6 leadership styles (and when to use them)

1. Coercive leadership style

According to Goleman, coercive is the least effective leadership style in most situations, as it's characterized by top-down decision making, an authoritarian approach, and a demanding attitude.

This leadership style can yield short-term results, but it ultimately has corrosive, long-term impacts on company culture, which can cause high employee turnover and a disillusioned, disengaged workforce.

The best time to use the coercive leadership style is in certain crisis situations where swift, decisive action with a clear chain of command is needed, Goleman said. For example, a corporate takeover or in an ED. However, Goleman noted that in most cases, the coercive approach is likely to be detrimental.

2. Authoritative leadership style

The authoritative leadership style involves motivating team members by connecting their work to the larger organizational strategy, helping them understand how their everyday tasks contribute to a greater purpose, Goleman said.

This leadership style is about setting clear guidelines rather than micromanaging and about trusting your staff to work toward your shared vision with autonomy and creativity, which can help create higher levels of engagement and job satisfaction. According to Goleman, this is the most effective and inspiring leadership style.

The authoritative leadership style is useful in many situations, especially during times of change or uncertainty, Knight reports.  Finding organic ways to remind staff members of your company's mission, like a pharmaceutical executive saying, "our work will benefit many patients," or an insurance leader saying, "we're helping people secure their future," can also be a part of your daily operations.

3. Pacesetting leadership style

The pacesetting style involves holding yourself and others to high standards. However, this is a leadership style that can backfire if the focus is on failures instead of successes, Goleman said. Constantly pushing for productivity and results can also create a pressure-cooker environment.

This style's focus on perfection can make it difficult for employees to see how their efforts fit into the bigger picture, which can, in turn, lead to increased turnover. "If your best people are leaving because you're alienating them or stressing them out, then you're not acting in the long-term interests of your organization," Goleman said.

The pacesetting style should be used infrequently but can be useful in certain circumstances where employees are highly motivated and exceptionally competent, Goleman said. It could be useful in specialized groups like R&D or legal teams, for example. But still, it's important to balance pacesetting with other leadership styles to avoid negative consequences.

4. Affiliative leadership style

The affiliative leadership style involves developing strong emotional bonds, which creates a sense of camaraderie and team spirit, which then fosters a positive and supportive workplace, Knight reports. This can help team members feel like they belong and can share ideas and feedback freely while working together towards common goals.

According to Goleman, this leadership style is especially useful in shaping a positive work environment, which is especially important during a time when some companies are asking employees to come back into the office. You can create a caring and cohesive community rather than an administrative machine if you get to know your employees on a personal level and celebrate their wins, Goleman said.

The affiliative leadership style shouldn't be used in isolation, as it may not provide enough feedback to address performance problems or deal with complex challenges, Knight reports. Combining this style with either the inspirational or authoritative styles can create more balance by providing both support and direction.

5. Democratic leadership style

The democratic leadership style involves empowering team members to have a voice in the decision-making process, Knight reports. When incorporating feedback, taking the time to gather input and listen to concerns and different perspectives can show your team that their opinions and voices matter and their contributions are valuable, giving them a sense of ownership and responsibility.

The democratic leadership style is ideal to use when you're unsure about the best course of action and want to generate some ideas, Knight reports. However, it's not a good strategy to leverage when team members lack experience or information or in times of crisis.

6. Coaching leadership style

The coaching leadership style focuses on individual growth and involves dedicating time to understand your team members' long-term goals, both personally and professionally.

"Asking questions like, 'What do you want from your life, your career, this job? And, how can I help you?' encourages your employees to reflect on their aspirations and work towards achieving them," Goleman said. Taking a genuine interest in your team members' development can help your employees feel valued and motivated.

The coaching leadership style is best used during one-on-one performance evaluations but can also be used in everyday conversations, Goleman said. For example, a leader could say, "You're great at XYZ, but when you do ABC, it doesn't work as well because of these reasons. Have you considered trying this other approach instead?" Goleman said.

The importance of adapting

Research has found that the most effective leaders adapt their leadership style to different circumstances, Knight reports.

According to an article Goleman wrote in 2000, "The most effective leaders switch flexibly among the leadership styles as needed…[They] don’t mechanically match their style to fit a checklist of situations — they are far more fluid. They are exquisitely sensitive to the impact they are having on others and seamlessly adjust their style to get the best results."

For example, if you're launching a new product, you may use an authoritative style, but you may switch to a coaching style when an employee struggling with a task needs help. Then, you may switch to a pacesetting style when your team of experienced employees need to meet a challenging deadline.

Even if you're naturally introverted or tend to be data-driven rather than emotionally driven, you can learn how to adapt different leadership styles to your needs, Knight reports.

"A leader's success depends on the productivity and effectiveness of the people who work for them," Goleman said. "You're shooting yourself in the foot if you use a style of leadership that's counterproductive to their performance." (Knight, Harvard Business Review, 4/9)