No matter how small a business, it needs a management style that is clear, decisive and makes sense to all employees. While there are numerous views on management styles in general, for a small business organization, managers and employee interactions differ from a large or public company. Implementing or adapting a management style that is effective for a small business must also be workable with a business owner’s leadership personality and company philosophy. To help identify the right management style for your small business, here are five common leadership styles.
Active
The active leader knows their team is vital to success and sets an example that above all shows concern for their employees, exemplifying that a small business staff greatly depends on each other. Active leaders support and count on each employee to exhibit a high standard of cooperation. They are also involved in all aspects of the day-to-day work and are fully aware of what’s happening at the office. Open and honest communication keeps employees out of the dark and allows everyone to feel involved in the company’s success.
Autocratic
An autocratic leader makes decisions without seeking input from others and pushes their will on company employees. While workers in need of close supervision and ample direction may accept this leadership style, creative employees loathe it and won’t thrive working under such closed authority.
Democratic
A democratic leader strives to take employee opinions into account, even waiting to reach a consensus before making a decision. Although this style can be slow and annoying, the feeling that all employees have a voice that is heard can make it easier to implement change. The resulting trust in the company promotes a sense of harmony and raises the job satisfaction scores.
Participatory
A participatory style is a form open to employees being involved in the company’s decision-making process. Just as the name suggests, this concept understands and relies on input from all workers as management seeks strong relationships with employees who deal directly with customers or clients. This allows for employees to contribute valuable thoughts and innovative ideas to the leader’s decision-making or problem solving needs.
Servant
The servant leader recognizes the power of expertise and finding the most talented people and empowering them to do what they do best. The term aligns with the leader seeing himself or herself as a servant to the customer, meaning the leader sees the importance of helping employees improve as human beings and grow in vital ways that are relevant to their work. This ideal recognizes employees as human beings, and not simply workers who can be replaced. Employee knowledge, skills, and willingness to learn and grow fit with the company’s core values, so employees feel they contribute their skills on a daily basis. In return, employees feel more satisfied at their jobs and less inclined to leave their jobs.