Leadership Styles and Theories: Impact on Team Dynamics

Understanding Leadership Styles

Autocratic Leadership Style

• Characteristics:
  • Leader holds discretionary powers and assumes full responsibility.
  • Does not delegate tasks or distribute work.
  • Establishes a bonus system based solely on results, without considering individuals or circumstances.
• Implications:
  • Can lead to demotivation.
  • Encourages nervous competition among group members.
  • Promotes individualism.
  • Results in a lack of group cohesion.

Laissez-faire (Hands-Off) Leadership Style

• Characteristics:
  • Boss does not make decisions or interfere; the group makes them.
  • Does not recognize or criticize results.
  • Provides no guidelines or establishes work plans.
• Consequences:
  • Individualism.
  • Poor group motivation.
  • Poor relationships between group members.
  • Absence of group feeling.

Democratic Leadership Style

• Characteristics:
  • Chief proposes tasks to the group and establishes a work plan.
  • Provides feedback and praise when necessary.
  • Stimulates group participation.
  • Assumes responsibility, but shares it with group members.
• Consequences:
  • Friendly working environment.
  • Motivated individuals with a strong sense of belonging to the group.
  • Encourages cooperation.
  • High degree of motivation, leading to qualitative and quantitative performance.

Paternalistic Leadership Style

• Characteristics:
  • Makes decisions without allowing the group to participate (though opinions may sometimes be solicited).
  • Maintains a continuous protective attitude towards group members.
  • Attempts to address personal and professional problems of team members.
• Consequences:
  • Lack of motivation.
  • Lack of group cohesion.
  • Individualism.

Bureaucratic Leadership Style

• Characteristics:
  • Establishes a system based on strict compliance with rules and regulations.
  • Does not value or assess the creativity of individuals.
  • Prioritizes the implementation and monitoring of established company standards.
• Consequences:
  • Absence of interpersonal relationships.
  • Limited communication between individuals.
  • Primarily downward communication.

Key Leadership Theories

Leadership Trait Theory

• The first theory attempting to explain leadership.
• Posits that leader traits are innate, not acquired.
• Examples of such traits include experience and training.
• A leader possesses features like skills and techniques to achieve and maintain effective power (e.g., as discussed in Machiavelli's The Prince).

McGregor's Theory X and Y

• Managers can adopt a leadership style (autocratic, democratic, or participatory) based on their perception of the nature of the people they work with.

Theory X

• Leader's Approach:
  • Assumes automatic direction of the group.
  • Underestimates the capabilities of individuals.
  • Perceives individuals as irresponsible and inactive.
• Consequences:
  • Demotivation of workers.
  • Decreased production capacity.
  • Workers feel constantly watched.

Theory Y

• Leader's Approach:
  • An integrative theory.
  • Employs a democratic and participatory leadership style.
  • Develops conditions that enable people to achieve objectives.
  • Leader offers: help, favorable conditions, good relations, and teamwork.
• Consequences:
  • Increased motivation and work engagement.
  • Enhanced productive capacity.