, innovative structures will not accept a change in the future as a result. Therefore, a good and flawless cooperation between managers and their employees becomes more and more important.
Ultimately, people make a company, not machines and procedure.
In addition, the authoritarian management style is becoming less and less prominent, and managers must learn to perceive their employees as an important part of a company and to take a step back themselves to a certain extent. In view of this, the concern about losing power is relatively high when it comes to facing a demand like this. Accordingly, the question arises as to how a leader directs. Different views of people, styles and theories shape the thought process. Accordingly, a leader can develop in a company that follows a comparatively similar direction. The bottom line is that the goal of every company is to maximize success and not to do without quality employees!
What is leadership?
Leadership is the goal-related exertion of influence by managers on their employees to solve tasks. A leading person helps to motivate his employees and to bring them to action in order to achieve performance. Important clues of the generic term leadership are the characteristics, behaviors and the personal leadership of a leading person. Among them also self-leadership, which plays an important role for the person to become aware of his strengths and weaknesses in everyday life. This includes both one's own well-being and that of fellow human beings.
In addition, the awareness of one's own weaknesses is the foundation for avoiding certain deficits that could impair performance. A distinction is also made between task-based and employee-based leadership styles. In the task-based leadership style, managers give importance to a high volume of work so that the performance goal is achieved. In the employee-centered leadership style, the focus is on respect for others as well as compassion and no selfish behavior toward the boss.
Let's now take a look at the different leadership styles:
A leadership style is a pattern of behavior for leadership situations that is oriented toward a uniform basic attitude of a leader.
1. Laissez-faire
The laissez-faire leadership style is a type of management in which employees are given sufficient freedom. The manager takes very little part in the planning, execution and the entire work process, so that the employees can work in an open and self-determined manner. Punishment by the supervisor is left out. Employees determine their tasks and the organization themselves. The choice of work methods and the setting of work goals is left to the work group. The superior does not intervene in the operational process, but wants to promote the individual motivation as well as creativity of his employees.
The application of this style of leadership is mainly in creative or communicative areas. People who have their own individuality and live out their creative work strive to achieve good work results. Due to the laissez-faire leadership style, employees need this kind of freedom to achieve good business results.
By the way: we at Prosupo strive for exactly this leadership style, because the well-being of our employees comes first.
Advantages:
Free decision making
Individual and independent way of working of the employees
Personal development of the employee
More motivation to work
2. Authoritarian leadership
Authoritarian management style means that the manager makes decisions without involving his employees. In addition, there is delegation of tasks by the manager. The leader emphasizes a great distance between the management and employee levels and shows no sympathy for the needs of others. Success and the result of his plan are of importance to the superior. Solutions are prescribed by him, with little opportunity for employees to contribute their own ideas. There is little direct contact between supervisor and employee.
Advantages:
Clarity of competencies
Good control
However, posupo does not recommend this. A lack of motivation quickly occurs, which in turn has a negative impact on the company's success.
3. Cooperative leadership
In the cooperative leadership style, the focus is on commonalities instead of differences. In addition, this leadership style relieves the burden on the supervisor and thus reduces the occurrence of wrong decisions. Employees' opinions are respected in the decision-making process. The introduction of ideas and creativity into the company's operations is supported by the manager. Also, the development of employees in their professional life should create an opportunity for the development of their personality. Cooperation is based on a common form of control.
Advantages:
Relief of the supervisor
Positive working atmosphere
Conclusion
A leadership position seems to be the goal of every employee. The demand for modern leadership requires strength and attention. Carrying responsibility and important projects, to participate in management decisions and in addition the good earnings. However, not everyone fulfills the conditions to become a leader. However, the best leaders are distinguished by how they use these qualities in their daily work and how they present themselves to their team. In the company, the leader for many is to respond individually to each employee, above all to remain in balance himself and not to reach personal limits in all this.
But leading employees is becoming increasingly difficult today. In the past, managers were able to focus on controlling work tasks because they had a position of power as well as an advantage in knowledge. People certainly cannot be moved to higher commitment at the push of a button. As an entrepreneur, some course must be consciously set to advance employee engagement. However, various developments in recent decades have led to managers being faced with far greater demands today.