Leadership Styles in Production Management
The leader that guides and supervises production staff in an organization has influence over productivity, morale and job satisfaction among all workers. A manager or supervisor uses a leadership style that is a product of his personality. Leadership styles must also work well with the employees' skill levels and independence.
Autocratic Leaders
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An autocratic leader makes all of the decisions on the production floor, leaving no room for input from workers. This type of leadership works well with unskilled workers performing work that does not require team involvement. Autocratic leadership is difficult to work under and employees may feel resentful. Skilled workers who can work with little supervision do not perform well under an autocratic leader.
Laissez-Faire Leadership
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A laissez-faire leadership style is the opposite of an autocratic approach. The laissez-faire leader leaves workers to make decisions on their own and only updates the team on progress. Highly skilled workers succeed under a laissez-faire leadership style. The hands-off approach requires little control from the manager or supervisor, but it is important that leaders monitor work progress to ensure the team meets goals.
Democratic Leadership
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The democratic leadership style is a combination of autocratic and laissez-faire approaches. The leader requires input from workers, but ultimately makes the final decisions for the group. This style can work well with skilled and unskilled workers. Unskilled workers have an opportunity to provide input while still receiving direction and supervision. Working with employees improves morale and gives workers a sense of satisfaction on the job.
Situational Leadership
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Leaders who adjust their approach according to the situation are using a situational leadership style. The situational leader considers the needs of the employees and adjusts his style to meet those needs. In addition, the leader must lead the group to meet the needs of the organization. The situational leader takes into consideration the skills, morale and independence of the workers to determine the best approach to meet the productivity and quality goals of the organization.
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Luanne Kelchner works out of Daytona Beach, Florida and has been freelance writing full time since 2008. Her ghostwriting work has covered a variety of topics but mainly focuses on health and home improvement articles. Kelchner has a degree from Southern New Hampshire University in English language and literature.