What Type of Leader are People Most Likely to Follow?

Hundreds of books and articles have been written about great leaders and their unique styles of leading teams within a company. These entrepreneurs are great examples of what it takes to lead a team during challenging times by keeping them motivated.

One of the most influential studies on leadership is Daniel Goleman’s “Leadership That Gets Resultsa research that determined how leadership behaviors affect the corporate climate. Here are the six types of leaders as outlined by Robyn Benincase of Fast Company:

The Pacesetting Leader

A pacesetter expects and models excellence and self-direction. If this style were summed up in one phrase, it would be “Do as I do, now.”

The Authoritative Leader

The Authoritarian mobilizes the team toward a common vision and focuses on end goals, leaving the means up to each individual. If this style were summed up in one phrase, it would be “Come with me.”

The Affiliative Leader

The Affiliate works to create emotional bonds that bring a feeling of bonding and belonging to the organization. If this style were summed up in one phrase, it would be “People come first.”

The Coaching Leader

The Coach develops people for the future. If this style were summed up in one phrase, it would be “Try this.”

The Coercive Leader

The Coercer demands immediate compliance. If this style were summed up in one phrase, it would be “Do what I tell you.”

The Democratic Leader

The Democrat builds consensus through participation. If this style were summed up in one phrase, it would be “What do you think?”

No leader identifies by one style only; some are a combination. And there's also another important factor, which is the situation the leader needs to navigate. However, we want to know what leadership style you respect and respond to?

Image Credit: Flickr/Pedro Ribeiro Simoes

Did you find this article helpful? Click on one of the following buttons
We're so happy you liked! Get more delivered to your inbox just like it.

We're sorry this article didn't help you today – we welcome feedback, so if there's any way you feel we could improve our content, please email us at contact@tech.co

Written by:
Camila has been heavily active in South Florida’s tech startup community, where she is a co-host of a local radio show called pFunkcast. Camila previously worked at Greenpeace International and the Organization of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in various communication roles. A proud Brazilian who spent most of he life in Peru, she is passionate about traveling and documentaries.
Back to top