Ashridge Management College
The research unit at Ashridge Management College distinguished four different management styles.
Tells (autocratic) - the manager makes all the decisions and issues instructions which must be obeyed without question.
Strengths:
- Quick decisions can be made when required.
- The most efficient type of leadership for highly-programmed work.
Weaknesses:
- Communications are one-way, neglecting feedback and potential for upward communication or team member input.
- Does not encourage initiative or commitment from subordinates, merely compliance.
Sells (persuasive) - the manager still makes all the decisions, but believes that team members must be motivated to accept them in order to carry them out properly.
Strengths:
- Team members understand the reason for decisions.
- Team members may be more committed.
- Team members may be able to function slightly better in the absence of instruction.
Weaknesses:
- Communications are still largely one-way.
- Team members are not necessarily motivated to accept the decision.
- It still doesn't encourage initiative or commitment.
Consults (participative) - the manager confers with the team and takes their views into account, although still retains the final say.
Strengths:
- Involves team members in decisions, encouraging motivation through greater interest and involvement.
- Consensus may be reached, enhancing the acceptability of the decision to team members.
- The quality of the decision may benefit from the input of those who do the work.
- Encourages upward communication.
Weaknesses:
- May take longer to reach decisions (especially if consensus is sought).
- Team member input may not enhance the quality of the decision.
- Consultation can be a facade for a basic 'sells' style.
Joins (democratic) - the leader and the team members make the decision together on the basis of consensus.
Strengths:
- Can provide high motivation and commitment from team members.
- Empowers a team member to take the initiative (e g. in responding flexibly to customer demands and problems).
- Shares other advantages of the 'consults' style (especially where team members can add value).
Weaknesses:
- May undermine the authority of the manager.
- May further lengthen the decision-making process.
- May reduce the quality of the decision because of the politics of decision making
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Created at 8/10/2012 10:54 AM by System Account
(GMT) Greenwich Mean Time : Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London
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Last modified at 9/26/2013 4:59 PM by System Account
(GMT) Greenwich Mean Time : Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London
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