Leadership Styles and Ethics

Leadership Styles and Ethics

Introduction

The paper aims to discuss the various models of leadership styles, which categorizes various leadership styles in different ways. The approach and process of directing and implementing plans, through motivating people, is knows as a leadership style. Researchers have found out many different leadership styles through researching many leaders in business, politics and various other arenas. The paper provides the summative description of Max Weber's model of leadership styles. Further paper strives to understand the relationship between Max Weber's model of leadership styles and Covey's concept of principle-centered leadership. Lastly, the paper focuses on the importance of ethics, in leadership styles, and a brief description of how I envision my own leadership style.

Discussion

Max Weber's Model of Leadership Styles

Researchers have found out many different leadership styles through researching many leaders in business, politics and various other arenas. There are various models of leadership styles defined by many leaders and each model contains several different leadership styles. Some of the significant models include: Max Weber's model, the managerial grid, Lewin's leadership styles and Likert's leadership styles.

However, the latest research on leadership states that there are following four major theories that guide any leadership style:

Behavioral theories

Contingency theories

Trait theories

Transformational theories

The behavioral theory explains the categorization of leadership behavior into various leadership styles. Weber (1905) suggests three basic frames of leadership styles, which are: Transactional (Bureaucratic) Leadership, Transformational (Charismatic) Leadership and Traditional Leadership styles.

Transactional (Bureaucratic) Leadership

The transactional leadership style is very organized and structured, which follows the initially established processes and procedures for leadership. This type of leadership is considered as rigid as it does not have any space of exploring new trends and ideas to solve problems. A transactional leader always ensures adherence to the company's stated principles of leadership. These leaders always make sure that all the principles are carefully followed before sending the task to next authoritarian level. Transactional leadership styles are usually followed in banks, governments, hospitals and universities in order to ensure quality and security, and to decrease corruption. Leaders, working in a bureaucratic style, will experience anxiety and frustration by speeding up the process.

Transformational (Charismatic) Leadership

A charismatic leader creates a powerful self-image, by utilizing complete energy, to naturally draw the attention of people. This type of leader also infuses energy and enthusiasm, for doing the things right, into his team members. Leaders develop charismatic qualities after a long term commitment with the organization. Developing a charismatic leader is often risky for the company, in terms of resignation from the charismatic leader for advanced opportunities. This type of leaders strongly focuses on creating a group with clear, organized and succinct knowledge of the work, by distinguishing it from other groups. Transformational leaders also build a strong image of their group in order to serve as an example for other groups. This creates an unchallengeable position for many transformational leaders.

The following are the behavioral characteristics of charismatic leaders, which specifies a more transformational perspective, according to Conger & Kanungo ...