Leadership styles profoundly influence and significantly affect not only local but global giant corporations. These styles impacts everyone in the organisation from top management to the newest intern as they create the work culture that influences the company and its performance. A highly effective leader is able to influence his staff in a desired manner to achieve set goals and to break ‘impossible’ records. Different leadership styles may affect organisational effectiveness and performance.
One significant study on leadership styles conducted in 1974 by Stogdill (Handbook of leadership) in which it clearly mentions there are almost as many definitions of leadership as there are people who have attempted to define the concept. And in 2006, Bass and Riggio (Transformational leadership 2nd ed.) defined leadership to be related to the purpose associated with the attempt to define it, and so a wide range of possibilities is conceivable. Admirable company leaders are capable of directing, guiding and persuading their staff towards achieving their personal values in line with the organisational goals. Therefore, leadership styles enfold all aspects of internal and external businesses of an organisation, handling conflicts, managing staff to achieve and accomplish their tasks and appearing as a role model for all levels.
The table below summarises the 6 general leadership styles according to Goleman (2000) in his book entitled “Leadership that Gets Results”. He summarised the six basic styles of leadership which are key components of emotional intelligence in different combinations. The best of leaders do not know only use a single style but instead they are skilled at several, and have the flexibility to switch between styles as the situation dictate.
