Daniel Goleman is a psychologist and journalist who wrote about Emotional Intelligence. He has identified six leadership styles, and has also developed a self-assessment questionnaire to help you identify which type of leader you are. The six leadership types are:

Affiliative

Authoritative

Coaching
Coercive
Democratic
Pace-setter

Each leadership style is described below, and there is also a self assessment questionnaire provided to help you find your leadership style.

Affiliative Leadership Style

Affiliative leaders value strong emotional bonds and strive to create harmony. They believe ‘People come first.’ They demonstrate empathy, strong communication skills, and the ability to build strong relationships. Affiliative leaders know how to develop trust and motivation. They believe in team harmony. They are less goal oriented and more people oriented.

Affiliative Leadership Self Assessment Questionnaire

These are common things associated with the affiliative leadership style:

I don’t care about the tasks right now. I care more about how you are doing.
Let’s see what we can do to build a stronger team.
I know you can do it.
We need team building opportunities.

Examples of affiliative leaders are: NY Yankees manager Joe Torre and US Olympic Hockey Coach Herb Brooks.

Authoritative Leadership Style

Authoritative leaders are experts and considered an authority in a specific field. They are able to articulate a plan and mobilize people toward a vision. Even though they are considered experts, they allow others a lot of room to identify solutions. This type of leadership is useful when a business or organization is drifting from its purpose. They create a positive and effective work environment.

Authoritative Leadership Self Assessment Questionnaire

These are common things associated with the authoritative leadership style:

Effort and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.
Things do not happen. Things are made to happen.
I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.

Examples of authoritative leaders are: Microsoft founder Bill Gates and US President John F Kennedy.

Coaching Leadership Style

Coaching leaders develop people. They value long-term staff development and creative long-term solutions. They demonstrate high levels of empathy, self-awareness, and mentoring. Coaching leaders are excellent at helping others to advance their personal and professional goals. The biggest issue with this leadership style is that it takes time to see results.

Coaching Leadership Self Assessment Questionnaire

These are common things associated with the Coaching leadership style:

Try this.
Have you thought about this.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
How can we help you achieve your personal and professional goals.

Examples of coaching leaders are: Pope John Paul II and Virgin founder Richard Branson.

Coercive / Command Leadership Style

The coercive or command leader expects obedience. Coercive leaders take charge of a situation. They show initiative, self-control, self-determination, decisiveness, and a drive to succeed. Command and control leadership is authoritative and uses a top-down approach with power vested in senior management. This leadership style works well in crisis situations. Command and control leaders do not ask if they can be in charge. They just do it. The negative side of the command leadership style is that others do not show initiative and the strong personality can eventually weaken morale.

Coercive / Command Leadership Self Assessment Questionnaire

These are common things associated with the coercive / command leadership style:

I expect others to do things my way, no questions asked.
I don’t care what others think of me. I am here to get the job done.
I expect perfection in myself and everyone else.
Do what I tell you to do.

Examples of coercive / command leaders are: Emperor Napoleon and General George Patton.

Democratic Leadership Style

Democratic leaders build consensus through participation. They constantly ask for opinions from others. They value collaboration. Ideas are freely exchanged, and open discussions are encouraged. Democratic leaders demonstrate high levels of team leadership and strong communication skills. It can be effective long-term, but needs to build momentum to be effective.

Democratic Leadership Self Assessment Questionnaire

These are common things associated with the democratic leadership style:

What do you think?
Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.
The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.

Examples of democratic leaders are: US Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

Pace-Setter Leadership Style

Pace-setters lead by example. They show initiative, ambition, and drive to succeed. They are good at organizing. They expect others to follow through with limited guidance. They have high standards and set a grueling pace. The pace-setter leadership style works best when subordinates are a highly-competent and well-motivated team that need to adapt and change quickly, such as in a medical office or legal firm. The negative side of the pace-setter leadership style is that subordinates can burn out quickly. There is such a high demand for success that many will walk away from the constant push.

Pace-Setter Leadership Self Assessment Questionnaire

These are common things associated with the pace setter leadership style:

I showed you how to do it, now do it.
I expect perfection in myself and everyone else.
There is a proper place for every item.
Here is the checklist.

Examples of pace setter leaders are: Apple founder Steve Jobs and CEO of General Electric Jack Welch.

Visionary Leadership Style

Visionary leaders are big thinkers and truly believe there is a better way. They have the end goal in mind before anything is ever started. Visionaries have a clear picture of the future and know what needs to be done to get there. Visionary leaders are positive, self-confident, empathetic, engaging, and catalysts for change.

Visionary Leadership Self Assessment Questionnaire

These are common things associated with the visionary leadership style:

Come follow me.
I know what the future holds and I can get us there.
There must be a better way.

Examples of visionary leaders are: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

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