Leadership styles

Leadership styles

 

Top-down leadership, in which managers give orders, is not always the best way to get results. A number of different leadership styles have been identified by business experts. Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. Sam Walton

What kind of leader are you?

Do you follow the classic definition of a leader: someone who aims to influence and motivate employees to meet organizational goals and effectiveness?

If you’re doing your job, then this definition might sound familiar. But let’s get more specific. Do you have a particular leadership style that you usually use?

Most leaders generally adhere to one or two preferred styles of leadership with which they feel comfortable. But the challenge is that great leaders have multiple leadership styles in their toolkit, and they are adept at diagnosing situations and using the right leadership styles at the right times.

Every leader is an individual with his or her own approach. However, over the years, management gurus have identified key leadership styles that can be used to achieve different results, depending on the environment. Many frameworks are based on the ideas of psychologist Kurt Lewin, who developed his theories in the 1930s with three major styles: autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire (non-interference).

In 2007, for example, business authors Eric Flamholtz and Yvonne Randle developed a leadership matrix based on Lewin’s theories, which shows the best style to use in any given situation, ranging from autocratic (one all-powerful leader) to consensus (decisions reached by general agreement.

Truly inspirational leaders encourage people to believe in themselves so that they achieve results beyond even their own expectations.

Transformational Leadership

While different styles can suit different situations, transformational leadership, in which leaders and their followers raise one another to higher levels of integrity and motivation, was identified by guru James McGregor Burns as the most effective. This has been developed by others, including industrial psychologist Bernard Bass, who listed the qualities of a transformational leader.

• Sets clear goals 
• Is a model of integrity and fairness 
• Has high expectations 
• Encourages others 
• Provides support and recognition 
• Stirs the emotions of people 
• Gets people to look beyond their self-interest 
• Inspires people to reach for the improbable

When to use which leadership style

A three-year study of 3,000 managers led psychologist Daniel Goleman to uncover six distinctive styles of leadership. Each style has a significant impact on how people feel about their work. The most effective leaders master a number of styles and use them appropriately according to the situation.

Sources :

How companies work

The Author : Ahmed Farghaly

About :

Twenty-Three years of Production & Process Operations Troubleshooting hands-on experience in Gas Processing,LNG,LPG & NGL recovery and Ethylene Cryogenic plants, Shared in six Megaprojects Detailed Engineering, Pre-Commissioning,Commissioning and Successful initial Start-ups until Normal Operations.Leading the operational readiness assurance for three LNG Megaprojects from Pre-feasibility Studies, Concept Selection,Definition,Tendering ,Bid evaluation,value engineering and Execution phases until Handover.

Subject-Matter Expert

LNG/Petrochemicals/Set Up Operations Management System&Team/Pre-Commissioning, Commissioning,Initial Start-Up/Competency Management/Project Management/Scheduling/Project Controlling/Process Modelling/Revamp/De-bottle-necking/Green and Brownfield Development/Shared in set up of PSM,ERP,RBI,CMMS,RAM and RCM systems/Process Modifications Optimization,Plant Performance Monitoring/Shutdown Planning/Annual Turnaround/Tackling Plant Emergencies/Competency Profiling/Recruitment/Total Plant Safety/Abilities Of Trouble-Free Communication /Handling Megaproject labour force tactfully in working area.