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Back to Leadership Styles
Affiliative Style

Primary Objective: Creating harmony among employees and between the manager and employees

The primary objective of the Affiliative style is to create harmony and avoid conflict. A manager utilising the Affiliative style spends a lot of time cultivating relationships with employees. This style tends to reward personal characteristics and avoid performance-related confrontations.

The Affiliative style is most effective


when used as part of a repertoire including the Visionary, Participative, or Coaching styles; when giving personal help (e.g., counselling); and in getting diverse, conflicting groups to work together harmoniously.

The Affiliative style is least effective

when employees’ performance is inadequate; in crises or complex situations needing clear direction and control; and with employees who are task-oriented or uninterested in having a friendship with their manager.


Effectively Using the Affiliative Style

To increase the Affiliative style, try the following:

Identify and act to resolve interpersonal conflict. Recognize the positive traits of people and accept them for who they are. Encourage everyone to do the same, and to work together in harmony.

Sympathise with others. Take time to understand and express compassion for how people feel. Commiserate with your team when things are not going well for them.

Accommodate personal needs. Avoid putting the goals of the organisation before the welfare of your people.

Trust your people to perform. Trust that your team will perform well if they are treated well. If you care about them, they will reward you with loyalty and performance.

Initiate personal contacts with your team. Whenever possible, travel with them, invite them to dinner, have lunch in the company cafeteria.

Provide social activities. Consider holding group activities: holiday parties, summer picnics, birthday and anniversary parties, group sports (softball, volleyball), group outings (theatre, movies).

Personal Recognition. Recognize individual birthdays and anniversaries; provide congratulations for weddings, birth of babies, etc.

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SATISFACTION