Comparison should include definitions, advantages, and disadvantages of the following.
- Visionary: This style is most appropriate when an organization needs a new direction. Its goal is to move people toward a new set of shared visions.
- Coaching: This is a one-on-one style focusing on developing individuals, showing them how to improve their performance, and helping to connect their goals to the goals of the organization. The leader asks for feedback from employees but comes to a final decision him/herself.
- Affiliative: This style emphasizes the importance of teamwork and aims to create harmony in a group by connecting people to each other.
- Facilitating (democratic): This style draws on people’s knowledge and skills and creates group commitment to the resulting goals. It works best when the direction the organization is unclear and the leader needs to tap the collective wisdom of the group.
- Pace-setting: In this style, the leader sets high standards of performance, is obsessive about doing things better and faster, and asks the same of everyone.
- Commanding: This is the classic military style and is probably the most used but the least often effective. It rarely involves praise and frequently employs criticism undercutting morale and job satisfaction.
Process/Skill Questions:
- What is leadership?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of each major leadership style, as practiced in the business world? In the marketing field?
- How can an individual develop leadership skills?
- How is it possible for a person to change leadership styles? In what types of situations might a change of style be important?
- How do leaders encourage a culture of teamwork?
- What famous leaders (real or fictional) exemplify each style?