" Leadership is the ability of a superior to influence the behavior of subordinates and persuade them to follow a particular course of action." - Chester Barnard Max Weber 's Theory: Types of Leadership In Max Weber 's theory, he wrote about three types of leaderships: Bureaucratic, Charismatic, and Traditional. Weber was one of the first of the theorists to recognize that leadership itself was situational in nature, and that effective individuals needed to move dynamically from one type of leadership style to another to remain successful. 1] Bureaucratic Leadership "Bureaucratic administration means fundamentally domination through knowledge." Bureaucratic leadership is based upon fixed official duties under a hierarchy of authority, applying a system of rules for management and decision-making. This style of leadership can be advantageous in highly regulated lines of business, and it can be an efficient management style in companies that don 't require much creativity or innovation from employees. Bureaucratic leadership is one of the most prevalent forms of management today. Weber 's Ideal Bureaucracy is characterized by the following: ~Hierarchical Organization ~Delineated Lines Of Authority With Fixed Areas Of Activity ~Action Taken On The Basis Of, And Recorded In, Written Rules ~Bureaucratic Officials With Expert Training ~Rules Implemented By Neutral Officials ~Career Advancement Depending On Technical Qualifications Judged By Organization, Not Individuals