Whether you're a CEO at a Fortune 500 company or a Masters in Nursing Education online student, most people will have to do some level of management in their careers. But no two people are the same so, naturally, there are many ways to run a business and manage employees.
No matter your management style, it's vital to understand how people work, what they respond to, and what they want to manage them effectively. In this article, we'll break down the basics of three management styles.
The Autocratic Management Style
At the heart of any role that bears the power of authority lies the need for such an authority to exist. The top-down autocratic style of leadership embraces and makes full use of these powers, and, while it has substantial drawbacks for both the leader and those they lead, it is nonetheless important to understand and, in the correct situations, highly effective.
Benefits
In industries requiring extreme precision, success is often less a matter of uncovering new value and creativity and more frequently derived from following an established playbook. Mature and high-stakes professions like construction, surgery, precision manufacturing, and law often require an autocratic style of leadership to ensure rules are followed to a T and that the resulting products can be trusted with the futures, or even the lives, of those who depend on them.
An autocratic management style is very beneficial in rapidly changing environments that require rapid change and decisive decision-making to ensure the business doesn't miss crucial opportunities or suffer from easily preventable pitfalls.
Disadvantages
Society tends to look down on leaders who embody this strict, often stifling style of leadership, and not without reason. Autocratic management discourages feedback from those who report to the leader, rewards simple obedience, and, as a result, can overlook or even actively discourage contributions from team members. It can also very easily veer into micromanagement territory.
Leaders who embody this style need to have a natural talent for leadership and a strong capacity to make informed decisions, but also to keep a finger on the pulse of their organizations and ensure their style doesn't become domineering to the detriment of performance and well-being.
An example of this style is Steve Jobs. Often regarded as overbearing and micromanaging, Jobs nonetheless made it his business to understand every aspect of his products and company in-depth and harnessed teams of highly skilled people to fulfill his singular vision of affordable, user-friendly personal electronics.
The Laissez-faire Management Style
Often thought of as the polar opposite of the autocratic style, laissez-faire leadership leans into a relaxed, hands-off approach. Translating to “let it go” in French, managers following a laissez-faire management style give their employees a lot of autonomy.
Benefits
Under laissez-faire management, workers are often less stressed, more creative, and free to come up with their own ideas. While a leader is still required to coordinate, set goals, and support their team, employees are allowed greater freedom and creativity in determining how to meet those goals. This management approach works well in innovative industries like technology, the arts, and research institutions.
Disadvantages
While many employees flourish when left to their own devices, some - particularly inexperienced employees - struggle and have difficulty prioritizing their work. Employees can therefore be left feeling confused and unsupported by management and feel an overall disconnect between daily work and company objectives.
The Democratic Management Style
Democratic managers encourage contributions from all team members and look to collaborate with their team and share in the decision-making process. While they invest in their team's development and encourage creativity and engagement, the democratic manager is the one who makes the final decision.
Benefits
There are many benefits to a democratic management style. Not only does every employee understand the organization's goals and how their initiatives contribute to the company's overall objectives, but they also are encouraged to be more creative as everyone collaborates to get the best outcome. Utilizing this management style is a great way to promote high engagement in the workplace and bring each team member to their full potential.
Disadvantages
The main disadvantage of democratic management is that it can be time-consuming as it relies on everyone's input and managers are more present.
Finding Your Style
Each of these styles has benefits and drawbacks. The true magic of a good leader lies in understanding precisely when and with whom to embody each style; to recognize when a situation calls for strong leadership, a hands-off approach, or skillful mediation. Anyone mastering all three can surely add value to any organization.
