10 Types of Management Styles

What kind of leader will you be?

James Thorpe
21 February 2024

Good leadership is the foundation of any institution. But many institutions find it difficult to effectively incorporate a consistently successful leadership strategy. Many different management styles exist, with each style playing a different role in an institution’s overall success. Today more than ever, management styles can be critical in establishing and maintaining a company’s culture and they can have a significant effect on an organization’s ability to attract and retain quality employees.

What’s your leadership style? What skills, characteristics, and tactics would you use to effectively manage others?

Autocratic

The autocratic management style is also known as the authoritarian. These types of leaders usually focus on results and efficiency. They often make decisions on their own and expect their juniors within their organization to follow precisely as expected.

Laissez-Faire

Laissez-faire management is the contrast of the autocratic model. This type of manager typically focuses on delegating tasks to team members with minimal supervision. There is more accountability and a relaxed working environment, which encourages high employee retention, a critical factor for many organizations today.

Democratic

This style of leadership may be seen as a combination of both autocratic and laissez-faire leaders. Democratic managers often seek the involvement and opinions of the team players before making decisions.

Collaborative

The collaborative approach to management solicits feedback from team members on institutional policies and other important decisions. In addition to providing solutions, the feedback is crucial in improving the institution and empowering the team members more.

Inspirational

The inspirational leader often relies on honesty and emotion to help other team players grow—both in their work roles and personally. Despite the sound, being an inspirational leader is not easy and is not for the fainthearted. It can, however, be an appropriate management style to ensure effective leadership when everything falls in order.

Example-setting

Example-setting management can be key to helping an organization achieve fast results. These types of leaders are often referred to as pacesetters and are usually focused on generating performance by setting high standards, with accountability placed on each team member.

Authoritative

While most people, especially employees, detest this management style, it can be effective in a critical chaotic work environment. The dictatorial mode of management style—taking disciplinary action—can be essential in situations where an organization suffers due to employees slacking off.

Strategic

Strategic leaders look at the overall “big picture” of objectives to be achieved. Supervisors are given the bulk of the responsibility of overseeing the day-to-day achievements.

Results-oriented

Efficiency is a vital aspect of this style of management. These types of leaders are completely focused on getting things get done, rules are secondary. These leaders even appreciate when employees devise easier and better ways of achieving results.

Affiliative

Affiliative leaders consider themselves as part of the team, freely mingling and interacting with their team members. They are often very “hands-on,” and ready to offer a helping hand to the team members.

Leadership management styles vary from one institution to another, and from one management level to another. Therefore, a good leader should be able to incorporate their leadership tools and management style to suit the environment.

Learning to succeed in business from those who already have

Business programs at Berkeley College, like our Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master of Business Administration degree programs in Management, are designed to prepare you with all the knowledge and skills to be a strong leader and to achieve success and prosperity throughout your professional and personal life. Importantly, you’ll learn from professors with a wide range of real-world business experience and you’ll benefit from their expertise.

Do you have what it takes to be an effective leader? Berkeley College can help you reach your full potential. Talk to us. 800-446-5400

The views and/or opinions in this article are those of the individuals interviewed. The academic achievements and/or employment outcomes described in this article are specific to each individual and are not a guarantee of similar results for past or current students. For up-to-date and detailed information, please visit BerkeleyCollege.edu and view our catalogs at BerkeleyCollege.edu/publications.