Leadership Theory Of Leadership

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What is Leadership? Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. – Dwight D. Eisenhower Every business owner and CEO wants to be a good leader, but how can you be a good leader if you don't know what leadership really is? Unfortunately, leadership doesn't have a one-size-fits-all definition. We all have our own ideas about what it means to be a good leader. For example, some people think leadership means guiding others to complete a particular task, while others believe it means motivating the members of your team to be their best selves. But while the definitions may vary, the general sentiments remain the same: leaders are people who know how to achieve goals and inspire people along…show more content…
Perhaps the best-known of these theories is French and Raven's Five Forms of Power. This model highlights three types of positional power – legitimate, reward, and coercive – and two sources of personal power – expert and referent (your personal appeal and charm). The model suggests that using personal power is the better alternative, and that you should work on building expert power (the power that comes with being a real expert in the job) because this is the most legitimate source of personal power. Another leadership style that uses power and influence is transactional leadership. This approach assumes that people do things for reward and for no other reason. Therefore, it focuses on designing tasks and reward structures. While this may not be the most appealing leadership strategy in terms of building relationships and developing a highly motivating work environment, it often works, and leaders in most organizations use it on a daily basis to get things…show more content…
Effective Leadership Styles As we mentioned above, transformational leadership is often the best leadership style to use in business. Transformational leaders show integrity, and they know how to develop a robust and inspiring vision of the future. They motivate people to achieve this vision, they manage its delivery, and they build ever stronger and more successful teams. However, you'll often need to adapt your style to fit a specific group or situation, and this is why it's useful to gain a thorough understanding of other styles. Key Points Over time, several core theories about leadership have emerged. These theories fall into four main categories: Trait theories. Behavioral theories. Contingency theories. Power and influence theories. "Transformational leadership," is the most effective style to use in most business situations. However, you can become a more effective leader by learning about these core leadership theories, and understanding the tools and models associated with each
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