IMD business school for management and leadership courses
From broad to specific focus, you customize your learning to match your unique, evolving business context.
Access cutting-edge research that will positively impact your digital transformation. Informed by the Global Center for Digital Business Transformation.
Combine 15 days of programs to earn the IMD Digital Excellence Diploma, confirming your expertise in digital business transformation.
Whatever your current travel situation, different program options enable you to join us on campus, or connect directly from your home or office.
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Over the year, our MBAs share numerous experiences together as they explore the area, take advantage of new opportunities and get to know each other.
The lake location is ideal for sports and barbecues; they share cultural traditions through national day celebrations; and they expand their team and leadership skills through career clusters or one of the MBA clubs.
The learning objective of each Discovery Expedition is to help you to rapidly absorb a large amount about the world and the global business environment and to translate learnings to your own company and work context. You will deepen your global business understanding through major themes like: entrepreneurship, innovation, sustainability, transformation and much more.
The 5 leadership styles you can use
Find out which Digital Transformation Program is right for you
13 April 202204:30 PM-08:00 PM CEST Location: Location: IMD campus, Switzerland
Find out which Digital Transformation Program is right for you
13 April 202204:30 PM-08:00 PM CEST Location: Location: IMD campus, Switzerland
Find out which Digital Transformation Program is right for you
13 April 202204:30 PM-08:00 PM CEST Location: Location: IMD campus, Switzerland
Find out which Digital Transformation Program is right for you
13 April 202204:30 PM-08:00 PM CEST Location: Location: IMD campus, Switzerland
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Throughout history, great leaders have emerged with particular leadership styles in providing direction, implementing plans and motivating people.
These can be broadly grouped into 5 different categories:
- Authoritarian Leadership
- Participative Leadership
- Delegative Leadership
- Transactional Leadership
- Transformational Leadership
Despite these definitions, questions still remain.
- What is the meaning of each leadership style mentioned above?
- What is the difference between the different leadership approaches?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of using each of the leadership styles?
By reading this article, you will discover more about the 5 leadership styles, along with their definitions, advantages and disadvantages. Each of the leadership styles will also be differentiated.
1. Authoritarian Leadership
Authoritarian leadership styles allow a leader to impose expectations and define outcomes. A one-person show can turn out to be successful in situations when a leader is the most knowledgeable in the team. Although this is an efficient strategy in time-constrained periods, creativity will be sacrificed since input from the team is limited. The authoritarian leadership style is also used when team members need clear guidelines.
Authoritarian leadership
- Time spent on making crucial decisions can be reduced.
- Chain of command can be clearly emphasized.
- Mistakes in the implementation of plans can be reduced.
- Using authoritarian leadership style creates consistent results.
Disadvantages:
- A very strict leadership style can sometimes lead to employee rebellion.
- It kills employee creativity and innovation.
- It reduces group synergy & collaboration.
- Group input is reduced dramatically.
- Authoritarian leadership increases employee turnover rate.
2. Participative Leadership
Participative leadership styles are rooted in democratic theory. The essence is to involve team members in the decision making process. Team members thus feel included, engaged and motivated to contribute. The leader will normally have the last word in the decision-making processes. However, if there are disagreements within a group, it can be a time-consuming process to reach a consensus.
Authoritarian leadership
- Time spent on making crucial decisions can be reduced.
- Chain of command can be clearly emphasized.
- Mistakes in the implementation of plans can be reduced.
- Using authoritarian leadership style creates consistent results.
Disadvantages:
- A very strict leadership style can sometimes lead to employee rebellion.
- It kills employee creativity and innovation.
- It reduces group synergy & collaboration.
- Group input is reduced dramatically.
- Authoritarian leadership increases employee turnover rate.
3. Transactional leadership
Transactional leadership styles use “transactions” between a leader and his or her followers – rewards, punishments and other exchanges – to get the job done. The leader sets clear goals, and team members know how they’ll be rewarded for their compliance. This “give and take” leadership style is more concerned with following established routines and procedures in an efficient manner, than with making any transformational changes to an organization.
Authoritarian leadership
- Time spent on making crucial decisions can be reduced.
- Chain of command can be clearly emphasized.
- Mistakes in the implementation of plans can be reduced.
- Using authoritarian leadership style creates consistent results.
Disadvantages:
- A very strict leadership style can sometimes lead to employee rebellion.
- It kills employee creativity and innovation.
- It reduces group synergy & collaboration.
- Group input is reduced dramatically.
- Authoritarian leadership increases employee turnover rate.
Authoritarian Leadership
Authoritarian leadership styles allow a leader to impose expectations and define outcomes. A one-person show can turn out to be successful in situations when a leader is the most knowledgeable in the team. Although this is an efficient strategy in time-constrained periods, creativity will be sacrificed since input from the team is limited. The authoritarian leadership style is also used when team members need clear guidelines.
Authoritarian leadership
- Time spent on making crucial decisions can be reduced.
- Chain of command can be clearly emphasized.
- Mistakes in the implementation of plans can be reduced.
- Using authoritarian leadership style creates consistent results.
Disadvantages:
- A very strict leadership style can sometimes lead to employee rebellion.
- It kills employee creativity and innovation.
- It reduces group synergy & collaboration.
- Group input is reduced dramatically.
- Authoritarian leadership increases employee turnover rate.