Leadership Styles Paper

There are many different leadership styles: autocratic, Laissez-faire, transactional, and transformational to name a few. Each style has positives and negatives. My research did not reveal any single leadership format to be without flaws. However, there are some that are more positive than negative. In addition, one format of leadership may be better suited for a specific arena while a different style fits another altogether. In other words, what works for one department or organization may not work for another. Before we explore a few of the differing leadership styles, let us take a moment to define what a leader is and is not. A leader is not necessarily the manager, or the supervisor or the boss. Those are positions to be held with tasks and goals that need to be met. Managerial positions revolve more around staffing and the bottom line. It involves more controlling or managing of the staff to ensure tasks are met as expected, when expected and for the expected cost. …show more content…
A leader is a visionary who sees an opportunity for change and in turn inspires people to follow. However, this is not to be mistaken for a cult-type environment. The followers in a leadership style relationship are not following blindly. They not only question the leader, goal, and methods of attainment but is encouraged to do so.
Though I have just defined two roles, manager and leader, they are not necessarily separate. These roles can be combined. A manager, supervisor or boss can be a good leader and vice versa. Though it may be easier to become a leader in a managerial role than a manager in a leadership role. While some argue that leadership is an innate quality one is born with, author Paul Bambrick-Santoyo makes the argument that leadership can be taught with time, quality coaching and support (Bambrick-Santoyo,