Leadership Theory: The Four Leadership Theories

Drawing its origins from complexity science, complexity leadership theory was postulated by Marion and Uhl-Bien in 2001 (Lichtenstein, Uhl-Bien, Marion, Seers, Orton, & Schreiber, 2006). This leadership theory examines leadership practices in organizational operations and involves the study organizational leadership systems related to interaction amongst themselves, how such interactions maintain adaptations and how such interactions eventually influence operational outcomes. (Beyer, B. (2012). A distinct quality of this theory is its ability to be subjected to organizations complicities, with respect to changes and organizational innovations. This theory further incorporates organizational unpredictability and change management (Lichtenstein, Uhl-Bien, Marion, Seers, Orton, & Schreiber, 2006). Uhl-Bien & Marion, 2008 noted that complexity leadership provides information as to leadership roles and qualities and organizational
Four leadership theories have been outlined and analyzed in this paper. It is evident that many theories of leadership exist with overlapping qualities from these leadership theories are integrated by successful leaders in various organizations, as leaders adjust to their various leadership styles. There is no single leadership theory or style that can be upheld as the best management theory. One can conclude that leadership ultimately rests on the amalgamation of various leadership traits from the various leadership theories in existence. Northouse, P. (2004) maintained that successful leaders adopt different leadership approaches, implementing the appropriate combination of different leadership styles depending on the circumstances. Evidently, the leadership approach has a great influenced employee productivity and morale. The leadership theory research has been to use the various aspects of leadership to achieve leadership