There are various business leadership styles. While some leaders are more centralized, others prefer to delegate daily activities to their teams. It's important to understand these profiles to understand how each influences the company.
A good leader can put the entire company on track, steering it toward success. Some believe that leadership is an innate gift, innate in a person. Others believe this skill can be developed throughout life. In reality, both are correct.
In today's post, we'll discuss the different leadership styles and their impact on a company, as well as the key skills of a leader and how they can be developed. Check it out!
Peter Drucker, considered the father of modern management, states that “the only definition of a leader is someone who has followers.” Therefore, anyone who can influence and direct other people can be called a leader regardless of their positional power or educational level.
In the business context, a more specific concept can be established. A leader is someone capable of achieving results through the efforts of their subordinates, directing and inspiring them to action. Thus, they are considered a protagonist.
Previously, it was believed that leaders were born that way: this thinking is known as "trait theory of leadership." Accordingly, they must come from a wealthy family, be athletic, and have excellent communication skills. Today, however, we know that true leadership is developed, just like an athlete who trains every day to become better.
There are many leadership styles, but they all stem from three main ones. Essentially, they reflect how a leader directs their team and views daily challenges. These styles were created by psychologist Kurt Lewin after extensive research.
Now, see the main types:
A leader with this profile is centralizing and makes decisions unilaterally, without seeking input from subordinates. They tend to conduct day-to-day activities in a dominant manner, dictating what should be done and how.
This leader is less centralized and tends to encourage participation from those around them, in addition to prioritizing teamwork. Democratic leaders also tend to delegate tasks, letting others make decisions about what needs to be done.
The latter represents a passive leader, who observes the actions of his subordinates and offers little input on what should be done, both day-to-day and in more critical situations. In this case, he lets his subordinates make the decisions about what should be done and how.
In practice, a single leader can navigate all three styles depending on the circumstances. In times of crisis, they may adopt an autocratic stance, centralizing decision-making. In other times, they may act democratically or even liberally.
It's also important to consider a second aspect: orientation. Broadly speaking, some leaders are focused on daily tasks, while others prioritize the people around them. This can determine their posture within the company and how their decisions are made.
To be clear, a task-oriented leader is much more concerned with deadlines, goals, standards, and costs. In the second case, the focus is on individual well-being, improving the work environment, motivation, and so on. And which is better?
The reality is that these are complementary orientations, which must be present in the same person. Therefore, the leader must be balanced. When the two patterns are combined into a single behavior, we have two-dimensional leadership.
Before discussing the ideal style, it's important to understand what determines leadership success. Every business leader operates in a broad and uncertain environment known as the market. Furthermore, they lead a team of people with diverse skills.
Based on this reflection, it is possible to highlight three fundamental items for success:
Thus, the ideal style may vary depending on the context and the work team. Therefore, it's important for leaders to possess a characteristic known as contextual intelligence. They need to understand what's going on around them before taking a stance.
A leader with contextual intelligence can perform an intuitive diagnosis to act, taking into account factors such as the team's level of maturity, the complexity of the goals to be achieved, and market changes.
In addition to contextual intelligence, there are other skills inherent in a successful protagonist. With these, it's possible to become a leader who inspires great achievements. engaging the whole team in the search for exponential results. See:
A leader must set an example in what they do. To achieve this, they need discipline. They must be the first to arrive and the last to leave, embrace daily challenges, get their hands dirty, and strive for ever-improving results. In short, they must be productive.
It refers to the ability to create interpersonal bonds, whether with your subordinates or with strategic partners. By doing so, you'll be able to communicate better, manage conflicts and lead everyone to one place: success.
A great leader is never satisfied with what they have, so they strive for even greater results. This same positive dissatisfaction is transmitted to their team. Ultimately, everyone manages to reach a new level.
See, these are great characteristics of a leader. There's one more: passion for what they do. And that's why they become so influential, able to point the way forward and adapt to changes to deliver better results. True leaders are passionate.
Now that you understand the main leadership styles and skills you need to develop, why not stay up to date with other career news and more? Subscribe to our newsletter and receive all blog content directly to your inbox!
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