Familiarity with Levin’s leadership style framework
You have probably worked or will work for different managers with different tastes during your working life. Some of them may be great and some of them may not work at all efficiently.
Familiarity with Levin’s leadership style framework
You may even have experienced working with a boss who performed exceptionally well in one situation and performed poorly in another because he or she used the same leadership style in different situations.
To be able to choose your approach according to the situation you are in. It is also very important and practical to know your innate leadership style to know which leadership behaviors to avoid.
One way to understand the above is to use the Lewin leadership framework. In this article, we will take a look at the three main leadership styles identified by Levin and see how we can use this model to be a more effective leader. Familiarity with Levin’s leadership style framework.
About the model.
In 1939, a psychologist named Kurt Levin conducted research and identified three main leadership styles and the impact that each of these styles has on team members. In addition, his research has shown that leaders who lead their teams in different ways achieve different results. Familiarity with Levin’s leadership style framework.
Although Levin did this research many years ago, its results have influenced many of today’s leadership styles and theories; Such as transformational leadership (which many believe is often the most effective leadership style in business). Familiarity with Levin’s leadership style framework.
The three main leadership styles identified by Levin are:
- Authoritarian (authoritarian) leadership.
- Participatory (democratic) leadership.
- Delegated leadership (free speech).
Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each of these styles is important in order to be able to identify your innate leadership style and choose the approach that suits your situation. Familiarity with Levin’s leadership style framework.
In addition, once you become familiar with each of these styles, you will find out which behaviors you should avoid in order to have the best relationship with people and get the best performance from them. Familiarity with Levin’s leadership style framework.
Three leadership styles.
We will now examine each of these three leadership styles in more detail and see when and how each of these styles can be used to manage your team. When considering these three styles, keep in mind that you can use the elements of each in different situations. Familiarity with Levin’s leadership style framework.
Authoritarian (authoritarian) leadership.
If you make your decisions without consulting your team members, you are using an authoritarian approach. In this way, you instruct people on what to do and how to do it.
The advantage of an authoritarian leadership style is that it is very effective because with this style you can make decisions very quickly and no one can object to what you want them to do.
The weakness of authoritarian leadership is that in an environment where this style is used, people’s morale and motivation are weakened. You also use this method to deprive yourself of the skills and knowledge of your team members, which can lead to limiting your team’s innovation and performance.
It should be noted, however, that in many cultures, individuals are strongly offended by and resist authoritarian leadership. This style can lead to severance or dissatisfaction in the team and may even cause people to show aggressive and hostile behavior and increase staff absenteeism or resignation.
Using an authoritarian leadership style is appropriate when you have to make a quick decision in a critical situation, but in many modern workplaces, it is harmful to use this style.
Participatory (democratic) leadership.
In a participatory leadership style, you will have the final say in the decisions, but you will involve your team members in the decision-making process. This will build trust and an intimate working relationship between you and your team members, and they will feel empowered and attached to their work.
The disadvantage of participatory leadership is that it slows down the decision-making process, which can lead to missed opportunities, especially in times of crisis and emergency.
Delegated leadership (liberal).
Delegated leadership is a passive approach to team management and leadership. By using this style, you will allow team members to choose their own goals and deadlines for doing their work, and you will leave it to them to decide how to do things. Familiarity with Levin’s leadership style framework.
Delegated leadership style is the most effective method when team members are highly skilled and motivated. This method can also be useful when you are working with consultants and people who work independently ( freelancers or people who work for themselves and are not part of your team). Familiarity with Levin’s leadership style framework.
The disadvantage of delegated leadership is that it can lead to poor performance in teams with low skills, motivation, and knowledge.