¶ … Management Style
Leadership and talent retention are important HR-related aspects in today's business environment given the increased changes and competitiveness of the modern business environment (Zhang et al., 2015). Despite the lack of a single universally appropriate management style, the authoritative style is arguably the best management style. An authoritative manager tends to communicate an organization's mission and vision effectively, provides organizational direction, and clearly articulates expectations. While considered an authority, an authoritative leader encourages subordinates or followers to utilize suitable approaches towards accomplishing organizational goals. Authoritative style is the best management style with regards to providing organizational direction through effective communication, showing sensitivity to employees and ensuring perfect execution of tasks.
Need for the Best Management Style
Today's business environment is increasingly changing and characterized by increased competition between companies. In light of the rapid technological advances, business organizations are increasingly operating in a challenging and evolving environment (Gonos & Gallo, 2013). Therefore, improved business performance has become more important in the modern business environment. For managers, the ability to achieve desired performance is dependent on a variety of factors including the use of a suitable management or leadership style (Dixon, 2003). A suitable management or leadership style helps in effective management of business practices and operations, which helps in constant improvement of organizational performance in relation to the established business objectives and goals. One of the major ways through which a suitable management style contributes to improved business performance is through linking corporate strategy to operational objectives (Gonos & Gallo, 2013).
Throughout the years, the issue of the best management style has attracted considerable attention in management studies. Yu, Fang & Wang (2015) observed that the effectiveness of management styles has become a major issue in management studies over the past few decades. This increased focus is fueled by the correlation between management style and employee contributions towards the achievement of organizational goals and objectives. Management styles have significant impact on organizational culture like employee attitudes, organizational commitment, job...
Additionally, the need to identify the best management style in relation to improved business performance is fueled by the lack of a single universally appropriate management style. Nonetheless, managers need to identify the most suitable leadership style in order to establish organizational cultures that help in gaining competitive advantage in the relatively challenging and evolving business environment.
Authoritative Leadership as the Best Management Style
Whereas there is no single universally appropriate management style, the authoritative style is arguably the best management style. A review of the existing management style demonstrates that authoritative management style is the best leadership approach in relation to the changing conditions and competitiveness of today's business environment. Authoritative management style is one of the predominant active leadership styles that influence individuals and organizational effectiveness (Chapman, Johnson & Kilner, 2014). Zhang, Lin & Foo (2012) content that while servant leadership is a more acceptable management approach, authoritative leadership style continues to exist as one of the most effective leadership styles for managers.
Gonos & Gallo (2013) define authoritative management style as a leadership approach that is characterized by execution of the will/wishes of the leader with little to no consideration of the opinions of subordinates. In this management style, leaders make independent decisions, give orders/instructions to subordinates, and expect these subordinates to implement these orders/instructions (Cenkci & Ozcelik, 2015). Additionally, this management approach is characterized by unilateral, top-down communication while leaders utilize their discretion to determine suitable remuneration for their subordinates. In light of its definition, authoritative management style is comprises three major characteristics i.e. structure, control, and sensitivity (Bielous, 1994). Under structure, authoritarian managers used their understanding and believe in the significance of a suitable departmental structure to enforce company policy consistently. In relation to control, these managers do not give so much freedom to subordinates that would result in failure to accomplish organizational goals or objectives. With regards to sensitivity, authoritative managers listen to their subordinates in a genuine way that contributes to individual and organizational…
