Effective Centralized Leadership Is Essential For Professional Function

After thoroughly studying the book Leadership: Theory and Practice by Peter G. Northouse, I have come to a conclusion that transformational leadership style is the one that appeals to me the most (Northouse, 2013, p.185). Transformational leadership is about changing and transforming people, it is concerned with all the possible aspects involved in such process: employees' emotions and motives, satisfaction of their needs and explanation of the long-term goals. Transformational leadership handles equally well one-on-one interactions as well as influencing organizations as a whole. Transformational leadership factors are idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration

This is the type of leadership in which rewards are measured by performance. This leadership style believes fingers are not equal and deals with individuals team members according to their performance. Good performances are rewarded while poor performances are punished. Transactional leadership does not consider his or her surbodinates as members of his or her team but as workers who must be managed to get works done. His or her tool is "carrot and cane". If works is going on fine, he or she can use award to motivate good work or fines to punish bad work.

There are many models of leadership that exist across a range of fields (e.g. social work, education, psychology, business, etc.). The ability to transform an organization successfully requires a different set of attitudes and skills. Transformational leadership is an approach where a leader utilizes inspiration, charisma, individualized attention, and intellectual stimulation with their employees (Iachini, Cross, & Freedman, 2015, p. 651). Transformational leadership helps to clarify organizational vision, inspires employees to attain objectives, empowers employees, encourages employees to take risks, and advocates the seeking of alternative solutions to challenges in the workplace (Transformational Leadership, 2015). It allows the leader to engage and motivate each follower identify with the organization’s values and goals.

Additionally, transformational leadership theory looks at leadership differently. It sees a true leader as one who can distil the values, hopes, and needs of followers into a vision, and then encourage and empower followers to pursue that vision. A transactional leader thinks of improvement or development as doing the same thing better: an organization that reaches more people, a company that makes more money. A transformational leader thinks about changing the world, even if only on a small scale (Community Tool box, 2016).

Transformational and transactional leadership are two leadership styles have been identified that offer profound influence on employee’ perceptions and behaviors toward management and determine followership (Mosely & Patrick, 2011). These styles are polar opposites and span cultural and organizational boundaries. At some point in their career a leader

The laissez-faire leadership style can be seen by some as lazy or a type of leadership style where the leader is non-existent. A leader who uses the laissez-faire leadership style is backing away from the traditional idea of a manager or leader, and allowing the employees to make decisions or tackle problems on their own. The laissez-faire leadership style was developed in 1938 in compilation with both autocratic and democratic leadership styles. This leadership style is best when the workforce is made up of very educated and highly skilled individuals who are capable of developing and meeting their own deadlines.

Transformational Leadership can play a role in creating a successful team. It can also be the process that changes and transforms people dealing with emotions, values, ethics, and standards. Transformational Leadership is the process whereby a person engages others and creates a connection that raises the level of motivation and morality in both the leader and the follower (Northhouse , 186). This applies to a team because you always have to be able to connect and motivate others

The concept of Transformational Leadership was initially introduce be leadership expert and presidential biographer James McGregor Burns (About, 2015). This type of leadership requires for leaders and followers to have a connection like no other where mutual respect and trust has to be the foundation of the working relationship. The idea is that in the end everyone results benefited in one way or another. A different approach on leadership is Douglas McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y. Managers who get involved with Theory X believe that workers need to be constantly supervised. On the other hand, Theory Y suggests that employees themselves are well disciplined and have control as of how they will achieve their goals.

The above quote by the late Steve Jobs perfectly captures the essence of laissez faire leadership. The model is rather a paradox within the leadership theories, because of its hands-off nature. The leader and subordinate roles are almost turned upside down, making it a difficult theory to grasp.

Transformational leaders seek to change those they lead. In doing so, they can represent sustainable, self-replicating leadership. Transformational leaders use knowledge, expertise and vision to change those around them in a way that leaves them (followers) with a buy-in that remains even when the leader that created it is no longer on the scene. Transformational leadership style depends on high levels of communication from management to meet goals. Leaders motivate employees and enhance productivity and efficiency through communication and high visibility. This style of leadership requires the involvement of management to meet goals. Leaders focus on the big picture within an organization and delegate smaller tasks to the team to accomplish

**TransformationTransformational leadership. Burns (1978) and Bass (1985) provided much of the foundational research on transactional and transformational leadership theory that led to advancements in guidelines for leaders. Although Burns (1978) and Bass (1985) agree on the characteristics for both theories, there iswas one point of difference. The one area where a difference exists is that Burns (1978) offered that translational and transformational theory were two separate approaches that existedexist on opposite ends of the spectrum. whereas Bass (1985) argued that transactional leadership was the starting point for a leader moving to a transformational approach. Before a more in-depth review is provided for these alternative views, it is first necessary to provide further background information on transformational leadership. Transformational leadership theory is based upon four specific constructs; charismatic or idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration. The four constructs serve the leader’s attempt to connect with the follower at a higher level of interest (Alabduljader, 2012; Groves & LaRocca, 2011; Liu et al., 2011; Odumeru & Ogbonna, 2013; Washington et al., 2014).

Laissez faire is the absence of effective leadership (Yukl G, 2010). Laissez faire leaders ignore problems and follower (Yukl G, 2010) and they do not contribute to the growth of the follower ( (Northouse, 2007). Feedback, rewards and leader involvement are totally absent in this type of leadership hence reduced organisational commitment.

“The laissez-faire leadership style is also known as the “hands-off¨ style. It is one in which the manager provides little or no direction and gives employees as much freedom as possible. All authority or power is given to the employees and they must determine goals, make decisions, and resolve problems on their own.”

Highly experienced and trained employees needing little supervision fall under the laissez-faire leadership style. However, not all workers are highly skilled. This isn't the best leadership style if employees require supervision. The laissez-faire style produces no leadership or supervision efforts from managers, which can lead to poor production, lack of control and increasing costs.

First of all, a laissez-faire leadership is defined as a leader lacks of direction supervision of employees and fails to provide feedback to the employees under his supervision. The leader allows experienced employees make many decision within a team. It provided a completed freedom to employees to do what they have to work, set the deadline for their work. Also, laissez-faire leadership style promotes trust in employees, thus most of the employees will try to do the best thing to feedback to their leader. This style works well when the employees are having highly capability and motivated. However, this style may lead to poor production, increasing cost, leader become lazier and lack of control.