Leadership style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Leadership style - Essay Example Transformational leadership occurs when the leader broadens and elevates the followers’ interest and stirs the followers to look beyond their own interest for the good of others (Shermerhorn & Hunt & Osborn, 2003. p. 301). President Obama could be considered a transformational leader. Four characteristics of transformational leaders are idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration (Thompson, 2009). In my workplace I have seen how managers have applied different leadership styles in order to motivate employees to achieve higher levels of performance. Different managers within the organization used alternate leadership styles. The company’s general manager is a very outgoing person whose actions inspire the entire staff. His leader style could be categorized as being a transformational leader. One of my supervisors only cares about the operating results. On the few instances this supervisor has spoken to me it has been to provide criticism and exaggerate things. Despite her lack of personality the supervisor gets the job done. Her leadership style can be classified as a transactional leader. Transactional leaders involve leader-follower exchanges necessary for achieving routine performance agreed upon among the leaders and the followers (Schermerhorn, et. al., 2003, p. 301). After a corporate restructuring a few years ago at my workplace the managers wanted to changed the corporate culture. The executives believed that applying a new leadership style was a good initiative that would help deal implement change. The leadership chosen was House’s path-goal theory. The used of this leadership theory requires for the leader to adjust his / her behavior to support situational contingencies. There are four types of leadership that can be applied with the use of House path-goal. The four types of leaderships are directive, supportive, achievement-oriented,