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Tip of the week: Establish a leadership style that works best for the group

Contemporary Long-Term Care Weekly, September 24, 2009

Generally, leadership types can be classified into two categories: instrumental or expressive. The instrumental leader is goal-oriented and directed toward completing the group’s task. The expressive leader emphasizes the collective well-being of the individuals in the group. The expressive leader is still concerned with achieving the group’s goals, but not to the exclusion of the individuals that he or she is leading. Within those categories are a few unique styles, including:

• Authoritarian – Focuses on instrumental concerns. These leaders like to make decisions on their own and demand strict compliance from subordinates. They emphasize one-way, top-down communication.
• Authoritative – Listens to others and involves them in the decision-making process. These leaders feel they should be firm but fair.
• Democratic – Tries to include everyone in the decision-making process, a concept common to expressive leaders. These leaders believe participatory involvement is important to make proper decisions.
• Laissez-faire – Downplays his or her position and power, allowing the group to function more or less on its own. These leaders emphasize the autonomy of those they oversee and feel they should get involved only when absolutely necessary.

This is an excerpt from HCPro’s book, The Long-Term Care Administrator’s Field Guide, by Brian Garavaglia, PhD.

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