Autocratic, Democratic, Laissez-faire Leadership Styles | Cracking the Code of Leadership Styles
Autocratic, Democratic, Laissez-Faire Leadership Styles | Cracking the Code of Leadership Styles
Have you – or someone you know – ever left a workplace not because of the job but because the clinic owner, head nurse or lead vet, let toxic behaviour persist?
If so, you’ll “get” first hand how different leadership styles impact how individuals interact with their team members, how conflicts are resolved (or not), and ultimately how clinic culture is impacted.
By recognising and understanding different leadership styles, you can improve your communication, team dynamics, conflict resolution, and personal development within your clinic’s team.
That’s what we’re looking at today in this new 101 series on Leadership Styles.
Leadership Styles
People don’t leave workplaces; they leave the people who lead them.
If you’ve worked in a few different clinics and been on a few different teams, you’ll know that some people are able to inspire and enable others to get more satisfaction from being at work each day.
Recognising different leadership styles at your clinic is important for several reasons:
Effective Communication:
Different leadership styles require different communication approaches. By understanding the leadership style of your head nurse, lead vet, practice manager or clinic owner, you can communicate with them more effectively.
Team Dynamics:
Different leadership styles impact team dynamics.
By understanding the leadership style of your head nurse or lead vet, you can better understand how they interact with team members and how they motivate their team.
This can help you work more effectively within the team and contribute to a positive work culture.
Conflict Resolution:
Different leadership styles can also affect how conflicts are resolved within the workplace.
By understanding the leadership style of those involved in the conflict, you can better understand how to approach and resolve the issue.
Personal Growth:
Recognising different leadership styles can also help you identify your own preferred leadership style and develop your own leadership skills.
By observing and learning from different leadership styles – knowing what works for you and others, and what doesn’t, you can improve your own abilities as a leader and adapt to different situations.
Therefore, being able to recognise different leadership styles in the workplace can help you work more effectively with others, resolve conflicts, and develop your own leadership skills.
It can also contribute to a positive clinic culture and to a more productive and successful vet clinic.
There are many identified leadership styles, and the exact number may vary depending on the source or model used.
Ten Different Leadership Styles
- Autocratic or authoritarian leadership
- Democratic or participative leadership
- Laissez-faire or delegative leadership
- Transactional leadership
- Transformational leadership
- Servant leadership
- Charismatic leadership
- Situational leadership
- Coaching leadership
- Authentic leadership
Other Podcast Episodes Mentioned Today
Episode 119 – the difference between equality and equity for cost effective veterinary recruitment
If you’re unsure what the difference is between “equity” and “equality” in the workplace is, go back and listen to episode 119 from 7th February 2023 – entitled “the distinction between equality and equity for cost effective veterinary recruitment” because it’s really important as many hiring decision makers in-clinic “get” the difference.
Episode 30 – Dr Megan Alderson – Companion Veterinarian – Principal of The Strand Veterinarian
A democratic leader may share financial reports, performance metrics, and customer feedback with their team.
For a real example of what this looks like, Dr Megan shares the type of information she shares with her team and the differences it’s made to her bottom line.