What Is Your Leadership Style?

Basically, everyone is a leader and has their own leadership style depending on their basic personality. But each leadership style is sometimes not effective in certain different conditions and the leader must know when to take a certain approach. By learning leadership styles, we can work effectively and efficiently in achieving the desired goals and conditions. In general, there are 3 leadership styles that are often used in organizations: autocratic, democratic, and delegative (Laissez-faire) leadership. Let's see and learn the leadership styles below!

1.Autocratic Leadership

Autocratic is the Greek language which translates more or less as "one who rules by himself”. Autocratic Leadership is a leadership style that demands full compliance from subordinates without asking for disobedience or doubt. In making decisions, this leadership style does not consult with subordinates and does not accept input. Subordinates are required to obey without being given an explanation. Some of the great leaders who used this leadership were Adolf Hitler, Kim Jong Un, Suharto, and Sadam Hussein.

2. Democratic Leadership

Democratic leadership is a leadership style that involves the participation of subordinates in organizational decision making. They provide all information to subordinates that affect the work. Democratic leadership really understands mistakes and prefers reward over punishment. Researchers found that Democratic leadership is one of the most effective and has a high level of productivity and group morale. The figure who uses the Democratic Leadership style is John F. Kennedy who is the 35th US president.

3. Delegative (Laissez-Faire) Leadership

Delegative Leadership or also called Laissez-Faire. Delegative leadership is someone who believes in the freedom of choice for his subordinates. Leaving his subordinates alone so they can do what they want. Figures who have a Delegative Leadership style are George Helbert Walker Bush who is the 41st president of the United States and Adam Smith who is known as the "Father of Economics."

Each leadership style that has been described has its own advantages and disadvantages. In terms of control, of course, autocracy is superior. In terms of job satisfaction of group members, of course, delegation is superior. In general, we will see that democratic and delegative leadership styles are superior and prioritized because they are more democratic. But don't be in a hurry to judge that the authoritarian leadership style is not worth choosing. What we need to emphasize here is that we must understand the condition of our organization and from that condition we adapt and choose which leadership style we can use.