Leadership Styles

What is transformational leadership?

• Motivating followers to transcend self-interest for the betterment of the group

• Focus on the purpose and mission of the group

• Provide vision, express idealism, inspirational

• High expectations

• Challenge status quo

• Provide intellectual stimulation

What is transactional leadership?

• Favours an exchange process

• Focuses on rewards, taking corrective actions to mistakes

• Focuses on clear goals, structured processes and immediate outcomes

• Effective in acute situations or when maintaining established procedures is critical

• Aim to maintain and strengthen existing structures, strategies and cultures

• Manages on a micro level (daily tasks)

What is empowering/democratic leadership?

• Highlights the value of an employee’s work

• Includes them in decision making

• Builds trust by sharing power and ensuring diverse perspectives are heard

• Conveys confidence in high performers

• Best suited for complex problems where consensus improves buy-in and implementation

• Encourages independent action, opportunity thinking, teamwork, self-development, goal setting and self-reward

What is servant leadership?

• Focuses on the needs, growth and wellbeing of those being led above the leader’s own interests

• Natural feeling of deep-rooted desire to make a difference in people’s lives through service

• Emphasises empathy, active listening and ethical decision making to build trust and psychological safety

• Creates a perception of organisational justice

What is authentic leadership?

• Values-driven approach emphasising integrity, transparency and consistency between words and actions

• Builds trust through openness about challenges and adherence to core principles

• Fosters greater self-awareness, a moral perspective and transparency

What is coaching leadership?

• Focuses on developing specific skills and confidence through feedback and guidance

• Helps bridge gaps between competence and performance through role-play and gradual exposure

• Leader provides both task direction and support

What is educational/developmental leadership?

• Focus on upskilling team through education, modelling and reflection

• Turns conflict or gaps into learning opportunities for professional growth

• Supports both patient-centred care improvements and staff competency development

What is psychologically safe leadership (also known as Laissez-Faire)?

• Creates a blame-free environment where teams can self-identify root causes and solutions

• Leader guides the process but allows the team to drive analysis, fostering ownership

• Relies on high team competence, without structure may lead to unclear accountability