Leadership Styles

What is transformational leadership?

A leadership style that inspires and motivates through vision and role modeling.

What does transformational leadership encourage?

Innovation, creativity, and professional growth.

Why is transformational leadership key in occupational therapy?

It motivates staff during change and fosters engagement.

What is a focus of transformational leadership beyond tasks?

Igniting passion and helping individuals see the big picture and purpose of their work.

Transformational leadership example

Embracing evidence-based practice or guiding the adoption of a new documentation system

Transformational leadership is especially effective in

times of change and when morale and engagement are crucial

What does transactional leadership focus on?

Clear exchanges: rewards for performance and penalties for underperformance.

What does transactional leadership provide?

Structure and clarity of roles and expectations.

What is the effectiveness of transactional leadership?

Ensures accountability and meeting productivity goals.

How is transactional leadership applied in occupational therapy?

By setting productivity standards or establishing benchmarks for outcomes.

What is a criticism of transactional leadership?

Sometimes seen as rigid.

Why is transactional leadership important in high-demand settings like acute care?

To maintain efficiency and ensure standards are met.

What is the key to balancing transactional leadership?

Accountability with support so staff feel both guided and valued.

What is a key characteristic of visionary leadership?

Emphasizes a compelling big picture vision for the future and helps the team see where they fit in the big picture.

How does visionary leadership align team goals?

Encourages alignment of team goals with organizational mission.

Why is visionary leadership important for occupational therapists?

Important for OTs developing new programs or initiatives.

Give an example of a visionary occupational therapist.

A visionary OT might spearhead the creation of a new program and inspire the team to contribute.

How does visionary leadership motivate team members?

Motivate by connecting daily work to long-term goals or outcomes.

What is situational leadership?

A leadership style that adapts to the maturity, skill level, and readiness of team members.

What are the four styles of situational leadership?

Telling, selling, participating, and delegating.

What is a key characteristic of situational leadership?

Flexibility and adaptability.

In what context is situational leadership especially used?

Clinical education, where learners require different levels of support as they progress.

What is the hallmark of situational leadership?

Flexibility and self-awareness.

Give an example of situational leadership in practice.

Working with an OT student may require a more direct role compared to delegating to a more experienced staff.

What is autocratic/authoritarian leadership?

A leadership style where the leader makes decisions unilaterally and quickly.

In what scenarios is autocratic leadership useful?

In high-pressure or emergency scenarios.

What is a potential drawback of autocratic leadership?

Limited team input, which may hinder engagement if overused.

What is democratic/participative leadership?

A leadership style where the leader seeks team input and encourages shared decision-making.

What is a benefit of democratic/participative leadership?

It builds commitment and morale through collaboration.

In what type of teams is democratic/participative leadership particularly valuable?

In interprofessional occupational therapy (OT) teams.

What does democratic/participative leadership foster within a team?

Engagement and buy-in from the team.

Give an example of democratic/participative leadership.

Involving the staff in designing a new documentation template or asking for feedback.

What is a potential drawback of democratic/participative leadership?

It can take longer to reach decisions.

What is a potential advantage of the decisions made through democratic/participative leadership?

They are often stronger and more uniformly supported.

What is laissez-faire leadership?

A leadership style where the leader provides minimal direction and oversight.

What does laissez-faire leadership grant to team members?

Autonomy and independence.

When can laissez-faire leadership be effective?

With highly skilled teams.

What is a risk of laissez-faire leadership?

It can be risky if guidance is needed.

In what context is laissez-faire leadership used in occupational therapy?

When working with a group of highly experienced professionals.

In what type of environments is laissez-faire leadership typically used?

Environments that value independence.

Task-oriented leadership

Prioritizes structure, tasks, and achieving measurable outcomes

Focused on getting the job done

Primary concern: efficiency, productivity, and outcomes

Leaders set clear goals, define expectations, and monitor performance closely

Task-oriented leadership in OT examples

In preparation for accreditation

Achieving productivity in clinical settings

Scheduling or covering for call-ins

Strict productivity standards

Relationship-oriented leadership

Emphasizes team morale, trust, and collaboration

Focus is on the people

Does the team feel valued?

Relationship-oriented leadership in OT examples

Mentoring a struggling student

Offsetting staff burnout

Building interprofessional collaboration

Team lunches

Leadership styles may _______ depending on the ________.

Change

Scenario

Examples of visionary leadership

Church pastors setting the vision for the future

SOTA

Finding new places for OTs

Examples of situational leadership

Fieldwork or supervision

Quarterbacks

Group projects

Examples of task vs relationship-oriented leadership

ACOTE review vs class development

Outpatient vs ICU needs

An autocratic leader may be best in an

emergency

A democratic leader may shine in a situation of

shared decision making

Laissez-faire leadership may show with

A skilled team with not a lot of oversight