6 common leadership styles — and how to decide which to use when.

Knight, R. (2024, April 9). 6 common leadership styles — and how to decide which to use when. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2024/04/6-common-leadership-styles-and-how-to-decide-which-to-use-when

In this article, Rebecca Knight revisits and expands upon the classic leadership frameworks popularized by Daniel Goleman, including the coercive, authoritative, affiliative, democratic, pacesetting, and coaching styles. The author argues that the most effective leaders do not rely on a single approach but rather adapt their style to the specific needs of the situation and the emotional climate of the team. The piece provides actionable advice on identifying one’s natural tendencies and learning how to pivot between styles to achieve optimal outcomes. By utilizing case studies and expert insights, Knight illustrates the positive and negative impacts each style can have on organizational culture and employee performance. The central thesis is that "situational leadership" rooted in emotional intelligence is a critical skill for modern managers. This resource is valuable for leadership development programs and individual managers seeking to improve their versatility and effectiveness in diverse workplace environments.