Modern Leadership Theories
Today's business industries are constantly changing, expanding, improving and modernizing. Thanks to modern technological advances, people can globalize their business and work remotely. Interactions between coworkers, supervisors and subordinates can occur in person or virtually. As such, there are different demands for leadership styles. The reality of today's industrial structure is that along with all of this progression, the way in which effective leadership methods are applied is changing.
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Leadership
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Leadership is different than management. Managers are responsible for the operational oversight of employees, departments or processes, while leaders are considered visionaries who are charged with the task of leading a company through organizational changes so that strategic objectives can be accomplished. Leaders lead by example and are most effective when they exhibit positive behaviors that motivate and influence the rest of the organization. Since leadership is behaviorally driven, there are many methods that leaders employ to achieve effective organizational development, progression or improvement.
Directive Leadership Theory
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The directive theory of leadership suggests that leaders should lead by instructing people to carry out tasks, directing people to abide by orders and use an action-and-outcomes based approach to getting things done. Directive leaders are usually focused on areas such as productivity, outcomes and efficiency. They are not empathetic in nature and do not focus on the relationship aspect between themselves and the organization's employees. As such, directive leadership tends to work well in organizational structures that are global, where employees might only communicate with leaders in a video teleconferencing format, over email or on the telephone.
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Supportive Leadership Theory
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In the March 2010 issue of "The Washington Post," Nick Anderson explains that a study was conducted about retaining teachers in schools, and the conclusion was that supportive leadership was more important than salary increases. The supportive leadership theory is a leadership style that does what the title suggests: supports. This model of leadership is embedded in the theory that by being supportive of employees, and building strong relationships with them, the chances of employees being positively influenced and motivated to work toward the leader's vision is enhanced. The supportive leadership theory is rooted in the study of organizational behavior, which suggests that people are happier and more satisfied with their jobs when they have supportive leaders who empathize with their personal sides. Consequently, this style of leadership is best suited for leaders who have a lot of daily interaction with employees, as opposed to virtual relationships.
Situational Leadership Theory
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Situational leadership is a modern leadership theory that emphasizes a leader's ability to adapt to the needs of employees so that target goals can be met. A situational leader might change from a directive style of leadership to a supportive style of leadership depending on what style of leadership is needed to get the job done. Situational leaders are good at analyzing and examining organizational structures and organizational behaviors to determine the best leadership model to achieve the best outcomes. The beauty of situational leadership is that due to its flexibility, it can be applied to any type of organization, from virtual to ground businesses.
Transformational Leadership Theory
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In the March 2004 issue of "Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies," the article explains that transformational leaders use their motivational skills to influence others. Transformational leadership gain peoples' trust by exhibiting moral and ethical behaviors, as well as using charm and charisma to create enthusiasm among their followers. Transformational leadership is most effective with leaders who have personal interactions with staff. It can be especially useful for organizations that want to implement new projects, as transformational leaders have a knack for working with teams.
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References
- Photo Credit Three office workers image by Vladimir Melnik from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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very good
