When applying for a job, it’s hard how your boss will act as a mentor and how they will handle leading positions. Understanding and having a positive balance with your manager or supervisor is essential for doing well within the workplace and then climbing up the company ladder. Here are different types of creative leadership styles and whether you will work well together or not see eye-to-eye.
Autocratic Leadership
This form of leadership can compare to what we know as a Dictatorship. The person in the autocratic leadership position would be unlikely to get opinions, insight, and make a decision with the help of others. Instead, they would take matters into their own hands and make the decisions themselves.
An example of someone that exemplarities this style of leadership would be someone that takes complete control of a situation. Traditional leaders that favor this style are police officers, leaders in the military, etc. You will not see this type of leadership outside of these settings, and it is, the team does not function properly.
Democratic Leadership
This style of leadership resembles a democracy where the leader gets input from many different parties or team members to come to a final decision. The leader does their best to control the flow of communication throughout the entire company ladder to get insight and input from all employees and staff members that would be affected.
An example of a democratic leader can be the head of a department, such as a Creative Director, that would weigh all of the available options. The democratic leader will take into consideration the opinions of all employees, whether equals or a junior.
Laissez-Faire Leadership
This type of leadership is known as a laid-back form of leadership. The person in this position would have a large amount of trust and faith in the work of their staff members. Sometimes in this situation, the team members are even encouraged to help lead the company in the right direction.
An example of this form of leadership would be at a start-up company. The founder/CEO would put trust in their employees to be successful with little management and leadership. This style can help create a culture of independence from other the leader and other staff members.
Transformational Leadership
This style of leadership sounds the way it is; the leader is always looking to transform and improve the company and the work from the employees. A common theme found within these leaders is giving those beneath them a schedule of daily, weekly, or monthly tasks to complete. This leadership style helps the leader understand what is going well and what can be improved.
An example of this form of leadership would be companies that are amidst growth and transformation. Having a schedule to follow and tasks to complete not only helps the leader to understand where there is room for growth but helps the employers stay on track with their work.
Transactional Leadership
Lastly, the transactional leader is the most common form of leadership we see today. When staff members and employees complete their work, they receive a reward for the work they’ve done, similarly in the form of a transaction. When the employee first starts the position, they most likely will be given rewards when they achieve more.
An example of this leadership style is in most sales positions. When an employee working in sales surpasses a quota, many of the times, the employees are given rewards and incentives. This leadership style encourages the employee and others at the job to continue hard work.
Overall, there is no right form of leadership. The right leadership style depends based on the type of company, the personality of the leader, the disposition of the employees, and the overall company culture. Take time to think about your current boss’s leadership style and your leadership style and how well you work together. Some food for thought!
Clutch is a creative staffing partner. We connect digital, creative, and marketing professionals with companies looking for freelance, temp-to-hire or direct hire resources.
