BUS603: Managing People

Through reading this chapter, you will notice that there is not one specific leadership style, principle or theory. Great leaders can follow a shared leadership style, a meta leadership style or even a transformational leadership style and be equally effective. As each style might seem different, they all have a base definition of the core relationship of leader to follower. The only way this relationship stays healthy and effective is through communication that not only works top down (leader to follower) but should also work from bottom up (follower to leader). This transparency of communication leads to the ability to adjust tactics, strategies and styles.

As I have led multiple teams now in my decade long career, I have learned that the only true way to create a great base of followers is to be authentic, transparent and ethical. In my career, I have also implemented different versions of these different leadership styles with great effect. As previously mentioned, sometimes taking on a manager type of approach is useful, so to is the correct usage of these leadership styles. For example, in my organization I have been a part of teams that had leaders that were transformational to get a sustainable business model fleshed out, and then the leader switched the style to more of a shared leader to get buy-in from other areas, finally creating an environment where meta leaders in the organization can broaden the interest and collaboration across the organization.