There are a number of leadership styles, some more effective than others.
Leadership styles that are appropriate for the current organisational imperatives are varied. The need to attract and retain talent, to innovate and be agile, the challenge of taking advantage of the millennial and z generation’s strengths requires purposeful inspirational leadership styles that create meaning in the workplace. The individual leader may choose one or more of these leadership styles to suit their personality or perspective.
The Authentic Leadership Style
Authentic leadership is a concept introduced in the “noughties”. Authentic leadership is a leadership style that is consistent with a leaders’ personality and core values, and that is honest, ethical and practical. It is useful in that no matter what the context the individual uses an inner compass to guide themselves and others and this also allow real and trusting connection with followers.
An authentic leader is more interested in empowering employees than in money or personal power, and is guided by compassion and heart in everything they do. While many authentic leaders may have natural abilities, anyone can become an authentic leader through hard work and developing their leadership qualities. Authentic leaders are dedicated to continued personal growth and committed to building lasting relationships and strong organizations.
The Servant Leadership Style
Lao Tzu once said “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say we did this ourselves“. The servant leadership style is a concept that focuses on the Leaders serving the group first and the principles of leadership second. The leader of the group becomes an administrator for the group as opposed to a policy maker or disciplinarian. It can be easy to dismiss servant leadership as offering no direction. But the servant leadership style offers several advantages that you should consider.
One can choose from a number of leadership styles, Leaders that choose the servant leadership style tend to gain a great deal of respect and trust from their employees, and generate strong positive feelings between management and employees that the servant leadership style promotes translate into a high sense of morale. When employees are satisfied with their jobs and their company, workplace productivity rises.
The Transformational Leadership Style
Transformational leadership is often identified as the single most effective style. This style was first described during the late 1970s and later expanded upon by researcher Bernard M. Bass. Some of the key characteristics of his style of leadership are the abilities to motivate and inspire followers and to direct positive changes in groups. Transformational leaders tend to be emotionally intelligent, energetic, and passionate. They are not only committed to helping the organization achieve its goals, but also to helping group members fulfill their potential.
Research has revealed that of the leadership styles used and advocated in the 20th Century, this style of leadership resulted in higher performance and improved group satisfaction than other leadership styles. One study also found that transformation leadership led to improved well-being among group members.
The Transactional Leadership Style
The transactional leadership style views the leader-follower relationship as a transaction. By accepting a position as a member of the group, the individual has agreed to obey the leader. In most situations, this involves the employer-employee relationship, and the transaction focuses on the follower completing required tasks in exchanged for monetary compensation.
One of the main advantages of this leadership style is that it creates clearly defined roles. People know what they are required to do and what they will be receiving in exchange for completing these tasks. It also allows leaders to offer a great deal of supervision and direction if it is needed. Group members may also be motivated to perform well to receive rewards. One of the biggest downsides is that the transactional style tends to stifle creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
Transformational and Transactional Leadership Styles working together.
Research has shown that effective leaders can choose both of these leadership styles, and can move between Transformational and Transactional leadership Styles when the context requires it. In times of change and uncertainty a more Tranformational Leadership Style work better and when there is a levelling out a move towards more Transational Leadership Style is required. This can often impact Entrepreneurial Leaders as when their business get past the start up stage they cannot or wont change to the Transactional style because of boredom or disinterest.
ADEO Leadership Development
As a business leader, you live in an increasingly interdependent world where you get things done through others. The more you move up the leadership hierarchy the less effective the “command and control” philosophy — the ability to influence others is the determining factor for success. Leadership is about creating a compelling vision and motivating people to achieve it. But it is however first and foremost about you. How you interact, how you behave, how you are. It’s about who you become.
Adeo run our Leadership Development training and mentoring program for Senior (usually C-Suite) directors and CEO’s. This is a flexible customised program can be delivered over 12-18 month period or over a shorter period as per your requirements. For more details click here: LDP
We also run our Leadership Bench Program to develop future leaders in your organisation delivering leaders from within your management team. For more details click here: LBP
Some interesting information about the requirements of modern leadership training here from Harvard Business Review.