Today, when we talk about leadership, we no longer speak of that view that to be a leader one must be authoritarian, serious, that a leader is someone whom we must obey blindly, no matter the cost.
We are in a constant evolution of relationships between people and, more and more each day, to be a good leader it is necessary inspire people And, more often than not, to inspire through actions, not just words.
In more technical terms, leadership is a skill, which can be innate or acquired (yes, with study and practice you can become a leader!), of inspiring other people, influencing their actions, decisions, and behaviors in a positive way.
"Leadership is not about titles, positions, or hierarchies. It's about one life influencing another," as John C. Maxwell said. Today, a good leader is characterized by someone who... achieves their goals and objectives in a light and effective way, with active listening, concern for the mental health of their team, and genuine preparation for the position.
Types of Leadership
There are various types of leadership, and each person has their own way of leading. It's important to understand a little about each profile so you know how to deal with each one.
Furthermore, it helps you to self-critique your leadership style, work on areas for development, and enhance your strengths.
Below we've outlined some leadership styles: which one is yours or your manager's?
Democratic Leadership
A democratic leader is one who works closely with their team, being very approachable. They listen to other opinions before making certain decisions and believe in the development of others and the company.
Regardless of the mistakes that may occur along the way, a democratic leader is not the type of person who will seek out collaborators who have made mistakes to punish them, but will find solutions to correct what was done so that it does not happen again.
This type of leader values good relationships with everyone, making the workplace more pleasant, which consequently increases team productivity.
Technical Leadership
This leader is also quite inspiring, but unlike the leader above, they inspire through their in-depth technical knowledge. This person shows everyone that they really know how to do things and can find good solutions to problems that may arise.
A technical leader is always up-to-date, keeping an eye on trends, which broadens their perspective on everything they do. They are the kind of person who inspires through their actions, and people follow them because of their good example.
Liberal Leadership
The liberal leader is the one who's kind of on the fence, you know? Often, they end up not being respected by the team, they don't commit much, they're afraid to make more complex or controversial decisions, even if in a light and democratic way.
This type of leader ends up dumping things on their team and is not very involved. In this scenario, the team acts very independently and, generally, in a disorganized manner due to a lack of guidance, which can impact productivity.
Charismatic Leadership
A charismatic leader is one who can win people over deeply, without much effort; after all, charisma is a somewhat inexplicable characteristic.
Many people are born with it, but it's not impossible to develop charisma with time and dedication. A charismatic leader keeps their team on their side, making it strong and well-aligned.
Situational Leadership
A situational leader acts according to what each situation demands. They vary their actions in order to achieve the best results.
Another strong characteristic is that this leader is able to treat each team member according to their individual needs, respecting their technical skills and personal motivations.
360-degree leadership
This leader is able to influence not only their direct team, but all employees in the company. They are a very empathetic person who inspires others, always putting themselves in the other person's shoes, regardless of their position or department.
To help you further develop your leadership potential, we've compiled a list of free, online mini-courses with certificates offered by IDP below!
Leader and HR 4.0 – how to design and influence a hybrid culture
