5 Common Management Styles

Management performs an integral role in the smooth operation of any business. How situations are handled and how employees and management interact has a lot to do with the management style used. There are 5 common management styles that are commonly used.

1. The Autocratic Style - The Autocratic style is referred to as the classical management style. When the Autocratic style of management is used leaders and managers unilaterally make all the decisions, retaining all power. With this style of management employees are never consulted for their input or ideas. Rather they are simply expected to obey and carry out orders as they are given. Motivation is achieved using a punishment and reward system.

During the past 25 years this style of management has been used less and less, and criticized more often. Studies have shown that companies that use this style of management have a much higher turnover and absenteeism rate than companies that use one of the more modern and interactive management styles.

Younger employees are very resistant to this management style and are less likely to work for employers who use this style of management. Generation X workers have higher expectations from their work environment,

2. Bureaucratic Leadership Style - The Bureaucratic leadership style manager is a by the book kind of manager doing everything according to procedure or policy. If it isn’t in the book they look to a manager above them for the answer. This type of leader is really more of a policy police officer than a leader.

This style of leadership can be effective when tasks are routine and repetitive, and when it is critical for employees to understand procedures such as those working in dangerous fields .

3. Democratic Leadership Style - The democratic leadership style has become very popular because of the interaction between management and employees. This style of management keeps employees informed about issues that affect their work and they share decision making and problem solving tasks with their employees. The leader is more of a coach who gets his team of employees to work together for the betterment of themselves and the organizations. Of course he or she always has the final say.

This leadership style produces high quality work and workers for extended periods of time. Employees are trusted and in return they cooperate, have a high moral, team spirit, and go above and beyond the call of duty.

A demographic leader will allow the employees to participate in their own evaluation of their performance, and establish their own goals. It encourages employees to grow and be promoted within the organization and employees are recognized for their achievements.

4. Laissez Faire Leadership Style - Another name for this style is the “hands of” style. It is a style in which management provides little direction to employees. Employees have the power to determine their own goals, solve their own problems, and make their own decisions. This style of management is commonly found in work forces where the employees are highly educated, skilled, and experienced. This group of employees requires little direction and have their own drive to accomplish and take pride in their accomplishments.

5. Mixed Leadership Style - A mixed or varying leadership style is a blend of the three other styles and varies depending on the managers background, personal values and ethics, and experience, mixed with the type of employees the manager is supervising, and the values and traditions of the company.

Management styles may be defined by the company or the manager depending on the circumstances. Of the 5 common management styles that are commonly used the Democratic Leadership Style is the most popular.

Aura Mirchandani is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory.