No generation of modern leaders has been tested in a crucible quite as unique as that created by the Covid pandemic. For almost two years now, we have had the opportunity to see first-hand the impact of different leadership styles in the face of this unprecedented challenge.

More importantly, we have had the chance to compare them; some of those results surprised us more than others. Here are the five most effective styles of leadership, proven in the unrelenting chaos and uncertainty of the Covid era.

Authoritarian

Traditional and, as the name suggests, demanding, authoritarian leadership is a one-person show. It is characteristically top-down management that leaves little room for discussion.

Characterized by:

  • “I lead, you follow” work dynamic
  • Little to no employee input

Pros:

  • Consistent and orderly
  • Time-efficient decision-making process
  • Single-track plan reduces confusion and inefficiency

Cons:

  • Disenfranchises employees; can increase employee turnover
  • Limits vision and inhibits creativity

Why it works in challenging times: Employees look for direction in times of upheaval. Authoritarian leadership rallies the troops amidst the chaos and instils a sense of calm and order.

Delegative

All leaders delegate tasks but delegative leadership assigns initiative. It works well with diverse teams, each headed by a competent manager, with whom the delegative leader collaborates closely.

Characterized by:

  • Multiple sub-managers, each capable of motivating their teams
  • A loose network of interaction between leader and on-the-ground teams

Pros:

  • Fully utilizes each manager’s individual skills and experience
  • A diverse range of inputs encourages and stimulates creativity
  • Eliminates micromanagement

Cons:

  • Teams tend to deviate from the central path, leading to consistency issues
  • Slow to adapt to change

Why it works in challenging times: Delegative leadership works best with competent junior managers. It frees the leader to focus on major challenges since everyday affairs are in good hands.

Participative

While delegative leadership outsources decisions to sub-managers, participative leadership emphasizes their involvement in the decision-making process. Leaders retain veto power as in authoritative leadership but rarely apply it.

Characterized by:

  • In-depth discussions before each decision
  • Cross-departmental interaction and collaboration

Pros:

  • Boosts employee happiness and satisfaction
  • Stimulates team innovation
  • Empowers and educates employees through practical experience

Cons:

  • Lengthens the decision-making process
  • Corporate security may be compromised by the transparent process

Why it works in challenging times: Participative leadership engages the entire team and brings them into the inner circle; it counters the confusion that abounds in difficult circumstances. Solutions are easier to innovate when more people are collaborating simultaneously on problems.

Transactional

Here, we have the give-and-take of reward and punishment between the leader and their team. These “transactions” are guided by performance standards set forth by the leader in advance.

Characterized by:

  • Carrot-and-stick approach
  • Transparent task and rewards structure
  • Clear expectations from both managers and workers

Pros:

  • Precise standards for performance and reward
  • Performers and non-performers are identified quickly
  • Transparency of reward system counters allegations of favouritism

Cons:

  • Innovation is side-lined by conformity
  • The system creates followers, not leaders

Why it works in challenging times: Challenging times create fears around job security. Transactional leadership brings uniformity and stability to the workplace. Employees know what is expected of them and the clearly established guidelines keep the company going.

Transformational

The leader’s vision is critical to transformational leadership. It is the locus around which the entire team coalesces and, in a sense, is bigger than the leader themselves. A transformational leader personifies the ideals of the objective to inspire and empower the team.

Characterized by:

  • Unified corporate vision
  • Relationship-based cooperation

Pros:

  • Low employee turnover rate
  • High employee morale
  • Inspires exceptional leadership

Cons:

  • Exhausting for the leader to continually motivate and inspire
  • A tendency for employee conflict due to misaligned interpretations of values

Why it works in challenging times: Ideas transcend people and it can be reassuring for workers to have a single, unambiguous vision to which to aspire. It makes room for seamless transitions even when leaders change.

Universal Values

Each style of leadership has its characteristic advantages but there are certain inimitable values that most brilliant managers share. These tenets are the critical ingredients of true leaders. You do not have to conform to any one style rigidly, particularly in times as unpredictable as these.

Apply what works for your team. More importantly, be open to learning and adapt when the circumstances call for it. Please reach out to me if you have any questions.