To be the kind of leader whom everyone respects and enjoys, it is important to understand the different leadership theories that exist. Sometimes, people in leadership roles are not entirely aware of what type of leader they want to become. The type of leadership emerges once a person exhibits certain attitudes characteristic to particular leadership styles.

Although there are quite a number of leadership theories that exist, there are about six main leadership theories that describe the qualities of both leaders and their particular followers. These leadership qualities can be inherent, learned or could emerge in specific situations. Here are some examples of leadership theories that are relevant in the business world today.

The Great Man Theory

Theories in this category postulate that leadership is an inherently natural ability. In other words, leaders are born, not made. These theories puts further the fact that natural born leaders are more efficient in any given situation than are trained leaders.

Relationship Theory

Some leadership theories can be explained by comparing the role of the leader to that of the role of the followers. Making these distinctions between the two allows you to identify the set of traits that differentiates the leader from the follower. This relationship is usually applicable in the workplace where a leader has to be appointed in order to lead the team towards reaching a set goal. Some leaders are chosen for the reason that they are exhibiting characteristics that reflect a capacity for leadership. Employing this type of leadership theories usually creates the moral and ethical type of leaders who are proud to serve as a leader and help the followers through their tasks, in effect creating a solid team.

Other common leadership theories take into consideration the outside variables that affect the dynamics of a particular group to determine the particular style of leadership that is best suited for them. These theories take into account the attitude and behavioral patterns of the leader as well as the collective behavior of the followers.

Knowing what kind of a leader you want to be and being familiar with common leadership theories can only be beneficial to you and your team. Whether you believe in natural born leaders or in leaders who are made, it is important to understand all the concept of leadership theories in order to become an effective manager.

Employee satisfaction measurement is a way of knowing what leadership style works for a particular group. Some leadership styles work better in certain situations than any other style could. However, there are still styles of leadership whose effectiveness is very limited. Through employee satisfaction measurement, it is easy to spot the negative styles of leadership that could ultimately lead the organization to its ruin.

Effective Leadership Styles

How do you define good leadership? Employee satisfaction measurement is an accurate gauge of good leadership. Are the employees happy in their various roles in the team? Do they believe in what they do and have passion for their work? More importantly, do they show genuine respect for their team leader? Answering yes to all these questions simply means that the leader is exhibiting excellent leadership skills. But how do you define good leadership? An excellent leader is one who leads by example, is firm but fair, knows how to empathize with the team members and respond to their needs accordingly. A great leader is someone that employees look up to for example and guidance.

Leadership Styles That Don’t Work

There are also leadership styles that are not very effective. Leaders in this category typically lead by fear, serve as poor examples, and really have no empathy for the team nor for the entire organization. They are merely doing their jobs for the paycheck and the recognition and couldn’t care less what other people think. Who would want to follow that type of person? More importantly, who would want to emulate that kind of leadership style? Studies in employee satisfaction measurement shows that people who lead by fear do not get any respect. People who set a bad example have followers who do not perform well. And people who empathize with their subordinates also lead people who do not care about their jobs. It is this type of leadership that causes businesses to fail.

Becoming a Great Leader

Carrying out the examples of good leadership as described above should have a positive impact on your employee satisfaction measurement. Excellent leadership is very vital in making any business organization grow and rise above the competition.

In any leadership training module, you will find discover that each company may be looking for a different kind of leader or need a different style of leadership. For example, Leaders in corporate organizations are expected to have the ability to motivate the people whom they are in charge of. The military needs leaders who are tough and are accustomed to getting the job done correctly on the first try. Sports leaders, on another hand, need to be tough, and yet must command the respect of the team members.

Possessing leadership skills is a prerequisite before you take on any leadership roles and are planning to succeed. Any leadership training module offers information on different leadership styles.

Autocratic leadership – in this leadership style, the leader has complete power over his/her team. Team members are not at all given the opportunity to provide input or offer suggestions. Any leadership training module would agree that this type of leadership only causes resentment in the team members towards their leader.

Bureaucratic leadership – Bureaucratic leaders are people follow the protocol down to the last letter and believes that deviating from them is unforgivable. This type of leadership is better suited for areas wherein there is an increased possibility of danger for the entire team.

Charismatic leadership – a charismatic leader is the type who is a motivator and can inspire enthusiasm and respect from the members of the team. Completing each project given to them would give them a sense of accomplishment. In most circumstances, this leadership style is considered the most effective.

Transformational leadership – a transformational leader is capable of creating inspiration within their group. These leaders do not usually stay cloistered within the four walls of their offices. Instead, they are usually very visible and are constantly communicating with their team. These type of leaders believe that employees should have the opportunity to make suggestions on ways to improve the workplace.

Democratic leadership – while this type of leader is usually the one to make final decisions, they are also open to input from the team members. Employees are then made to feel that they have a say in how to accomplish their tasks. Employees under this type of leadership are usually happier and are more inclined to perform well. This type leadership provides an avenue for employees to develop certain skills which could also lead to future job advancements.

Any leadership training module would inform you that leadership style is actually determined by the type of business or industry you are in. There is not a singular style that is suitable for any given situation. Before you determine what type of leader you want to be you must first look within yourself and honestly assess your thoughts and ideas. You must then determine if you have the qualities and ability to be the type of leader that the situation calls for.

There are several skills that it is important to have if you want to be a charismatic leader. Although there are different techniques to developing charismatic leadership, there are certain qualities that are fundamental and intrinsic in a charismatic leader. There are some who are operating under the misconception that leadership means being loud and dictatorial. Knowing what skills to look for in a leader can benefit both leaders and team members.

Empathize With Your Team

Part of being a good leader and possessing charismatic leadership skills is knowing how to work with people. A charismatic leader is never abrasive nor bossy. Charismatic leadership is anchored on the quality of being good with people. Charismatic leadership means that you should have an understanding for both individual and group needs, and being capable of responding appropriately to these needs. With this, you will be able to motivate your team to do their best at any task without resorting to the use of force or fear.

Set An Example

Exhibiting charismatic leadership skills also means being able to set an example for your team. You, as the leader of the group acts as the representative for the entire group, which means you have to set a positive example and maintaining a positive image rather than exempting yourself from the rules you want to enforce on your team. Charismatic leadership means having control of the entire group and making sure that they continue to be productive. In charismatic leadership managing people and working well with them are equal in importance.

Resolving Conflicts

Resolving conflicts are probably the most important situations that require charismatic leadership skills. Encountering conflicts is a given once you are put in a leadership role. Sometimes, the conflict may stem from within your group. In cases such as these, charismatic leadership skills will come in handy when you have to step in and play the role of mediator.

At other times, the conflict may arise between you and the leader of another group, or with you and your own superior. Though these kinds of conflicts can be very uncomfortable, your charismatic leadership abilities will allow you to get through them with relative grace.

Doing Your Best

In the case where you are already placed in a leadership role of some sort, learning about charismatic leadership skills will only enhance the skills you already possess. For non-leaders, knowing about the skills that are important in leadership will only give you a better set of criteria when you evaluate your next boss or superior. Either way, charismatic leadership skills are be valuable for both leaders and members of the team.

Assertive communication skills are important for anyone placed in a leadership role. When you’re a leader, an occasion to use these skills may arise and you need to know the right things you can say that will encourage your subordinates to do their best at any task. While it is important to be original it is also not necessary for you to come up with the right things to say.

Quotes on leadership that have been used in the past and have been proven to be effective can be used. Through exhibiting assertive communication skills you should be able to make your subordinates think. Your words should be memorable and powerful enough to make your subordinates want to work hard at improving themselves, resulting in a better production of the team as a whole. Learning assertive communication skills ensures that you can pick the right words to say at appropriate times.

Examples of Leadership Quotes

“If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got.” This is a quote that has been used by successful leaders in the past. To paraphrase this quote, what it is basically saying is that if you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll get the same results as in the past. Therefore, if what you are doing results in failure perhaps it is time for you to start trying something new. In other words, change your ways. Trying different and better ways of doing things often produce positive results. This quote is both memorable and is proven to be effective.

“The chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” This is probably one of the most popular quotes on leadership. Everyone has probably heard this quote at one time or another. This quote simply means that the person performing the least can be the cause of an entire organization’s breakdown. Someone on your team who is always tardy or who is always disrupting the work of the other team members can affect the entire team and, in effect, the entire organization. Therefore, it is important for everyone to strive to do their best. No one should be the weak link in the chain. If a person identified as the weakest link isn’t making any efforts to improve, it is for the entire team’s benefit that you, as a leader, let that person go.

Resources on other useful leadership quotes are readily available for you. Once you have mastered assertive communication skills, you yourself could also come up with a few quotes on your own. We have to keep in mind though that knowing what to say takes up only a part of your job as leader. In order for your team to absorb what you say, you have to practice what you preach. By using assertive communication skills you can show your subordinates that each of them is an important part of the team and in the team’s quest of achieving your common goals.