UCC 208: COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP
SESSION 7
LEADERSHIP & FOLLOWER COMMUNICATION STYLES
Leadership Styles - Important Leadership Styles
All leaders do not possess same attitude or same perspective. As discussed earlier, few leaders
adopt the carrot approach and a few adopt the stick approach. Thus, all of the leaders do not get
the things done in the same manner. Their style varies. The leadership style varies with the kind
of people the leader interacts and deals with. A perfect/standard leadership style is one which
assists a leader in getting the best out of the people who follow him.
Leadership style, more than leadership traits, determines leader effectiveness. The leader's style or
manner of dealing with the organization's members and communicating with them contributes to
or detracts from the group's overall functioning.
There are several different ways to define or categorize leadership styles.
In general, effective leaders do not fit solely into one style in any of the following classifications.
Instead, they are able to adapt their leadership style to fit the relational and situational context
One common way to study leadership style is to make a distinction among autocratic, democratic,
and laissez-faire leaders.
Authoritarian/Autocratic leadership style:
This is a style of leadership in which the leader uses strong, directive, controlling actions to
enforce the rules, regulations, activities and relationships in the work environment.
Authoritarian, or autocratic, leadership relies on legitimate, coercive, and reward power to
influence others. Sometimes these leaders are aggressive and dictatorial in their dealings with
the group.
In this style of leadership, a leader has complete command and hold over their
employees/team. The team cannot put forward their views even if they are best for the team’s
, or organizational interests. They cannot criticize or question the leader’s way of getting things
done. The leader himself gets the things done.
Characteristics of the authoritarian leader:
Sets goals individually
Engages primarily in one-way, downward communication
Controls discussions of followers
Sets policy and procedures unilaterally
Dominates interaction
Personally directs the completion of tasks
Provides infrequent positive feedback
Rewards obedience and punishes mistakes
Exhibits poor listening skills
Uses conflict for personal gain
The advantage of this style is that it leads to speedy decision-making and greater productivity
under leader’s supervision.
Drawbacks of this leadership style are that it leads to greater employee absenteeism and
turnover. This leadership style works only when the leader is the best in performing or when
the job is monotonous, unskilled and routine in nature or where the project is short-term and
risky.
while these approaches often work well in crisis situations, a constant use of this style can
cause followers to be apathetic and unproductive when the leader's back is turned. In other
words, when a leader constantly uses authoritarian leadership, the group members fail to
develop a sense of ownership of their work. They will work if they are watched, but do not
feel a part of the decision making process, hence they are not motivated.
The Laissez Faire Leadership Style:
A style of leadership in which the leader fails to accept the responsibilities of the position.
Here, the leader totally trusts their employees/team to perform the job themselves.
SESSION 7
LEADERSHIP & FOLLOWER COMMUNICATION STYLES
Leadership Styles - Important Leadership Styles
All leaders do not possess same attitude or same perspective. As discussed earlier, few leaders
adopt the carrot approach and a few adopt the stick approach. Thus, all of the leaders do not get
the things done in the same manner. Their style varies. The leadership style varies with the kind
of people the leader interacts and deals with. A perfect/standard leadership style is one which
assists a leader in getting the best out of the people who follow him.
Leadership style, more than leadership traits, determines leader effectiveness. The leader's style or
manner of dealing with the organization's members and communicating with them contributes to
or detracts from the group's overall functioning.
There are several different ways to define or categorize leadership styles.
In general, effective leaders do not fit solely into one style in any of the following classifications.
Instead, they are able to adapt their leadership style to fit the relational and situational context
One common way to study leadership style is to make a distinction among autocratic, democratic,
and laissez-faire leaders.
Authoritarian/Autocratic leadership style:
This is a style of leadership in which the leader uses strong, directive, controlling actions to
enforce the rules, regulations, activities and relationships in the work environment.
Authoritarian, or autocratic, leadership relies on legitimate, coercive, and reward power to
influence others. Sometimes these leaders are aggressive and dictatorial in their dealings with
the group.
In this style of leadership, a leader has complete command and hold over their
employees/team. The team cannot put forward their views even if they are best for the team’s
, or organizational interests. They cannot criticize or question the leader’s way of getting things
done. The leader himself gets the things done.
Characteristics of the authoritarian leader:
Sets goals individually
Engages primarily in one-way, downward communication
Controls discussions of followers
Sets policy and procedures unilaterally
Dominates interaction
Personally directs the completion of tasks
Provides infrequent positive feedback
Rewards obedience and punishes mistakes
Exhibits poor listening skills
Uses conflict for personal gain
The advantage of this style is that it leads to speedy decision-making and greater productivity
under leader’s supervision.
Drawbacks of this leadership style are that it leads to greater employee absenteeism and
turnover. This leadership style works only when the leader is the best in performing or when
the job is monotonous, unskilled and routine in nature or where the project is short-term and
risky.
while these approaches often work well in crisis situations, a constant use of this style can
cause followers to be apathetic and unproductive when the leader's back is turned. In other
words, when a leader constantly uses authoritarian leadership, the group members fail to
develop a sense of ownership of their work. They will work if they are watched, but do not
feel a part of the decision making process, hence they are not motivated.
The Laissez Faire Leadership Style:
A style of leadership in which the leader fails to accept the responsibilities of the position.
Here, the leader totally trusts their employees/team to perform the job themselves.
