The Six Leadership Styles Explained
Did you know that there are six styles of leadership? These six styles include the servant, stewardship, transactional, transformational, charismatic, and situational forms of leadership. Modern organizational theory posits that these six distinct approaches to leadership each have their own discernable means and methods for leading and influencing others, managing resources, and making decisions. Moreover, each leadership style has its own advantages and disadvantages. Recognizing these and knowing your specific style can help you to become a better overall leader. Let’s explore these styles in detail.
Servant Leadership
In this leadership style, the leader prioritizes serving the needs of their team members and focuses on their development and well-being over their own personal needs and desires. Servant leaders often emphasize empathy, listening, and collaboration, aiming to empower others to reach their full potential (Kenton, 2024). Servant leaders are generally effective listeners and are good at earning and keeping people's trust. This is a key attribute for being a superior leader (Lussier, 2016). For me, servant leadership is the epitome of leadership. When you put others first, especially in a self-sacrificing way, you help to inspire others around you. As the old saying goes, good leaders should grow more leaders rather than more followers.
The advantages and disadvantages of servant leaders are described below:
Advantages:
Fosters a positive and supportive work environment.
Builds trust and loyalty among team members.
Promotes employee development and growth.
Disadvantages:
May be perceived as too passive or lacking in assertiveness.
Could lead to decision-making delays in certain situations.
Requires a high level of emotional intelligence and empathy from the leader.
Stewardship Leadership
Leaders that fall into the stewardship category tend to have a strong sense of team unity. They favor equality and often delegate their power and decision making ability to others (Cook, 2023). Stewardship leaders are similar to servant leaders as they view their role as one of responsibility and caretaking. This helps to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of an organization. They prioritize ethical decision-making, accountability, and the greater good of the organization over their personal gain. As suggested in the name, they act as good stewards of resources and relationships. Stewardship leaders favor decentralized authority and power which helps to foster leadership skills within others.
The advantages and disadvantages of stewardship leaders are described below:
Advantages:
Emphasizes ethical decision-making and accountability.
Promotes long-term sustainability and organizational integrity.
Encourages a sense of responsibility and ownership among team members.
Disadvantages:
Could result in slower decision-making processes due to thorough consideration of ethical implications.
May require sacrificing short-term gains for long-term benefits, which could be challenging in competitive environments.
Relies heavily on the leader's ability to effectively communicate and enforce ethical standards.
Stewardship leaders are often well-suited for executive roles due to their strong sense of "team unity."
Transactional Leadership
Transactional leaders are focused on both the details and the results. They are looking for the payoff and are goal focused. These types of leaders make great project managers and are usually found in middle management. This is because they have strong qualities that enable them to be the "go between" between upper management and their followers. Transactional leaders operate on the basis of exchanges with their followers, offering rewards for performance and enforcing consequences for non-performance. They emphasize clear structures, rules, and expectations, relying on incentives and positive reinforcement to help motivate their subordinates (Lussier, 2016). Transactional leaders seek to maintain stability within an organization. They have a great ability to make deals and help people reach consensus on difficult topics.
The advantages and disadvantages of transactional leaders are described below:
Advantages:
Provides clear expectations and guidelines for performance.
Offers rewards and incentives for achieving objectives.
Can be effective in maintaining order and efficiency in routine tasks.
Disadvantages:
May foster a transactional rather than collaborative relationship between leader and followers.
Could lead to a focus on short-term goals at the expense of long-term growth and innovation.
May not be suitable for motivating highly skilled or creative employees who seek autonomy and recognition (STU, 2014).
Transformational Leadership
Transformational leaders are individuals who seek to “transform” their followers and subordinates into leaders. They also embrace organizational change and love to challenge the status quo. They are vision-oriented and help others to see how things within an organization could be better than they currently are (Lussier, 2016). Transformational leaders inspire and motivate their followers by articulating a compelling vision for the future and challenging them to achieve higher levels of performance. They foster innovation, encourage personal growth, and build strong emotional connections with their team members. In addition, transformational leadership is closely associated with enhanced creativity and improved decision making ability.
The advantages and disadvantages of transformational leaders are described below:
Advantages:
Inspires and motivates followers to achieve higher levels of performance.
Fosters innovation and creativity within the organization.
Builds strong emotional connections and loyalty among team members.
Disadvantages:
Relies heavily on the leader's charisma and communication skills, which not all leaders may possess.
Could lead to unrealistic expectations or over-reliance on the leader's vision.
May struggle to maintain momentum and enthusiasm over the long term without tangible results.
As their name implies, transformational leaders are interested in "transforming" their subordinates into leaders.
Charismatic Leadership
When most people think about leadership, their minds tend to drift to the famous charismatic leaders of the past. Any leader who leaves a lasting impression on their followers likely possesses charismatic leadership qualities. Charismatic leaders possess strong personalities and persuasive abilities that enable them to attract and influence followers. They are typically considered to be charming and have high confidence in themselves (May, 2023). They also have a strong vision and often inspire devotion and loyalty in their follows. Captivating others with their compelling communication is another key aspect of this leadership style. However, most charismatic leaders need to rely on trusted advisors to help keep them on the right path since they are so vision-focused.
The advantages and disadvantages of charismatic leaders are described below:
Advantages:
Captivates and inspires followers with a compelling vision and personality.
Can rally people behind a cause or goal with passion and enthusiasm.
Generates strong loyalty and commitment among followers.
Disadvantages:
May be perceived as relying too much on the leader's personality rather than sound decision-making or expertise.
Could lead to a cult-like following or resistance from those who do not align with the leader's values or style.
May struggle to sustain momentum without tangible results or when faced with adversity.
Situational Leadership
Situational leaders adapt their leadership style to match the specific needs and circumstances of each situation and relationship. Developed by Hersey and Blanchard, situational leadership theory posits that effective leaders adjust their behaviors based on the task at hand, the capabilities of their team members, and the context in which they are operating. This approach involves a continuum of leadership behaviors ranging from directive (providing specific instructions and closely supervising) to supportive (offering encouragement, coaching, and empowerment). Situational leaders assess the readiness level of their followers, which includes their competence and commitment, and then choose the most appropriate leadership style to help them achieve their goals. Essentially, a situational leader is one that can adapt their style to fit various situations.
The advantages and disadvantages of situation leaders are described below:
Advantages:
Adapts leadership approach to match the needs and readiness of individual followers.
Promotes flexibility and responsiveness in leadership style.
Can effectively address diverse situations and challenges.
Disadvantages:
Requires the leader to accurately assess and respond to ever-changing circumstances, which can be demanding and time-consuming.
May result in inconsistency or confusion if the leader fails to effectively communicate the rationale behind their shifting approach.
Could lead to over-reliance on the leader's judgment, particularly if followers become dependent on the leader to guide their actions.
Final Thoughts/Conclusions
These six styles of leadership offer different approaches to dealing with people and managing organizations. They emphasize various aspects of leadership often catering to diverse organizational contexts and personal preferences. Effective leaders often blend elements of all six of these styles, drawing upon different approaches as needed to navigate complex challenges and foster organizational success. Effective leaders also recognize and understand the advantages and disadvantages of their personal leadership style which makes them even better in their respective roles.
References & Further Reading
Cook, Sam. “Steward Leadership: Redefining Leadership for the Future Workplace.” MentorCliq. July 7, 2023. <https://www.mentorcliq.com/blog/steward-leadership>
Kenton, Will. “Servant Leadership: Characteristics, Pros & Cons, Example.” Investopedia. February 27, 2024. <https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/servant-leadership.asp>
Lussier, R. and Achua, Christopher. Leadership Theory, Application & Skills Development. Cengage Learning, Boston. (2016).
May, Emily. “Charismatic Leadership 101: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Differences.” Niagara Institute. March 7, 2023. <https://www.niagarainstitute.com/blog/charismatic-leadership>
STU Online. “What is Transactional Leadership? How Structure Leads to Results.” St. Thomas University Online. November 25, 2014. <https://online.stu.edu/degrees/education/what-is-transactional-leadership/>