What exactly is a management style? Well, as any good business management course will show you, it’s basically the way in which the person in charge works to achieve their goals. The umbrella term is one that covers the way in which a manager interacts with their team, delegates, organises and otherwise directs their staff.
The approach can depend much on the individual, the level of management they occupy, the industry, the culture and indeed, the country they work in. Enhancing your management skills with online learning can have a significant bearing on your overall success, so finding the right style is of paramount importance.
The 3 Overarching Management Styles
It’s important to state that there is no one-size-fits-all approach that works in every scenario, as we’ve already seen that there are many different factors and variables at work. So, rather than look for the ideal one for you and your company, let’s take a look at the three main styles that exist.
Style #1 - Autocratic
The first style your business management course training will teach you about is Autocratic management, which is what’s often referred to as a ‘top-down approach. This is very much the ‘do as you’re told’ way of working with employees, with communication only coming in one direction. Here, the manager will make all of the decisions, with workers simply carrying out the tasks given to them.
Online learning teaches us that this is a style that allows decisions to be made quickly, with everyone involved having a clear idea of what they’re supposed to be doing. When managing unskilled employees, it’s often the best way to operate, as productivity increases and workers are able to get on with the job in hand with no uncertainty.
Style #2 - Democratic
The second main style you’ll find out about when taking a business management course is the democratic way of working, where employees are actively asked to provide input. This model involves a two-way stream of communication, with the ultimate decisions being made by those at the top.
Team cohesion is increased with the democratic style, as diverse opinions are shared and employees are made to feel like they have greater value in the business setup, rather than being a mere worker drone. It’s a method that can come up with solutions that otherwise wouldn’t be found.
Style #3 - Laissez-Faire
Representing the polar opposite of the autocratic style is the Laissez Faire management approach, which is one where employees work on their own initiative without supervision. In this scenario, staff are trusted to solve their own problems and make their own decisions.
As your business management course training will show you, this style involves management delegating the work at the outset and then stepping back, giving complete freedom to their teams. It’s an approach that encourages innovation and relies on full trust between employees and leadership.
Develop Your Personal Management Abilities With OCA
Different work environments call for different management styles, so it’s a matter of finding the right one that works for you. Sure, there are many different subsets underneath these overarching groups, meaning that you can fine-tune your style to fit the exact role you’re occupying.
What’s more, you can improve your overall abilities with business management course training like our Business Management Advanced, which (like all our training) is CPD-approved, created with the help of industry experts and comes with 7-day-a-week support for students.
If you would like to know more about this or any of the courses that span more than 20 industries, visit us today at www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au. Alternatively, if you’d like to ask us any questions about the services we offer, just call us on 1300 611 404 and we’ll gladly talk you through your options.