The University Of Kent's Leadership Styles And Strengths

Knowing Yourself

There is a saying that says "knowledge is power" (Francis Bacon, 1626). In terms of leadership, this statement is especially valuable. The ability to lead others requires the ability to lead yourself first (Mindtools, 2015). This begins by knowing one's preferred style of leadership. This will provide deeper insight into understanding one's strengths and weaknesses. For the duration of this essay, I will be discussing my results from the University of Kent's Leadership Styles Test and ways in which these results can be applied successfully to the workplace. Assessment Results According to The Leadership Styles Test by The University of Kent, Transformational (or charismatic) Leadership is my preferred style of leadership (Mindtools, 2015). James MacGregor Burns (1978), a leading authority in leadership studies described transformational leadership as a process in which "leaders and followers help each other to advance to a higher level of morale and motivation" (Kauppi, 2003).

To date, Transformational Leadership is the most common and modern style of leadership (Kauppi, 2003). These leaders are generally very enthusiastic and energetic in nature. They aim to inspire teams with their visions and goals for the future. They are completely focused on organizing,

These leaders are found everywhere in daily life, not just in major corporations. Tasked with the responsibility of raising children and developing them into the adults they become, parents can be considered transformational leaders. Using their vision and charisma to mold the key players within an organization, coaches and religious leaders are also considered to be transformational leaders. The relationships between these leaders and their people dictates the potential and successful they will obtain in the present as well as in the future (Bennett,