Effective Leadership Styles

Leadership Styles     1

Effective Leadership Styles

Leadership Styles     2

Effective Leadership Styles

    There are various leadership styles in today’s business settings.   All of them are different and similar in some way.   I think it is wise to review some of the different styles and observations get a better understanding about leadership.   To start it is important to take a look at leadership traits to understand the decisions and behavior of individual leaders.   If we have a better perception of what drives a leader then we can use these traits as a guide for effective leadership.

    One definition of leadership defines it as the behavior of an individual, directing the activities of a group towards a shared goal (Hemphill & Coons, 1957, pg 7).   Another observation is as true today as when it was written. The concept of leadership eludes us or turns up in another form to taunt us again with it slipperiness and complexity.   So we have invented an endless proliferation of terms to deal with it……and still the concept is not sufficiently defined (Bennis, 1959, pg. 259).   Overall, leadership is the ability to influence, motivate and enable others.

Leadership Styles     3

      The Intra-individual theory covers the personality traits of leaders to provide insight.   It states that that an individuals traits, skills, values are what motivates them to seek power and position (Yukl, 2009). These traits help provide insight of the different leadership roles.   However, it does not cover what is the most essential process of leadership, which is persuading others.

    Persuading your peers, bosses and outsiders is the foundation of an effective leader.   There are many different ways.   Some styles might be beneficial for a one on one approach and other styles may be directing at group level.   Knowing the situation and the options you have will make you a more successful leader.   One approach is the Dyadic approach, it focus’s on the... [continues]

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