Leadership Types

Types or styles of leadership

1. Autocratic or authoritarian leadership
2. Participative or Democratic leadership
3. Free – Rein or Laissez – Faire leadership

Autocratic or authoritarian leadership: An autocratic leader is the one who likes to run the show himself. He takes all decision himself without consulting the followers. He gives orders and insists that they be obeyed. Subordinates are expected to do what they are told.

Advantage of Autocratic leader ship are:

• Quick decision are taken by a single person (leader)
• It provides strong motivation and satisfaction the leader.

Participative or democratic leadership: A democratic leader makes decision in consultation with his followers. He decentralized authority and allows the group to share his power. Instead of taking unilateral decision, he allows the subordinates to discuss the problem and to express their opinion freely.

Advantage of democratic leadership are:

• It reduce resistance to change and increase acceptance of new ideas
• It improves the attitudes of employees towards their jobs and the organization.

Free – Rein or Laissez – Faire leadership: A free – rein leader gives complete freedom to his followers to establish their own goals and policies. He does not les and avoids power.

Advantage of free – rein leadership are:

• Complete free don to subordinates improves their motivation and morale.
• There is maximum opportunity for the development of the subordinates.