After earning a bachelor's in philosophy, finance, and history from Boston College, Albert "Al" Hanley III worked in education at The Commercial Driver's License School, Inc. in Albany, New York. Presently, he works in the transportation industry, where he serves as a division president at Transforce Group. Al Hanley III has over three decades of experience as a skilled leader in every industry he ventures into.
Choosing a personal leadership style might be difficult initially because some people do not have a good sense of who they are. Others are oblivious to all the different styles in existence. Fundamentally, knowing both is crucial to finding a leadership style unique to the person.
An excellent way to begin is to understand what leadership style even means. A person's leadership style refers to their attitude and methods of organizing, directing, and inspiring others—whether colleagues or employees. A person's style defines the strategies they execute and the ethics they promote.
There are several leadership styles, including autocratic leadership and democratic leadership. "Do as I say" is the mantra of every leader who adopts the authoritarian leadership style. Such an individual is confident they are the most qualified and efficient member of a team and would often make decisions without considering the recommendations of others. This style might have been prevalent in the past but is no longer favorable in modern times. However, it is useful in extreme situations where the most knowledgeable team member must make critical decisions.
The democratic leadership style is the complete opposite of the autocratic style. Usually, under democratic leadership, team members are implored to contribute their opinions and recommendations to execute a project. Because of its inclusivity for all team members and employees, the style has become one of the most influential and popular choices in contemporary times.
