There are two main types of leadership, autocratic leadership, and servant leadership. Autocratic leadership is best stated as leader first leadership. The leader will put themselves and their views above the views and opinion of the team. Autocratic leadership can be pictured in the way of a business, there is the boss and there are the workers. The boss is the one who directs the orders leading to their own personal vision, and the workers are expected to follow without question. When the autocratic leader is creating their vision they create their own vision, not the vision of the team. They also tend to not have a very personal relationship with their team members, and this may lead to a constant state of storming in the group. This form of leadership is successful in some scenarios, but does not allow a team to fully reach the performing stage.
On the other hand there is the form of leadership known as servant leadership. Servant leadership is people first leadership, where the leader puts the needs of their team before themselves. Servant leaders will not be the boss and just give out orders, they will gain the respect of the people and make them want to fulfill the leader’s vision on their own will. As quoted by John C. Maxwell “Leadership is unlocking people’s potential to become better.” A servant leader is one who will work to develop their people to the best they can be, who in turn will happily help them to complete their vision. Servant leaders will also take in account the whole team while creating their vision, giving each member ownership in the task they are out to complete. By giving the team a common vision they all share, the servant leader is able to motivate the team to success. A strong characteristic shown by servant leaders is how they will lead the team through a task, not just stand and watch them complete it. A few of the most well known servant leadership characteristics are listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, growth, and community. One of the greatest servant leaders of all time, was the religious figure Jesus Christ. Jesus always put the needs of the people before himself, and in turn he became one of the most followed leaders in all of history. This form of leadership is seen as the most effective leadership style known today.
