Leadership and Mentoring

Different Types of Leadership Styles

Autocratic (Dictator):

• Makes decisions independently

• Little or no input opportunities for group members

• Leader decides all work and methods and processes

Bureacratic (Rules):

• Leader that follows a set of rules

• Little or no input opportunitie for group members

• Leader decides all work methods and processes beased on the set of rules

Charismatic (Charm):

• Leader based on personality and charm

• Seldom rely on authority

Democratic (Choice):

• Leader offers guidance to group members

• Leader encourages group members to participate, but retains the final say over the decision-making process

• Members of the group feel more engaged in the process

• Creativity is encouraged and rewarded

Strengths and Weaknesses of Leadership Style

Autocratic:

• Adanvantages

-Quick decision making

• Disadvantages

-Stifles creativity

-Lack of ownership among members

-Lower quality of work

Bureaucratic:

• Advantages

-Good in handling situations involving safety

-Always follow rules strictly

• Disadvantages

-Little or no creativity

-Demoralizing to the team as decision making usually not allowed

-Inflexible

Charismatic:

• Advantages

-Energetic leader

-Sensitive to emotions

-Supportive environment

• Disadvantages

-Over-reliance on leader

-Unclear instructions

Democratic:

• Advantages

-Greater engagement in the process

• Disadvantages

-Slower decision making process

-Group members may not have the expertise to make quality contributions

-Unclear roles