Leadership involves a wide scope of functions. No one leadership style that fits all situations. Factors to consider in the choice of leadership style are the leadership circumstance, the type of team, experience, skills, and personal attributes. Stănciulescu & Beldiman (2019) confirm that the military is one of the organizations operating in a complex environment that compels military leaders to have the appropriate skills and abilities to cope with the prevailing challenges.
Transactional Leadership
The transactional leadership style involves rewarding followers for tasks achieved. The style of leadership entails the exchange of rewards and targets. Organizations use it to establish the responsibilities and roles of each employee. The military makes use of its structures to compel followers to perform their tasks in exchange for rewards, which can be the form of salary, promotion, or gifts. In the transactional leadership style, the leader can punish followers for failing to meet their targets. The military uses the style of leadership to give orders while expecting compliance from followers. Transactional leadership style involves the use of instructions, which justifies its relevance in the military. In many scenarios, military servicemen are required to adhere to instructions without questioning. Sometimes, military leaders give orders to the followers without allowing them to think on their own but strictly follow the orders (Stănciulescu & Beldiman, 2019). The military setting is an educational environment that, sometimes, applies force to instill the appropriate skills and attributes in the follower. As a result, the use of transactional leadership helps to design the punishment for those who fail to comply with orders from leaders.
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Transformational Leadership
Transformational leadership involves empowering the subordinates to make improvements in their performance. The style of leadership is used to influence the behavior of followers. Hamad (2015) suggests that the transformational leadership theory is made up of 4 Is. They include intellectual simulation, individualized consideration, inspirational motivation, and idealized influence. The leadership style requires leaders to influence change in their subordinates. For instance, Hamad (2015) explains that military leaders in the Second World War utilized, inspirational motivation and idealized influence, to encourage to their followers. Through the transformational leadership style, leaders guide their followers. The army leader has the obligation to constantly push the followers to come out of their comfort zones and gradually achieve challenging tasks. The leader sets the pace for task accomplishment while giving more and more challenging roles. Transformational leadership theory requires army leaders to influence action by creating a positive environment for change, encouraging critical thinking, and building teams.
Autocratic Leadership
The autocratic leadership theory involves making decisions without consulting team members. The style is necessary when the leader needs to make quick decisions, when the team input is not important, and when the outcome of a decision does not depend on the collective agreement of the team. In the army, the leader gives the command and expects adherence without inquiry from the followers. The military requires army leaders to make appropriate decisions. Özlen & Zukic (2013) confirm that the military environment is setting; based on the challenges that it faces when in line of duty. Military members are sometimes faced with difficult circumstances such that the leaders are the only source of hope. In such situations, leaders make informed decisions for the advantage of the whole team. Therefore, autocracy successfully forces the subordinates to comply with the directives the leader gives. The military environment, sometimes, poses challenging circumstances that necessitate autocracy. However, the autocratic style of leadership is demoralizing. Another disadvantage of autocratic leadership is that there is no innovation among the team members.
Servant Leadership
Servant leaders tend to set aside their interests and focus on the needs of the followers. A servant leader works with the hope of pleasing followers. Therefore, the servant leadership style requires military leaders to act in the interest of the followers (Glessner, 2016). Military servant leaders must show personal qualities such as trust, empowerment, service, vision, love, humility, and altruism. The leadership theory expects military leaders to attend to the needs of their subordinates and help them become wiser, healthier, and ready to take on their responsibilities. The theory includes leading by example while showing high levels of generosity and integrity. The leadership style does not recognize the title of an individual. Anybody within the military structure can be a servant leader based on the specific task at hand. The type of leadership promotes a positive corporate culture apart from increasing the morale of team members.
Followership Leadership
Followership is an advanced form of servant leadership. It means that an individual becomes committed to the needs and goals of the team. The subordinates put the needs of the team in front of their desires. The style of leadership requires the followers to establish trust and loyalty to the team and leader. A notable advantage of followership is the activeness of both the team members and the leader (Disque, 2018). The leadership style recognizes the contributions that team members make in terms of making decisions. There is a high level of corporate between the team members at all levels of the organization structure. Followership is a symbiotic leadership style where the success of the team depends on the same dedication, same values, and the same efforts. While the leader is the source of directions, followers help the leader by advocating for process improvement and adhering to the best practices.
References
Disque, B. M. (2018). Followership: Avoid being a toxic subordinate. NCO Journal , 1-4.
Glessner, T. (2016). Correlation between Servant Leadership and Organizational Learning in a Military Socio-cultural Archetype: Innovation of Strategic and Operational Capabilities . Northcentral University.
Hamad, H. (2015). Transformational leadership theory: Why military leaders are more charismatic and transformational?. International Journal on Leadership , 3 .
Özlen, M. K., & Zukic, A. (2013). A descriptive study on the military leadership. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences , 3 (7), 707.
Stănciulescu, R., & Beldiman, E. (2019). The Issue of Leadership Styles in the Military Organization. Land Forces Academy Review , 24 (1), 54-60.
