The four classic leadership styles There are four leadership styles which are prominent in today's businesses and companies. They are Laissez-faire, Autocratic, Democratic, and Charismatic Leadership. The categories were devised primarily following a study conducted by Lewin, White and Lippitt, to distinguish the variations between each of the styles and how they would affect specific groups of workers (Lewin et al., 2005).

Awareness of leadership styles and their influence can help you develop and adapt your leadership style and assist you in developing effective leadership skills. There is no one way in which to achieve the balance between task, team and individual; you must assess each style and adapt it to the right situation.

Laissez-faire Laissez-faire, in managerial terms, means that a manager gives freedom to their group of workers and that they can develop by themselves. A laissez-faire leader attempts to give as little advice as possible to their team. They provide them with resources to complete the job, but they will not offer advice unless a member of their team seeks it. The benefits of Laissez-faire leadership: A laissez-faire style of leadership may be implemented when the manager has a team of highly skilled and qualified workers below them, meaning they already have the tools and resources to complete their job effectively by themselves. Laissez-faire can be highly advantageous, as workers are left to finish their task in their own time while maintaining efficiency. Workers who do not like a hierarchal figure looking over their shoulder and checking them while working also benefit from a laissez-faire system, as they do not feel pressurised due to the lack of presence their boss holds in the system. However, there are also negative influences this type of leadership brings: Lack of support: many members, can feel little sense of achievement, or they may even be unsure as to what their target was in the first place! If an employee needs assistance and guidance while working, they will have to search for their manager, and this may seem daunting to workers if they believe that they are failing their job by doing so. Members may not understand what they are required to do, leading to confusion and lack of productivity in the group. Laziness: idleness can also become a part of the group culture, as they do not work as hard or at all when a monitoring figure is not present. Laissez-faire can be detrimental to the team's productivity, and efficiency as laziness becomes a part of their routine, which may be difficult to remove.

Autocratic An autocratic leader is an authoritarian. They take complete control over group decisions, the direction the team will take, and group members are rarely referred to when it comes to making decisions or asked for their input. Authoritarian leaders can have a positive influence on group members when they set high standards and practices. Still, if they abuse their power, they will have a negative backlash from their team. The benefits of autocratic leadership: Quick decisions: autocratic leaders are most effective when decisions need to be made quickly without consulting many people. When a project is faltering, and nobody has a solution, a strong character can come in and guide the team down the correct path. Less complex for employees: another positive effect of having an autocratic leader is in high-stress work situations. If a worker feels stressed due to having complex decisions to make, or some responsibilities, then an autocratic leader allows them to concentrate on a task and complete it without added stress. Direction: an autocratic leader should bring clear direction and guidance to their team. Workers feel satisfied when they see the success of their work, and praise from the leader will benefit the team morale, overall.

Democratic Democratic leadership is a participative style of leadership, where members of the group are encouraged to be active in the decision-making of the group. Leaders who use the democratic style of leadership will encourage workers to work on their initiative and implement their policies which will help them reach their objectives, but the leader holds the final say.

The benefits of democratic leadership: Creativity: democratic-styled leadership encourages creative thinking from its team members. The leader will establish the primary objective and inform his team as to what that goal is. They will then allow their team to think for themselves, and as a cohesive unit, decide how to achieve goals. Members gain satisfaction in this process as they are allowed the freedom to make their own decisions. Confidence: if a team leader lets their teamwork together or individually, allowing them to be creative and innovative, then the team will gain confidence from their manager's trust and confidence in their abilities. Cooperation: team members will learn to work together while collaborating with a democratic leader. This cooperation will help them to be more accepting of other members' ideas. Hard work: good hard work is rewarded in the participative style of leadership. It is rewarded not only by the leader, but status in the group increases due to the reputation of delivering on results. Status in the group is determined by the quality of work that is provided and not by favouritism etc. Higher productivity: productivity in a democratic setting is greater than most other leadership styles, while still maintaining a positive atmosphere. In Lewin's study, he noted that it was as productive as the autocratic style, but it did not need the presence of the leader to remain productive, which the autocratic style does. There are, however, some side effects to the democratic style of management. The main drawback can be a lack of clarity between the leader and their team. This lack of clarity can lead to jobs not being completed and a communication breakdown. It is also important for the team members to be skilled in their job, and for enough time to be allocated so that ideas can be shared and thought over. The democratic management style is the most efficient and productive style of management. It is beneficial to both the output of the organisation and team morale, keeping a happy workplace while maintaining standards of quality.

Charismatic leadership Charismatic leaders rely on charm, personality and communication skills which will inspire people to follow them and connect on an emotional level. It makes the team believe in their leader and dedicate themselves to the goals and targets they are required to reach. The benefits of charismatic leadership: Maturity: the true charisma that a leader demonstrates is the maturity they possess. A charismatic leader understands that to be successful, they must have wisdom and knowledge from years of experience, not from being a performer. Communication: a charismatic leader, will, more than likely, possess impeccable communication skills and possess the skills to connect with their team members both as a whole and individually, thus gaining trust and respect from their team members. Unfortunately, like all management styles, there are negatives to having a charismatic leader. These include: Reliance on a leader. Lack of realistic visions. Unreceptive employees. These downsides can damage the atmosphere of the group, and eventually, may determine the success (or lack of it) from the leader. Overall, charismatic leadership can be productive, but it must be used carefully. If a leader relies too much on what they say and not how they deliver, then the team and organisation will fail. If used with a team of devoted and skilled members, however, then a charismatic leader will be successful, creating a balance between success and team morale, individually and collectively.

Q) Review the Four Classic Leadership styles. For each style describe the three advantages and three disadvantages and give a practical example of where this style could be used in your setting. The setting is a childcare setting which caters the children from 6 months to 5 years old in urban area of Midlands in Ireland in four hundred words. You can refer the above information .

Consider using the the following structure of your answer:

• Leadership Style
• Advantages
• Disadvantages
• Example of using it in my setting