Compares and Contrast Three Leadership Styles, Essay Example

Abstract

This paper identifies, compares and contrast three leadership styles named: authoritarian, democratic and laissez-faire.  Also, this paper also explains how different styles of leadership can impact the effectiveness and productivity of an organization.

Three Leadership Styles

There are various leadership styles that an organization can utilize to improve productivity or to achieve its goals.  Some of the known styles are authoritarian, democratic and laissez-faire (Swanson, et.al, 2012).  These styles differ in their approach in decision-making.  An authoritarian leader makes decisions without consulting the staff and subordinates; a democratic leader is more group oriented and allows subordinates and associates in the decision-making process; a laissez-faire leader is more passive in dealing with decision-making and subordinates.

Impact of Effectiveness of the Overall Organization

With the varying approach in leadership, it cannot be denied that varying results can be expected as well.  For example, an authoritarian leader can yield productivity among the staff but because the subordinates are not allowed to participate in the decision-making process it can create a very hostile environment where the workers are not happy with their jobs anymore.  Efficiency, on the other hand, is the result of a democratic leadership style.  Since both the subordinates and the leaders work hand-in-hand in the fulfillment of organizational tasks, the entire operation and organization does not depend on dynasty of one leader.  Moreover, a laissez-faire leader yields poor quality of work since there is no balance between leadership and output.  The passive approach can lead to tardiness and lack of motivation.

Level of Leadership

In addition, it can be said that level 3 of leadership style has the greatest impact on productivity.  Level 3 is the level of production which makes a distinction between a true leader and those who just hold the leader’s title.  It is a known fact that good and effective leaders get things done, they yield results that impact an organization is a positive manner (Alison & Crego, 2008).  For example, if the goal of a company is to reach $1M in sales and the leader achieved that- then the company’s morale gets a boost.  If the leader fails, the whole team fails to produce as well.  It is hard to fake productivity.  There is only one way to test and it is whether or not the leader is producing for the benefit of the organization.