6 different types of leaders in industry by Alford and Beatty

There are various types of leaders today. Alford and Beatty have classified them into the following categories:

1. Intellectual leaders:

As the term implies, intellectual leaders are those who win the confidence of their followers by their superior’s intellect or knowledge. Nearly in all big business concerns there are experts whose advice is sought on matters in which they are the intellectual authority.

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He may be a purchase specialist, a production expert, a job analyst or an advertising specialist. Regardless of his function, he is able to get results through others because they desire to use his superior knowledge.

2. Institutional leaders:

An institutional leader is one who holds his position because of force of prestige attached to his office. The position he holds enables him to influence his followers, sometimes because of the habits of obedience that certain followers, have sometimes because of a respect for the position and beyond that for the enterprise as a whole, and sometimes because of the dependence of the subordinate upon his superior.

3. Democratic leaders:

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As the name implies, a democratic leader is one who always acts according to the wishes of his followers. He does what the gang wants. He follows the majority opinion as expressed by his group and is their representative to management.

He hold his leadership position because he is loyal to his group, is always concerned with their interests, is friendly and helpful to them, and is always ready to defend them, individually and collectively.

4. Autocratic leaders:

An autocratic leader is one who dominates and drives his gang through coercion, command and the instilling of fear in his followers. Such leaders love power and love to use it in promoting their own ends. They never like to delegate their power for they fear that they may lose their authority in this way.

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5. Persuasive leaders:

The persuasive leader possesses a magnetic personality that enables him to influence his followers to join with him in getting things done. He is the type who can sat, ‘Let’s go, boys’ and the whole gang responds because they love and respect him, have confidence in him, and want his goodwill.

6. Creative leaders:

The creative leader uses the technique of ‘circular response’ so ably described by Folett to encourage ideas to flow from the group to him as well as form him to the group. He draws out the best in his followers without exerting an undue personal influence on the people.

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The creative leader controls through united, voluntary, enthusiastic activities by the members of his group directed by him toward specific goals which are satisfactory and worthwhile to all. As Ordway Tead has said, the group follows the big idea and not the big.