How Different Leadership Styles Influence Employee Productivity

Leadership Styles And Their Effects On Employee Productivity April 29, 2022

Dakota Sheetz

Writer

An Intro to Employee Productivity

We all want to be the best employer or manager we can be. The one our team can rely on and respect, and maybe even like. These aspirations can all assist with the feel-good factor. Still, a bit of research can also show you different leadership styles and their effects on employee productivity.
How amazing would it feel to be both well-respected as a leader and the boss of a team who impresses you with their level of output? Read on to find out how possible that really is.

The Impact of Leadership Styles on Employee Productivity

Being the boss of a workplace doesn't automatically make you a leader. In the same way that giving your workers a lot to do doesn't mean your productivity levels will skyrocket. You may be amazed to learn that your style of leadership plays a significant role in how your team works.
The Styles of Leadership
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. What works for your business may not work for that of someone else, or vice versa. That's why there is no single proven leadership method, but rather, many.
Some business managers can get so caught up in being in control that they forget to adapt their leadership style based on the business and team type. There has to be a degree of read the room leadership. Such a method can see you changing your approach based on what needs to happen to improve productivity.
You may choose to be the transformational leader who can motivate and guide. Or the servant leader who puts their team's needs before their own.
A spiritual leader with morality and intellectual ability is also superior to a conventional leader. Then there's the authentic leader. They are conscious, self-aware, and inspire these same skills in others.
You can then further narrow down these leadership styles into ones like visionary, commanding, affiliative, and coaching. Let your business model dictate the type of leader you are and can be.
The Customer Comes First
Since the beginning of time, business managers have stressed the point that customers come first. There's no denying that looking after your customers is an effective business practice, but is it your job to make your customers happy?
As a manager, it's your job to make your team happy. They, in turn, will not only make your customers happy, but they will be far more productive at the same time.

Positive Leadership Styles Every Employer Should Know

We have now established that leadership is not a single-faceted idea. It's something that can change from one workplace to the next. One workplace may call for a leader that runs the department with an iron fist. But another may work better with a visionary approach.
How you lead can make a significant difference in how productive your team is. In fact, plenty of studies even show that leadership can influence productivity through motivation and engagement, rather than authority.
The Visionary Leader
Workplaces that lack clear direction and require a change can benefit from a visionary leader. They are the type of person who can mobilize a team toward a vision while promoting a positive workplace.
The Commanding Leader
A commanding leader is not one who will work well in most businesses. However, there is room for them in companies experiencing a crisis. An authoritative leader is one who demands compliance and can work with those who typically refuse to toe the line.
A Coaching Leader
A strong team is a valuable one, and that's where a coaching leader's strengths lie. They see the bigger picture and understand the need for developing people's skills to benefit the business and its future.
The Affiliative Leader
Any business that has gone through a stressful time, in which rifts have appeared in teams, can see the value in an affiliative leader. They are advocates for harmony and aim to create emotional bonds between colleagues.
The Democratic Leader
The my way or the highway approach can make employees feel like they are not heard. That's why Democratic leaders tend to be more favorable. They value employee input and work hard to build consensus through participation.
The Pacesetting Leader
Some work environments can see the need for self-direction and 100% excellence. High-stress, fast-paced workplaces can see the value in a leader focused on pacesetting.

Key Takeaways

Until you learn about the various leadership styles and their effect on employee productivity, you may never know that your way is not the only way.

You can achieve increased productivity by adapting leadership styles to suit various workplaces.
Several leadership styles work with engagement and motivation, as opposed to authority.
Looking after your team and being an effective leader can benefit both your bottom line and your team's happiness.