Personality is the Key:
This issue is like two parallel city streets that eventually merge into one. History is replete with examples of great leadership with both positive and negative results on record. I believe it is the natural attributes of ones own personality and emotional make up that is the initial determining factor as to ones predisposition towards leadership. It's in the core building blocks of our DNA that gives us this jumpstart. Having said that, it is important to not misunderstand or discount the amazing power and influence that our environment can have on us as we experience life in our circumstances and times. Apparent rouge leaders surprise us because we miss or dismiss them in favor of another who may ultimately fail to fully blossom.
Leaders can be vaulted into the required position as if by God's design, and equally leadership can be attained, worked for, and strived for through various opportunities, possibilities, and mechanisms like, formal education and training, or blood line, circumstances, or outside influences like PR, money, force, and lets not forget grit, desire, and intestinal fortitude. Remember personality is the key! Lets look at the 5 main leadership styles and see if you can identify where your own personality traits and preferences reside, and would your employees, spouse, or significant other agree with your self assessment?
The 5 Leadership Types are:
1) Authoritarian, autocratic, or the dominating leader type: A person chosen or has ascended to the position or has assumed the leadership position and has established absolute power. This general type makes up their own mind on issues without necessarily listening to anyone else before they do. They control the agenda and set the course, sometimes described as dictatorial or a dictator.
2) Systems-person, or bureaucratic leader type: A person running things from established procedures, layers of managers, committees, and supervisors. They establish rule books, laws, ordinances, manuals and operating guidelines. This general type of leader believes more in standards than privileges, rights and exceptions. They believe in the exact and fair execution of the system to groups and individuals alike. Everything is done by the book and they insist their staff and employees follow all procedures correctly and with exactness.
3) Inspirational, transformational, dream weaver of hope and change type leader: This general type leader is often referred to as a natural born leader. They communicate and lead primarily by means of personal charisma and positive emotional connections. They usually preach messages of new hope, like unity, prosperity, change, equality, and/or tolerance. They are bridge builders with an uncanny perception of what their followers will be motivated by. They inspire their employees and gather in their team members.
4) Individualistic, laissez-faire (let us do it) type leader: This type leader allows and encourages their associates (employees) to decide the business direction for themselves on their own. This general type is usually flocked to and surrounded by a skillful and educated team of idealistic type individuals (employees) that value freedom and success through libertarian style ideals. You can usually recognize such an operation by the number of telephones not being answered.
5) Participatory, democratic, or consensus type leader: This general type leader is in charge but invites other supervisors and team leaders to come up with, ideas and action plans to be discussed. The final decision is reserved for the overall leader who usually relies on an agreement or majority opinion for what is and is not to be acted upon.
Some may truly believe, or wish they have parts of each leadership style in their tool bag and may even be tempted to believe they are a near perfect composite for a Benevolent Dictatorship. Remember personality is the key. Did you check your results with your significant other?
What is your main type and style when things heat up or fall apart? How about when things are calm or when someone else is ultimately in charge; then what type of leadership style do you primarily express? What about when there is an emergency? Do you always take charge or stand back or help organize and support those with the required skills for the moment?
Now consider this for a moment. If your personality and experience as a human being tends to value open communication, and you are an independent free spirit, then you suddenly find yourself an employee or supervisor under the autocratic or bureaucratic type leadership system described above; what would your perceptions of natural leadership attributes VS learned leadership be? Wouldn't you be asking yourself, "Who give a flying flip?" "I have to adapt or get a new job!" Leadership style and the follower's personality, abilities, and expectations should be compatible where ever possible for healthy growth potential and personal elbow room or all the unhappiness and trouble begins.
What if the economy changes or top management is changed from a sales & marketing run organization to an accounting run organization, doesn't the leadership style change as well? As a gear in the clockwork or cog in the wheel we must be ready to do our part as new and different pressures are applied.
Maybe things aren't that drastic. Maybe just a new supervisor or manager up the line is changed and that's all. If the new manager is of the opposite gender would this make any difference to you? So if you were a subordinate female what might this mean to you? If you were a subordinate male what might this mean to you? Leadership secret #1 is: Great leaders are able to place themselves in another's shoes while keeping their eye on the prize.
My advice is to select the best strengths from the 5 leadership types above and internalize them. Exercise these skills whether you consider yourself a natural born leader or not, whether you are working, training, or striving to be a great leader or not, or whether you are ever called to be a significant or popular leader or not.
Leadership secret #2 is: (the secret attribute common in good leadership, whether innate or learned, is) the ability to be a good follower. This may translate into being a dedicated follower of another's commands or example. It may translate into being a dedicated follower of correct principles in business and life. Ultimately it may prove to be the ability to stick to your ideals and follow your own dreams; come what may.
Be actively engaged in leading yourself there. Pay the price (and don't forget to dance along the way)! After all, this is the essence of true leadership, natural, learned, or a dynamic blending of the two theories. I wish you the very best.