Situational Leadership Styles - Friday, December 05 2008
Daniel Goleman in his book Leadership That Gets Results (Harvard Business Review, March-April 2000), refers to the fact that one leadership style is not appropriate for all situations. He shows that truly effective bosses vary their leadership style according to situations. He identified six leadership styles:
Do what I tell you. Goleman calls this the "coercive" style of leadership and it is the least effective of the six. Nobody likes to be bossed around. But in a short-term crisis it can mobilize people quickly.
Do as I do, now. This the "pacesetting" style and it’s the second least effective. This leader is obsessed with doing things better and faster but doesn’t make expectations clear. "If I have to tell you, you’re wrong for the job," she thinks. As a result, responsibility and initiative evaporate because people focus on second guessing her expectations. Pacesetting can be effective with highly motivated, competent teams, however, if used in combination with other styles.
Daniel Goleman in his book Leadership That Gets Results (Harvard Business Review, March-April 2000), refers to the fact that one leadership style is not appropriate for all situations. He shows that truly effective bosses vary their leadership style according to situations. He identified six leadership styles:
