Leadership styles, characteristics

An autocratic leader has absolute power over the followers and allows minimal input from the team.

A bureaucratic leader follows rules rigorously and makes sure the follows adhere to those rules as well, failure to which they are punished.

A charismatic leader is a leader who inspired followers to be enthusiastic and is considered a source of inspiration to succeed by the followers.

The democratic or participative leader allows input from the followers to make them feel valued and develop necessary skills but retains the final decisions in those inputs.

Laissez-faire leader cares less about the team and may leave them to work on their own and only effective when handling highly experienced employees.

A servant leader does not have to be in a formal leadership position, because it occurs anytime an individual at any level leads the others to accomplish a certain task.

A transactional leader requires complete obedience from the team, and those who do so are rewarded by the organization.

A transformational leader inspires the team by sharing with them the organization’s vision and involving them in various activities within the workplace to create a strong attachment to long-term success.

Barbarian

• A barbarian is a leader who excels when the organization is in difficult times or when it is attempting to adopt diversification.
• A barbarian leader sees himself as in a life-or-death situation and expects his followers to either work out a solution or move out of the way.
• They expect followers to engage in detailed planning exercises and usually do not approach their followers whenever they need to promote.
• They expect those who consider themselves fit for promotion, have to approach a barbarian leader and discuss their objectives and intentions.

Prophets

• Prophets are at their best when the organization is getting started are when entering a period of major restructuring and renewal.
• They hold a strong belief in new products and services and rarely believe people outside their small group of followers.
• A prophet leader makes decisions on their own and though they may listen to others, they barely consider participative decision making as of any significance.
• If you work for a prophet, do not expect him or her to provide clear instructions, they expect you to be tolerant of their illogical ideas and decisions, and neither are they polite when you intend to seek their advice.

Builders

• These are leaders who believe in their organization’s products and services and are much interested in the means of production although much of their energy is focused on making those means.

Explorers

• These are leaders more efficient than barbarians, builders, and prophets.
• Explorers are slightly similar to builders but a slight difference is a way explorers put more emphasis on numbers.
• They are most in touch with the customers and foster the development of production processes and relationships.

Other leadership styles

• Synergist – A leader who helps an organization achieve growth while balancing expansion.
• Administrator – A leader who helps an organization shift from expansion to safe and routine operation.
• Bureaucrat – A leader who imposes tight controls and has no interest in creativity (contrary to a bureaucrat and a prophet) and no interest in growth (contrary to barbarian).
• Aristocrat – A leader is autocratic, produces organizational disintegration, communicate poorly, and avoid making decisions.

Term	Definition
Autocratic leader	An autocratic leader has absolute power over the followers and allows minimal input from the team.
Bureaucratic leader	A bureaucratic leader follows rules rigorously and makes sure the followers adhere to those rules as well, failure to which they are punished.
Charismatic leader	A charismatic leader is a leader who inspires followers to be enthusiastic and is considered a source of inspiration for success by the followers.
Democratic leader	The democratic or participative leader allows input from the followers to make them feel valued and develop necessary skills but retains the final decisions in those inputs.
Laissez-faire leader	A laissez-faire leader cares less about the team and may leave them to work on their own. This style is only effective when handling highly experienced employees.
Servant leader	A servant leader does not have to be in a formal leadership position but occurs when an individual at any level leads others to accomplish a certain task.
Transactional leader	A transactional leader requires complete obedience from the team, and those who do so are rewarded by the organization.
Transformational leader	A transformational leader inspires the team by sharing the organization’s vision and involving them in various activities within the workplace to create a strong attachment to long-term success.
Barbarian	A barbarian leader excels when the organization is in difficult times or when attempting to adopt diversification. They expect their followers to work out a solution or move out of the way.
Prophets	Prophets are at their best when the organization is getting started or when entering a period of major restructuring and renewal. They hold strong beliefs in new products and services and rarely trust people outside their small group of followers.
Builders	Builders are leaders who believe in their organization’s products and services and are interested in the means of production.
Explorers	Explorers are leaders who are more efficient than barbarians, builders, and prophets. They put more emphasis on numbers, are in touch with customers, and foster the development of production processes and relationships.
Synergist	A synergist is a leader who helps an organization achieve growth while balancing expansion.
Administrator	An administrator is a leader who helps an organization shift from expansion to safe and routine operation.
Bureaucrat	A bureaucrat is a leader who imposes tight controls, has no interest in creativity, and no interest in growth.
Aristocrat	An aristocrat is an autocratic leader who produces organizational disintegration, communicates poorly, and avoids making decisions.
Leadership	The use of power to influence, motivate, and enable others to achieve organizational goals.
Great Person Theory	The Great Person Theory suggests that leaders are born and not made, looking at particular patterns of personality characteristics to find the perfect leader. However, there is no perfect combination, and all personalities can be effective leaders in different ways.
Competency Leadership	The Competency Leadership Perspective focuses on the characteristics that make a great leader, which can be developed. It includes personality traits, self-concept, drive, integrity, leadership motivation, knowledge of the business, cognitive and practical intelligence, and emotional intelligence.
Authentic Leadership	Authentic leadership emphasizes leaders being aware of, comfortable with, and consistent with their values, personality, and self-concept. It involves developing a leadership style, taking on effective positions, and consistently applying values.
Laissez-Faire Leadership	Laissez-Faire Leadership is a hands-off leadership style that involves the avoidance of leadership. It is not an effective style.
Transactional Leadership	Transactional Leadership uses a carrot-and-stick approach, where leaders reward or discipline followers based on their performance. It includes passive and active management by exception, as well as contingent reward.
Transformational Leadership	Transformational Leadership involves inspiring followers to commit to a shared vision, serving as a role model, encouraging experimentation, and building commitment toward the vision. It includes idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration.
Shared leadership	Shared leadership is the idea that leadership is a role shared by every team member rather than a position assigned to one person. It exists when team members engage in citizenship behaviors, offer innovative solutions, and learn from each other based on expertise.