Leadership is not a role or a title. It’s a mix of strategy, communication, and influence.
In the fast-paced business world of today, recognizing the various styles of leadership can be the difference-maker for individuals and organizations.
This article explores influential leading styles, their effects on team performance, and gives a special focus on what it takes for characters like UFC President Dana White to excel in the game. Pun intended.
Why Leadership Style Is Important
The way a leader chooses to lead not only decides the productivity of the team but also its morale, culture, and long-term success.
It is not a one-size-fits-all profession.
Different situations, team dynamics, and business challenges call for different approaches and with that being said, here are some of the most common leadership styles available.
Leadership Styles Defined
One of the most traditional forms is Autocratic Leadership where decisions are made at the middle and team input is minimized.
It prefers high-stress environments in which rapid, forceful action is necessary. Think military operations or disaster response, for instance. Elon Musk is an example of this type of individual, who can make rapid, command-level decisions to further innovation.
Democratic style, in contrast, involves leaders going out of their way to ask for input and foster group participation.
This co-active method works best for research- or innovation-based environments. Satya Nadella at Microsoft is historically referenced as a democratic leader who transformed company culture via listening and inclusivity.
Transformational style is all about igniting change and innovation. Transformational leaders set vision, lead by example, and inspire their teams to go above and beyond. Jeff Bezos is a good example here, powering Amazon’s rocket-fueled expansion with a clear mission and forward-thinking spirit.
Transactional style is all about order, structure, and results-driven outputs.
Managers who use this style motivate through rewards and punishment tied to goals. Take Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric, who had a results-oriented leadership style.
And then there is the Laissez-Faire style, where managers leave individuals alone and trust their group to police themselves. This style works best with seasoned, independent teams. Warren Buffett is a good example of this, letting the managers of Berkshire Hathaway businesses run with minimal interference.
Other leaders, however, blend various styles into a style of their own.
That brings us to Dana White, the controlling mastermind of UFC, who’s also a wildly popular public icon, an entrepreneur, and an avid gambler.
What is Dana White’s Style?
While most corporate executives labor within conventional corporate bureaucracies, Dana White, shows a distinctive and non-traditional leadership style that encompasses traits of autocratic, transformational, and entrepreneurial leadership.
What Sets Dana White’s Leadership Style Apart?
- Decisive and Direct: White makes swift, tough decisions without allowing bureaucracy to slow him down. That autocratic tendency has allowed UFC to react swiftly and stay ahead in a competitive sport and entertainment industry.
- Hands-On Style: While most executives are not as heavily engaged, White is directly involved in every facet of UFC operations, from contract negotiations to marketing strategy. This demonstrates a healthy combination of transformational and transactional styles.
- Brand-Centric Vision: Dana White understands the value of brand and spectacle. He not just runs the UFC but belongs to the brand. His leadership prides in showmanship, emotional intelligence, and hype. All these work for him to develop fan adoration and commercial success.
- Risk Taker: White has ever been a risk-taker, such as continuing with UFC events at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak through introducing “Fight Island.” This entrepreneurial element illustrates leadership adaptability and management during stress. His capability in taking risks is best illustrated through his gambling habits which have thus far gotten him into boiling waters on quite a number of occasions, as reported by Luka Jestrovic of Live Casinos Insider News.
How to Choose the Right Approach?
Regardless of whether you’re running a start-up, corporate team, or creative enterprise, the below needs to be considered when setting your style:
- Assess Your Team: Know their strengths, weaknesses, and preferences.
- Evaluate the Situation: Are you on a growth path, turnaround, or steady as she goes?
- Consider Your Strengths: Leverage your native talent set while compromising for the circumstance.
Final Thoughts: Leaders Are Made, Not Born
To be a master leader is a continuous process of self-awareness, learning, and growth.
Studying different styles and learning from the likes of Dana White can offer guidance on how to deal with the ever-changing scenarios of management.
And don’t forget: great leaders don’t do it all by themselves. They know when to lead, when to step back, and how to delegate their team to excel.
