Table of contentsLeadership Theories and FrameworksTransactional leadership TheoryTransactional lead

Table of contents

1. Leadership Theories and Frameworks
Transactional leadership TheoryTransactional leadership StrengthsTransactional leadership WeaknessTransformational Leadership TheoryTransformational Leadership StrengthsTransformational Leadership Weaknesses
2. Authentic Leadership Theory
Authentic Leadership StrengthsAuthentic Leadership Weaknesses

Leadership Theories and Frameworks

The purpose of this essay is to examine the main components of the Transactional leadership, Transformational leadership, and Authentic leadership theories. Then identify three strengths and three weaknesses of each of the theories for understanding leadership behaviour.

Transactional leadership Theory

The term transactional refers to the fact that this type of leader essentially motivates followers by exchanging rewards for performance. Transactional leadership motivates followers by setting up social or financial transactions that persuade them to act. For example, a transactional leader might offer bonuses to sales staff for exceeding quotas. The bonus is a form of motivation. Transactional leadership often is set in opposition to transformational leadership, which is a leadership style that relies on inspiring followers that a particular vision is worth working towards.

Transactional leadership Strengths

Transactional leadership motivates followers by setting up a rewards system that motivates them to do the task at hand. For example, a transactional leader might offer bonuses to her sales staff for exceeding quotas. Transactional leaders provide distinct advantages through their abilities to address small operational details quickly.

Transactional leadership Weakness

The followers’ loyalty to the transactional leader’s hinges on their continuing ability to harness their followers’ self-interest. A transactional leader generally does not look ahead in strategically guiding his followers to a position of leadership. A transactional leader elicits cooperation rather than faith.

Transformational Leadership Theory

The transformational theory focuses on a leader’s ability to inspire followers, through concentrating on team-building, motivation and collaboration with his followers to accomplish change for the better. Transformational leaders set goals and incentives to push their followers to higher performance levels while providing opportunities for personal and professional growth for each employee.

Transformational Leadership Strengths

Transformational theory encourages the follower’s high growth through positive motivation, even if monetary and other benefits aren’t offered by the leader because they will be inspired by his vision. Transformational leaders set goals and incentives to push their followers to higher performance levels while providing opportunities for personal and professional growth for each follower. Transformational leadership focus on team-building, motivation and collaboration with followers at different levels of to accomplish change for the better.

Transformational Leadership Weaknesses

The theory is based entirely on the ability of the leader. The leaders have to put in their best to encourage their followers. A transformational leader might not be forthright with her followers. For example, a business owner might motivate her workforce with stirring speeches about the nobility of hard work, while her real aim is to increase production for personal gain.

Authentic Leadership Theory

An authentic leader is more interested in empowering followers rather than in rewards like the transactional leader. Moreover, just like the Transformational leader, an authentic leader is guided by compassion and heart in everything they do but they are honest, ethical and practical. Their behavior reflects the ethics and values he promotes, such as transparency and fairness. While many authentic leaders may have natural abilities, through hard work and developing their leadership qualities. Authentic leaders are dedicated to the continued personal growth and committed to building lasting relationships with their followers.

Authentic Leadership Strengths

The leader is more able to maintain trust and cohesion among his followers. Followers develop trust in an authentic leader’s vision and intentions.

Authentic leadership builds positive and rewarding relationships between the leader and his follower's Authentic leadership tends to guarantee the ethical and moral standards are high.

Authentic Leadership Weaknesses

The moral component can cause contradicting objectives between the leader and their followers’. The leader’s values might not always align with what is right for the followers. Authentic leadership might hinder the ability for a leader to make quick decisions on his followers. While there are still many questions left unanswered about leadership theories, and many possible truths to be drawn from their ideas. The aim in this essay is to establish an understanding on different leadership behavior.

Transformational leadership might sound preferable because the leader doesn’t cynically harness the self-interest of their followers, as the transactional leader. While An authentic leader is not afraid to admit mistakes and work to overcome shortcomings. By facing their weaknesses and refusing to compromise with them, authentic leaders can find ways to overcome their weaknesses and this makes them stronger leaders. Moreover, the transactional theory pays close attention to the motivations behind the actions of their followers. The transactional style has been popular, and it can be effective in creating meaningful relationships between the leader and their followers.

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