Picture your club planning a bake sale. One person might shout orders. Another might ask everyone to vote on every little thing. Another might say "do whatever you want" and walk away. Each of these people is leading, but in a very different way. A leadership style is the usual way a leader makes decisions and works with a team. No style is always right. The trick is to know several styles and pick the one that fits what is happening right now.
Six leadership styles in plain words
| Style | In plain words | What it sounds like at the bake sale |
|---|---|---|
| Autocratic | The leader decides alone and tells the team what to do. | "Everyone out of the kitchen now. The smoke alarm is going." |
| Democratic | The leader asks for ideas, and the team often votes. | "Let's vote: brownies, cookies or lemon squares as our main item?" |
| Laissez-faire (say: less-ay FAIR) | The leader steps back and lets team members decide for themselves. | "Jade, you're great at decorating. Design the table however you like." |
| Transformational | The leader shares an exciting big goal and inspires the team to reach it. | "If we sell out, we can plant 20 trees in our schoolyard. Let's make it happen." |
| Servant | The leader puts the team's needs first and clears obstacles out of the way. | "I'll carry the tables and get the cash box so you can focus on baking." |
| Coaching | The leader helps a person learn a skill and make their own decision. | "Owen, how would you figure out a fair price? Let's work it out together." |
When each style works and when it backfires
| Style | Works well when... | Backfires when... |
|---|---|---|
| Autocratic | There is an emergency, a safety risk, or a decision must be made in seconds. | It is used all the time. People feel bossed around and stop sharing ideas. |
| Democratic | There is time to talk and the team has good ideas. | A quick decision is needed. Voting on everything wastes time. |
| Laissez-faire | Team members are skilled, trusted and motivated. | The team is new or confused. Tasks get missed and deadlines slip. |
| Transformational | The team needs energy or a big change. | The leader only talks about the dream and forgets the details, like who buys the flour. |
| Servant | You want trust and a team that feels supported. | There is a crisis and someone must take charge firmly. |
| Coaching | New members need to build skills for the future. | There is no time to teach, or the person does not want to learn right now. |
Choosing a style step by step
- How urgent is it? If there is danger or only seconds to decide, lean autocratic.
- How experienced is the team? Skilled people can handle laissez-faire. New people need coaching or clear direction.
- How much time is there? Lots of time allows democratic discussion. Little time does not.
- How much does the team need to buy in? If people must feel the decision is theirs, use democratic or transformational leadership.
- Pick the style, then check later: did it work, and how did the team feel?
You do not need a title to lead. Leadership is anything you do to help a group reach its goal: suggesting a plan, encouraging a quiet member to share an idea, or offering to do the job no one wants. Even when you are not in charge, you can practise these styles. For example, you can act like a servant leader by asking a teammate, "What do you need to get your part done?"