Leadership Style 101

Leadership Style 101

Shamecka Nelson

Bus 610

Prof. Doc Thomas King

3/30/2010

Leadership Style 101

Leaders have the ability to influence others to accomplish organizational goals through utilizing various motivational techniques. The type of motivational method they choose to use is determined upon the type of leadership style they possess. Authors Kinicki & Kreitner in their book Organizational Behavior discuss several leadership styles that focus on convincing others to commit themselves to accomplish specific goals through utilizing mentoring, coaching, inspirational, and motivational techniques (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2009). Each style that is mentioned by the authors is based upon several different theories and models which include the great man, trait, behavioral, and path-goal theory.

The great man theory states that leaders were born with the ability to lead (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2009). In contrast, the trait theory teaches that leadership is developed through learned experience and behavioral theorist emphasize that leaders are made, not born (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2009). While the three previous mentioned defined theories focus on how leadership is developed, the last theory, path-goal, strives to describe what methods leaders use to motivate their subordinates (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2009). The method these leaders choose to use determines their leadership style.

American psychologist Robert House proposed the path-goal theory to describe how leaders motivate their subordinates through both emphasizing the relationship and facilitating the path subordinates must take to fulfill the organizational needs as well as their own (House, 1971). In this theory, House describes four styles of leadership. Directive leaders offer their subordinates specifics guidance on how to perform certain tasks (House, 1971). Supportive leaders strive to motivate their subordinates through demonstrating concern for assisting them with achieving...