Seth Masket: [00:01:15] OK So pretty straightforward autocracy simply means rule by one single person. An oligarchy means rule by the few. And democracy means rule by the many are rule by the people.

unitary, federal, confederation, autocracy, democracy, oligarchy

A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual: a dictator. In contemporary usage, dictatorship refers to an autocratic form of absolute rule by leadership unrestricted by law, constitutions, or other social and political factors within the state.

An oligarchy can also mean that a few people control the country. For example, a junta is a small group of people—usually military officers—who rule a country after taking it over by force. A junta often operates much like a dictatorship, except that several people share power.

Characteristics

• Allows little or no input from group members.
• Requires leaders to make almost all of the decisions.
• Provides leaders with the ability to dictate work methods and processes.
• Leaves group feeling like they aren’t trusted with decisions or important tasks.

The person who holds the power is called an autocrat. In modern times, most autocrats gain power as part of a larger nationalist, communist, or fascist movement. Once in power, they eliminate all other kinds of authority in the country, such as judges, the legislature, and political parties.

Autocratic describes a way of ruling, but not in a nice way. An autocratic leader is one who rules with an iron fist; in other words — someone with the behavior of a dictator. Autocratic rulers don’t tend to be popular. They use fear and control to gain total power over their people.

The autocratic leadership style is best used in situations where control is necessary, often where there is little margin for error. When conditions are dangerous, rigid rules can keep people out of harm’s way.

Democratic leadership is one of the most effective leadership styles because it allows lower-level employees to exercise authority they’ll need to use wisely in future positions they might hold. It also resembles how decisions can be made in company board meetings.

The seven primary leadership styles are: (1) Autocratic, (2) Authoritative, (3) Pace-Setting, (4) Democratic, (5) Coaching, (6) Affiliative, (7) Laissez-faire.

There are typically two types of leadership: instrumental and expressive. Instrumental leadership focuses on achieving goals. Leaders who are dominantly instrumental work to maintain productivity and ensure that tasks are completed. They make good managers because they get the job done.

The best types of management styles are flexible, adaptive, and appropriate for the given circumstances. This is true because different situations call for different kinds of leadership. When deciding how to lead, you’ll need to take a number of things into consideration.

8 Most Effective Management Styles

1. Democratic Management Style.
2. Coaching Management Style.
3. Affiliative Management Style.
4. Pacesetting Management Style.
5. Authoritative Management Style.
6. Coercive Management Style.
7. Laissez-Faire Management Style.
8. Persuasive Management Style.