People tend to think about leadership in terms of good or bad. We’ve all had a boss or a coworker whose attempts to lead have fallen flat for one reason or another. When this happens, it’s easy to label that individual as a “bad leader.” In reality, leadership is incredibly nuanced and rarely so straightforward. Leadership comes in many forms and styles, and often what is labelled as good or bad is just one way of determining what style does or does not work with you personally.
To further understand the complexity behind leadership and determine what style is best for you, it’s important to become knowledgeable on the different styles in and of themselves.
Transactional Leadership
As the name implies, transactional leadership is present when someone gets something, whether good or bad, out of completing a task. If your boss regularly rewards a job well done with more high-profile projects or clients, they are likely a transactional leader. The same can be said for the reverse scenario.
The positive side of this leadership style is that it is direct and, as an employee, you know exactly how to advance your career and the expectations set upon you are. However, transactional leaders are also known to create environments that stifle creativity and innovation.
Democratic Leadership
Also known as “participative leadership,” democratic leaders are keen on running groups that emphasize teamwork. Democratic leadership stresses the importance of team members all having an equal say in the decision-making process. If you have a boss that values ideas and input from the people around them, they are a democratic leader.
Unlike transactional leadership, this leadership style enhances innovation and creativity within a team. Most people who work with democratic leaders also report higher levels of job satisfaction. With that said, democratic leadership can also produce inefficiency since coming to a consensus can be a difficult task.
Transformational Leadership
This style of leadership is heavy in inspiration. Transformational leaders seek to unite others under a shared goal or vision. Valuing positive change, they are quick to make improvements and empower others to do the same.
People who work with transformational leaders often cite that they feel a high level of trust between everyone, as they are all working towards the same goal. However, change can be difficult for many people, especially in a work environment. What could be called improvements by some, may look like backwards steps to others.
Check back soon for Part 2!