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Different management styles – Which one suits a marketing manager best?

Managers often carry the stigma of being disliked and tyrannical. These stigmas and perceptions depend on the specific management style a manager uses. Management styles depend on the type of person, the type of company they are employed by, and the employees under their authority. No management style can be categorised as a one-size-fits-all style, which requires managers to curate a management style best suited to their environment. We will list five different management styles which are commonly found in the workplace with their advantages and disadvantages to determine which management style suits marketing managers best.

  1. The authoritative management style

This management style, which falls under the autocratic management style umbrella, sees managers being tyrannical. Managers would give orders and commands to their employees, and if they are not met or satisfied, the employee will be punished.  This management style has advantages, but the disadvantages outweigh them. The advantages to the authoritative management style are:

  • Employees have a clear view of their roles and expectations.
  • Managers are equipped with quick decision-making skills.
  • Productivity is sure to increase when the manager is in the office or observing.

The disadvantages to the authoritative management style are:

  • Employees generally don’t have a good relationship with authoritative managers.
  • This results in resentment, lower levels of professional development, and lower levels of engagement from employees.
  • Employees are unable to be innovative.
  • Employees feel misrepresented and voiceless.

 

  1. The consultative management style

This management style, which falls under the democratic management style umbrella, sees managers treating their subordinates as equals. Consultative managers function to consult and consider the opinions and ideas of their subordinates before making a decision. The advantages to the consultative management style are:

  • There is trust between the manager and their subordinates.
  • The manager and their subordinates grow together.
  • Employees are encouraged to innovate and offer ideas.

The disadvantages to the consultative management style are:

  • Consulting employees are timely.
  • Managers would have to be fair and unbiased when consulting and incorporating ideas from employees to avoid favouritism.
  • Over-use of this management style may blur the lines of authority.

 

  1. The participative management style

This management style, which falls under the democratic management style umbrella, sees managers include their subordinates when making decisions. Participative managers encourage innovation from employees by giving them large amounts of information about the company, clients, and goals. The advantages to the participative management style are:

  • Employees feel seen and valued by their managers, which increases motivation and productivity.
  • Engagement and innovation are increased.

The disadvantages to the participative management style are:

  • This process is timely and may see employees who are more introverted being pushed to the back by more extroverted employees.
  • This would not be a good management style for companies in an industry that has trade secrets.

Some employees may not want to be a part of the decision-making process.

The transformational management style

  1. The transformational management style

This management style, which falls under the democratic management style umbrella, is focused on growth. Transformational managers work with their employees and aim to transform their employees to achieve more accomplishments. This is usually achieved through motivation and pushing them outside of their comfort zone. The advantages to the transformational management style are:

  • Innovation is encouraged and employees will become more adaptable.
  • Employees will also learn to be more flexible.

The disadvantages to the transformational management style are:

  • This management style may cause employees to burn out.
  • The fast pace of this management style may be too much of a challenge.

 

  1. The delegative management style

This management style, which falls under the laissez-faire management style umbrella, is a more hands-off management style. Delegative managers hand out tasks to employees and only return to offer review and feedback. The advantages of the delegative management style are:

  • Innovation is increased.
  • Teamwork is encouraged.
  • Employees have the privacy to solve problems on their own as well.
  • Employees who thrive off autonomy function well under this management style.

The disadvantages of the delegative management style are:

  • Productivity may decrease without the necessary supervision.
  • Employees may feel that they have no direction or guidance.
  • Conflicts in the workplace may be blown out of proportion due to the lack of supervision.

 

Which management style is best suited for marketing managers?

Seeing that marketing managers oversee a team of highly skilled employees who are usually well equipped to work on their own, democratic management styles may offer some of the best-suited management styles for marketing managers. But we feel that the delegative management style is the best-suited. Seeing that marketers are highly skilled, adaptable, and innovative, they often do not need as much guidance and supervision as employees in other industries.

Which management style is best suited for marketing managers