“Leadership is not a rank, it is a responsibility. Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” ~ Simon Sinek, Author
Classes and programs about leadership (which most people never take until they find themselves thrown into a leadership role) often break down leadership styles into groups like autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire. Each type has it’s own pluses and minuses, strengths and weaknesses.
The autocratic leader tends to generate lousy morale, resentment, lack of trust, and high employee turnover. But they’re great at making swift decisions in a crisis. Some people respond well to the autocratic leader, others rebel and resist that kind of approach.
With a democratic leadership style, there’s a risk of slow decision-making, because input must be gathered from everyone, but overall employee satisfaction and trust and creativity, are advantages.
The laissez-faire leader, where much autonomy is given to employees or followers, is usually well liked, but the organization can lack direction and accountability.
Leaders aren’t merely elected or appointed or promoted or hired. Leaders are those who step up to the plate in the home, at church, at work, or in an organization or group. Whatever style they bring may matter less than the leader’s motives and internal insecurities. Those who fear losing power or control will likely lead in such a way that will not endear them to their followers.
I like author Simon Sinek’s take on leadership… it’s not about being in charge, it’s about taking care of those in your charge. That applies to all of us, because we’re all responsible for taking care of something. How we take care of those things that are in our care — from our house plants to our children to our employees to our constituents — defines us, and it becomes our legacy. Make it a good one.
