Leadership Styles: Impact on Team Dynamics and Performance

Laissez-faire Leadership Style

Characteristics:

• Exhibits little or too much confidence in group members.
• Goals are unclear, leading to difficulty in decision-making.
• Does not motivate or stimulate the team.
• Abandons or does not assume responsibilities.
• Considers leadership as merely letting go, believing that group interaction will naturally lead to creative results.

Outcomes:

• Lack of group cohesion.
• Instability and high tension.
• Low cooperation and performance levels.
• Lack of work ethic.
• Anxiety from being unable to create expectations.
• Uncontrolled discussions.

Democratic Leadership Style

Characteristics:

• Stimulates and guides participation.
• Nourishes group members and serves the group based on its rules.
• Shares approaches and both positive and negative norms.
• Offers empathetic criticism.
• Presents little frustration and resistance, leading to strong stability.
• Primary concern is the achievement of objectives.
• Delegates responsibilities.
• Reinforces interpersonal relationships.
• Supports and facilitates communication and change.
• Offers constructive information.
• Evaluates success by integrating the group, not by leaving them alone.

Outcomes:

• Members work with a high degree of accountability, participation, and teamwork.
• High group performance and productivity, which remains even if the leader is not present.
• Strong group consciousness and a sense of "us."
• Low levels of aggressiveness and apathy.
• The leader is considered more of a friend.
• High group unity with stable subgroups.
• Low frustration levels.
• The group consistently responds to challenges.
• High degree of identity with shared objectives.
• Mutual willingness to help.
• Open communication, accessible to all members.

Autocratic Leadership Style

Characteristics:

• The leader constantly monitors and expects immediate acceptance of orders.
• The leader is the sole source of norms for the group.
• Praises little and does not believe in the capabilities of group members.
• Assumes control and resists change.
• Intensely supervises and directs.

Outcomes:

• Low level of cooperation.
• Suspicion and continuous apparent discontent.
• Irritability and deep submission.
• Members blame each other.
• High performance only when the leader is present; performance drops significantly in their absence.
• Fear of the leader's absence.
• High levels of frustration and aggression due to lack of freedom.
• Lack of a sense of "us."

Paternalistic Leadership Style

Characteristics:

• The leader may not be fully aware that their performance is authoritative.
• Shows superficial interest in the group, never truly changing their perspective.
• Bases authority on their knowledge and experience, but often fails to truly listen.
• Hears the group but denies their ability to do things for themselves.
• Little creativity and originality are brought forth by members.
• Protects members without allowing them to evolve.

Outcomes:

• Attitudes of submission among group members.
• Little initiative from the team.
• Possibilities for cooperation, participation, and team spirit are closed off.
• Eventually leads to situations similar to autocratic leadership.
• The root of the problem is seldom confronted.
• Relationships remain superficial.