You’ve probably had several jobs so far, hence reported your duties to more than one manager.
What do you remember about them? Was it their daily routines or the way they dressed?
Most likely, it was their attitude and management style. That is how they prevailed or failed to deliver results and influence stakeholders under a set of different, often competing interests.
If you were lucky enough to work under a leader’s guidance (short reminder: managers are not leaders), you’ve probably noticed them in action, displaying a wide area of management styles: decisive during a crisis, motivating when it comes to new challenges, even supportive towards your career.
Note: if you want to know what does a project manager do with regard to education and experience, read this article that outlines steps and advice. Not sure whether a project manager is the same as a product manager? If you want to learn the difference between product manager and project manager roles in terms of skill set, team collaboration, and experience, read this article. For more project work methodology examples in practice, check out this article that covers various planning and management methods.
In fact, the majority of the studies show that leadership influences the organizational culture and overall employee satisfaction in a positive way, which in turn impacts the bottom-line performance and profitability. All good leaders use a dedicated work management tool to augment their productivity and manage their daily schedules and activities while catering to their company and client affairs.
Well, the project profitability analysis is quantitative in nature, so knowing how to measure internal costs and profitable projects shouldn’t count as examples of good leadership in your small business. The same goes for reviewing worked hours of your staff through time-tracking software, which can impact job performance only to a certain extent. Again, these are essential metrics, but they are exactly that: metrics.
I argue that we need to shift our focus to qualitative analyses and factors to answer this question:
How do leaders adapt so well to so many different situations?
First, let’s take a walk down the history of employee motivation.
History of employee motivation
First off is a social psychologist mentioned in almost every Management 101 class, Douglas McGregor, who in 1960 came up with two theories about management styles.
Theory X implies that humans are inherently lazy. They avoid work at all costs, dodge responsibilities, and even resist the company’s needs altogether. Hence they need to be tightly controlled through strict policies, punishments, and carrot-and-stick rewards. This is not necessarily McGregor’s thinking but rather a depiction of the authoritarian management style predominant at that time.
Theory Y, on the other hand, implies that humans can enjoy work and motivate themselves as long as they are committed to the company’s goals. Taking ownership of our work, seeking responsibilities, and solving problems creatively are blessed faculties that reside in all of us—if adequately nurtured by the management. So, McGregor proposed a democratic management style, valuing each individual’s input over control.
Nine years later, Abraham Maslow would iterate on McGregor’s theories and add a new dimension derived from his famous hierarchy: the need for self-actualization.
Theory Z was born, implying that a rare portion of humans become transcenders and seek peak moments beyond self-actualization, unlike their theory Y peers who stop after fulfilling their goals. This makes them far more able to think about the world’s problems and find solutions. Maslow referred to the visionary management style so dire these days without knowing it.
It was only later in 2000 when Daniel Goleman, with the help of the consulting firm Hay/McBer, developed those and other theories to develop six management styles deeply rooted in emotional intelligence.
I’ve added another management style, the Laissez-Faire one, that advocates for employee freedom and self-directed teams. Mainly because of its popularity among high-growth startups and creative businesses nowadays, even though it was initially introduced in 1939 by Kurt Lewin and his team.
That’s a total of 7 management styles summed up in the following table adapted from Goleman’s research paper.
Management styles characteristics
And a matrix plotted by yours truly to determine when to use the appropriate management style given your team’s maturity (inexperienced-experienced) and the nature of your company environment (crisis-stability)—assuming that you’re a knowledgeable manager with tenure but not an expert.
When to use management styles
Note: Before looking into these management styles, remember that each manager has a set of tools they prefer using. If you are a manager looking for low-cost tools to use with your team, please check this project tools article, in which we compare the most popular project management tools.
Here’s a deep dive into the pros and cons of each one of them.
1. Authoritarian management style
Also known as autocratic, coercive, or directive, this management style is the most controlling and damaging of them all. There is only one authority figure, the manager, who makes all the decisions and expects complete obedience.
Because of this, communication is top-down and personal opinions are discouraged. Employees gradually lose their morale to the point of being reluctant to take any form of responsibility. They will also be severely punished for the smallest deviation from the norm and motivated through higher quotas, which rob them of their respect for themselves and the work they take pride in.
It doesn’t take a scientist to tell that an authoritarian management style spells disaster in the long run. But this style works best during a crisis (like a hostile takeover) or with a workforce that is either new, unskilled, or unmotivated. Brief moments when speed and certainty weigh in much more than consensus. Of course, this implies that your organization is well-oiled, with clearly defined workflows and roles.
2. Visionary management style
Dubbed transformational, influential, or authoritative, the visionary management style’s main role is to guide toward a shared vision that resonates with everyone onboard.
Unlike their more authoritarian counterparts, visionary managers motivate their teams not through fear but by showing them how their work fits the company’s goals and strategy. As a result, expectations become crystal clear while team members are given plenty of freedom to devise their own solutions as long as they contribute to the overall vision.
Although it does foster an entrepreneurial spirit and lifts employee morale, the visionary management style proves ineffective with people who lack the emotional intelligence to read the atmosphere around them and lead the change. It’s also not advisable with a team of experts who know more than you do. They’ll stifle your authority and boycott your trust. Use it in knowledgeable teams who can handle the intricate details independently and look up to you for direction.
3. Affiliative management style
The affiliative management style focuses on building relationships – between the team members or the team members and the manager. The premise is simple: creating a sense of belonging through positive feedback and a lax environment breeds loyalty.
Managers who employ this style affiliate themselves with employees and tend to their needs – even have one-on-one personal talks over lunch or bring cupcakes when a significant milestone has been reached. Team members in general work relaxed, and communication becomes streamlined without the need to play any team-building games to bring them together.
However, as people come first, there’s less emphasis on results since everyone receives more or less the same treatment. This might trouble those who invest heavy hours in their work and take pride in it. There’s virtually no feedback on what steps one should take to improve their skills or work. For these reasons, the affiliative management style is better off under stressful situations when broken ties need to be repaired and always in conjunction with another management style, like the visionary one.
4. Coaching management style
As its name goes, the coaching management style considers the employee’s long-term professional development as the primary objective. It does so by uncovering their strengths and weaknesses, then tying their personal goals to the company ones.
Like a coach, a manager carves out time from their personal agenda to help others improve themselves. Unlike affiliative managers, they give plenty of constructive feedback and challenges in the form of projects or a new role with more responsibility to motivate their trainees in their endeavors. This means they’re willing to close an eye to short-term failures as long as they serve as lessons for the future.
According to Daniel Goleman, this management style is one of the least used due to the time required to mentor someone. But after the first sessions, it gets more accessible to bond and review performance. Be cautious in your pursuit, as coaching might not work with someone who doesn’t want to deliberately improve themselves or with a passive-aggressive coworker.
5. Pacesetting management style
Like the authoritative management style, the pacesetting one also revolves around one authority figure, which, this time, sets the pace and expects everyone to follow suit with little to no guidance. If they fail to do so, they’re immediately fired and replaced with someone who can.
Although it might look invigorating, the management style is damaging to the overall climate in the long run. By setting high standards of excellence without a clear plan on how to achieve them, managers leave their teams in limbo. As a result, morale is low and routine installs in, each task representing a small check in the daily treadmill.
Team members might also turn aimless once the pacesetter is gone, suffering a temporary productivity shock and perhaps a loss of identity if they recognize work as part of themselves.
There is but one case when the pacesetting management style is appropriate, and that is with highly skilled and self-motivated team members that get things done ahead of time. This implies that skill-wise, you need to be on par with them; otherwise, they won’t trust you.
6. Democratic management style
Also going by the name of collaborative, consultative, or participative, the democratic management style is all about consensus. Team members are encouraged to voice their thoughts while the manager approves the final decision.
What makes this style charming is the benefits on both sides. On the one hand, employees get to actively participate in the decision-making process, hence tend to be more realistic regarding what can be achieved and what not. On the other hand, managers can get an easy buy-in and access to a diverse set of ideas they wouldn’t have come along with. This also helps them gauge the team’s level of spirit and concern so they know how to boost their morale.
Beneficial as it may be, the democratic management style lacks speed since consensus can be delayed through endless meetings that are anything but effective. Some managers might even use it as an excuse to stall precious time until an Evrika-moment hits them with a brilliant solution to their problems. But perhaps the most significant downside represents the minority of voters, who might feel hurt or alienated from the group since their opinions weren’t taken into account.
Whatever the reason, sit down with them and make sure they commit to the outcome, even if they don’t agree to the final decision. Also, beware of using this style in times of crisis or with an inexperienced workforce. Your job is to be guided by knowledgeable employees, not confused.
7. Laissez-Faire management style
“Laissez-faire” is French for “let do,” a phrase that this management style fully embodies: allowing employees to do what they want without interference from the management.
Common in high-growth startups, creative businesses, and those with a flat hierarchy, this laid-back style allows teams to fully manage themselves for increased innovation and creativity. Managers might intervene when things go awry or when requested, trusting their expert teams to independently make decisions and troubleshoot minor issues.
This auto-pilot style, as I like to call it, works only with a mature, self-motivated, and highly skilled team that is much more competent than the manager. It is not advised during a time of crisis, with an inexperienced team, or during a large project when small details can turn into large problems overnight. Even so, too much autonomy can misalign teams when they bring their work together as they don’t communicate with each other. So use it with caution and impart clarity at the beginning and review phases of a project.
Other management styles
Notice how we paired the management styles in comparison with each other (authoritative- visionary; affiliative – coaching; pace-sitting – democratic), leaving the Laissez-Faire one alone since it’s a one-of-a-kind breed in itself.
This is not an exhaustive list, as other not-so-popular management styles exist, like the transactional management style, which motivates employees by tying up performance with rewards. These typically come in the form of financial incentives (quota bonuses, stocks), which tend to wear off in meaning once a certain level of economic stability has been reached.
Or the management by walking around (MBWA), a custom rather than a management style that emphasizes being reachable to your team. Like an open-door policy, managers walk between desks to check for progress and ensure their team members have everything they need to fulfill their work. In time, they can become a distraction, though.
Elements that can influence management styles
There’s no right or wrong management style. Each one of them is suitable under certain conditions and environments:
- Your personality, maturity, and skills – You can’t use the democratic style only to get fresh ideas from your team and not act upon them. Nor be a coach when you yourself need coaching. Assess yourself fairly, and don’t hide your shortcomings – rely on your team to compensate for them.
- Your team member’s maturity – Self-motivated, highly skilled team members who take pride in their work can be granted more freedom of action. On the opposite end, recent grads could use some discipline – while those with tenure but still young might need coaching in decision-making and critical thinking.
- Team longevity – Newly formed teams require more supervision and conflict resolution than the more established ones. Use the visionary management style to instill a common vision and sense of belonging for the formed, with a more laissez-faire attitude towards the latter.
- Team location – Teams that reside in the same office and meet face-to-face for feedback can benefit from a laid-back environment. Remote teams, though, need a tighter approach with guidelines so that they’re on the same page.
- Project urgency – A project that’s urgent or is intended to solve a crisis calls for a directive style, where results come before people. Long-term ones are more relaxed, allowing you to focus on your team’s personal and professional development.
- Culture – You might not feel it, but subconsciously you’re affected by the culture of the country that you live in. Geert Hofstede’s initial four (now six) cultural dimensions speak loudly about the values of a company or team. For instance, in a collectivistic country, managers are more inclined to make consensus-based decisions (Mexic). In contrast, those living at a high-power distance (Asian countries in general) are comfortable with an authoritarian management style.
What is the right management style for you?
A lot of influencing conditions, right? Luckily, Daniel Goleman has pinned down four management styles every manager should master.
Leaders who have mastered four or more—especially the authoritative, democratic, affiliative, and coaching styles—have the best climate and business performance.
The secret to making them your own is to actually study the underlying emotional intelligence competencies specific to every style available in his study. So, for instance, if you’re an authoritarian manager and want to become more democratic in your approach, refine your active listening and communication skills. Or, if you’re an affiliative one and want to use the coaching style, then focus on the art of delivering constructive feedback.
Also, each style has pros and cons when managing a team remotely. If you lack experience, start by reading this article on how to work remotely to get into the shoes of your subordinates.
Simon Sinek said it well:
Authorities die when they die. Leaders live on through all those they have inspired.
First published on October 9, 2019.
