South Africa is on the brink of its most crucial round of General Elections since 1994. The outcome of these elections will not only determine the country’s leadership but also shape its future economic development, underscoring the importance of every vote.
Whatever the outcome on May 30, entrepreneurship and the increased participation of private companies will drive economic growth in the future. The commitment of the country’s top CEOs is a testament to this.
I recently read an article on the Harvard Business Review (HBR) website which discusses leadership in more detail.
Coercive leadership style
The HBR article points out that of all the leadership styles, coercive is the least effective in most situations, according to Goleman. It’s not difficult to understand why. This style is characterised by top-down decision-making, an authoritarian approach, and a demanding, do-what-I-say attitude, he says. While this style may yield short-term results, it has a corrosive long-term impact on the company culture, leading to high employee turnover and a disillusioned, disengaged workforce.
When to use the coercive leadership style: This command-and-control leadership style may work in certain crisis situations where swift, decisive action and a clear chain of command are needed: a corporate takeover or in an emergency room, for instance. In most cases, though, this approach is likely to be detrimental, says Goleman.
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Authoritative leadership style
The article adds that the authoritative leadership style, not to be confused with authoritarian leadership, involves motivating your team members by connecting their work to a larger organisational strategy, helping them understand how their day-to-day tasks contribute to a greater purpose. It’s about setting clear guidelines, not micromanaging. It’s also about trusting your staff members to work towards the shared vision with autonomy and creativity, which creates high employee engagement and increased job satisfaction. If coercive is the worst kind of leadership, authoritative shines as the most effective and inspiring style.
When to use the authoritative leadership style: This leadership style is beneficial in lots of situations, and it’s particularly useful during times of change or uncertainty. It can also be integrated into daily operations by reminding your team members of your company’s mission in an organic way. For example, a pharmaceutical executive might say, “Our work will benefit many patients,” while an insurance leader might say, “We’re helping people secure their future.” These reminders make the organisation’s goals and mission tangible and meaningful for the team.
Pacesetting leadership style
The HBR article points out that this leadership style involves holding yourself and others to high standards. While striving for excellence is admirable, the pacesetting approach backfires if the focus is on failures rather than successes. The constant push for productivity and results can also create a pressure-cooker work environment, says Goleman.
The extreme focus on perfection can also make it difficult for employees to see how their individual efforts fit into the bigger picture, which can lead to increased turnover. “If your best people are leaving because you’re alienating them or stressing them out, then you’re not acting in the long-term interests of your organisation,” he says.
When to use the pacesetting leadership style: Although this style should be used infrequently, it can work in certain circumstances where your employees are highly motivated and exceedingly competent. It may suit specialised groups, like R&D or legal teams, for instance. But even in these cases, it’s important to balance pacesetting with other approaches to avoid consequences like employee burnout.
Affiliative leadership style
The article adds that this leadership style involves building strong emotional bonds, creating a sense of camaraderie and team spirit, and fostering a positive and supportive workplace. This helps team members feel like they belong, can freely share ideas and feedback, and work together towards common goals.
According to Goleman, this relationship-oriented style is especially valuable in shaping a positive work environment, which is particularly important at a time when some companies are calling employees back to the office. You can create a caring, cohesive community rather than an administrative machine by getting to know your employees on a personal level and celebrating their wins, he says.
When to use the affiliative leadership style: This style builds connections and creates a positive company culture, but it should not be used in isolation. It may not provide sufficient feedback to address performance issues or deal with complex challenges. Combining this approach with the inspirational, authoritative style creates more balance by offering both support and direction.
Democratic leadership style
The article points out that the democratic leadership style involves empowering your team to have a voice in decision-making. By taking the time to gather input, listen to concerns and diverse perspectives, and incorporate feedback, you show your team members that their opinions matter, their voices are heard, and their contributions are valued. This gives them a sense of ownership and responsibility.
When to use the democratic leadership style: This style is ideal when you’re unsure about the best course of action and want to generate ideas. But it’s not a good strategy when your team members lack experience or information or in times of crisis.
Coaching leadership style
The article adds that the coaching style is focused on individual growth and involves dedicating time to understand your team members’ long-term goals, both for their personal and professional development. “Asking questions like, ‘What do you want from your life, your career, this job? And, how can I help you?’ encourages your employees to reflect on their aspirations and work towards achieving them,” says Goleman. By taking a genuine interest in their development, you help your employees feel valued and motivated.
When to use the coaching leadership style: This style is especially useful during one-on-one performance evaluations, but you can also slip it into everyday conversations, he says. A leader in coach mode might say, “You’re great at XYZ, but when you do ABC, it doesn’t work as well because of these reasons. Have you considered trying this other approach instead?” This real-time feedback helps employees grow and learn rather than letting potential problems linger.
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How to adapt your leadership style to fit the situation you’re in
The HBR article points out that research suggests that the most effective leaders adapt their style to different circumstances — be it a change in setting, a shift in organisational dynamics, or a turn in the business cycle. That’s why you need to stay attuned to your environment, understand your impact on others, and adjust your approach accordingly.
As Goleman writes in his 2000 article, “The most effective leaders switch flexibly among the leadership styles as needed…[They] don’t mechanically match their style to fit a checklist of situations — they are far more fluid. They are exquisitely sensitive to the impact they are having on others and seamlessly adjust their style to get the best results.”
The article adds that this is how switching styles looks in real life: When launching a new project, you would use an authoritative style where clear direction and a compelling vision are needed to bring the team together and inspire people toward a common goal. You would switch to a coaching style when an employee is struggling with a certain task and you need to help them learn a new skill. And you would employ a pacesetting style when your team of driven and experienced employees needs to meet a challenging deadline.
But what if you feel like you’re not equipped to take on a new and different leadership style — let alone more than one?
The article points out that Goleman says that anyone can expand their range of leadership styles through dedicated practice and repetition. He also recommends focusing on growing your emotional intelligence, “To expand [their style repertories], leaders must first understand which emotional intelligence competencies underlie the leadership styles they are lacking,” he writes in his 2000 HBR article. “They can then work assiduously to increase their quotient of them. For instance, an affiliative leader has strengths in three emotional intelligence competencies: in empathy, in building relationships, and in communication… Such advice about adding capabilities may seem simplistic — ‘Go change yourself’ — but enhancing emotional intelligence is entirely possible with practice.”
Following a pattern
The future of South Africa looks bright, with strong retail leaders taking charge of the country’s economic narrative. Following this pattern will be a significant step in the right direction.
