There are many different approaches to define leadership sltyles. Here we use the behavioral one.

1. Leadership
Styles
Development of People & Organizations

2. Leadership styles
“Leadership style” means
how you behave
when you are trying to influence the
performance of someone else.
There is no single “best” leadership style!
The balance between these two types of
behavior determines which of the four
possible leadership styles you adopt.

3. 2 types of behavior
Leadership style can be viewed as the combination of two types of behavior:
Directive behavior:
Clearly telling people what to do, how to do
it, where to do it and
when to do it,
and then supervising their performance.
Supportive behavior:
Listening to people, providing support and
encouragement for their effort,
and then involving them in problem solving and
decision making.

4. 4 behavioral leadership styles
High S3 S2
Encouraging Persuading
Supportive
Behavior
S4 S1
Low
Releasing Telling
Low Directive High
behavior

5. Telling
High directive/
Low supportive
The leader takes complete responsibility for
ensuring staff performs according to a
defined standard.

6. Persuading
High directive/
High supportive
The leader starts to involve staff in
ensuring correct performance.

7. Encouraging
Low directive/High supportive
The leader encourages staff to take
responsibility for their own
performance.

8. Releasing
Low directive/
Low supportive
The leader uses little directive and
supportive behavior, letting staff get on
with it without interference. Standards
to be set are the responsibility of staff.

9. Success factors in business
Employees
Business success
- Qualified
- Turnover
- Reliable
- Profit
- Friendly
- Profitability
- Motivated
Management
Processes
Customers - Clear rules
- Satisfied - Responsibility
- Loyal - Efficient