Summary

A recent article on leadership by Daniel Goleman emphasizes that the best leaders don`t just use one style of leadership. They`re skilled at, and have the flexibility to switch between, several styles as circumstances dictate. According to Goleman there are six basic leadership styles: 1. Coercive leadership demands total and immediate compliance, 2. Authoritative leadership mobilizes people towards a common vision, 3. Affiliative leadership emphasizes harmonious working relationships, 4. Democratic leadership builds consensus through participation, 5. Pacesetting leadership expects excellence and self-direction, and 6. Coaching leadership seeks ways to develop employees

The Background

Goleman believes that the authoritative leadership style is the most effective of all six styles. So let`s see how it might work in practice. Within a month of becoming the executive director at Education Unlimited (a nonprofit that provides mentoring opportunities to low-income children), David Owings realized that the organization lacked direction. The next strategic planning session was still four months away, but David knew he had to do something immediately to remedy the lethargy around him.

The Solution

David decided to call a meeting of all employees to ask the question "what is it that we are truly about?" This resulted in a lively discussion in which employees concluded that, at its core, the organization was about inspiring young people to find their niche in society.

Lessons Learned

As the example shows, the authoritative leader is a visionary who motivates people by helping them see how their work fits into a larger vision for the organization. People who work for such leaders understand that what they do matters and why. The problem is that not all leaders possess the ability to motivate and inspire. In cases where leaders recognize that a certain skill is lacking, they should surround themselves with people who possess the attributes they lack, or seek help from an outside expert who can help integrate these qualities into their leadership style.