What are the Six Leadership Styles?

Goleman,Boyatzis and McKee (2002),  introduces six leadership styles. To properly understand the six leadership styles based upon the human communication / interaction concept of resonance. Good leaders are effective because they create resonance.

What is Resonance? 

Resonance comes from the Latin word resonare. Again creating sound. Effective leaders are attuned to other people’s feelings and move them in a positive emotional direction. They speak authentically about their own values, direction and priorities and resonate with the emotions of surrounding people. Under the guidance of an effective leader, people feel a mutual comfort level. Resonance comes naturally to people with a high degree of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management) but involves also intellectual aspects.

How Resonance Creates Good Leadership?

Creation of resonance can be done in six ways, leading to Six Leadership Styles. Typically, the most effective leaders can act according to and they can even skillfully switch between the various styles, depending on the situation.

• Visionary Leadership – Inspires. Believes in own vision. Empathetic. Explains how and why people’s efforts contribute to the ‘dream’. 
• Coaching Style – Listens. Helps people identifying their own strengths and weaknesses. Counselor. Encourages.
• Affiliative Leadership – Delegates. Promotes harmony. Friendly. Empathetic. He boosts moral. Solves conflicts. Superb listener. 
• Democratic Leadership – Team worker. Collaborator. Influencer. Strong urge to achieve.
• Pacesetting Leadership – High personal standards. Initiative. Low on empathy and collaboration. Impatience.
• Commanding Leadership – Micromanaging. Numbers-driven. Commanding. “Do it because I say so”. Threatening. Tight control. Monitoring studiously. Creating dissonance. Contaminates everyone’s mood. Drives away talent.