Lederstiler : i hvilken grad gjør ledere bevisste valg av lederstil?

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze how leaders apply different leadership styles. As different situations require different types of leadership, it is assumed that a leader, at any time, is flexible in their choice of leadership style. This study will consider how aware a leader is of his or her flexibility to choose between different leadership styles. This paper tries to figure out how leaders choose their leadership style, and whether the choice of a leadership style is a conscious or an intuitive one. This study draws on trait and behavior theories, and also on the theory of emotional intelligence. Through these theories, 11 different leadership styles are identified and these form the basis for this study. Through a case study this paper examines the different leadership styles applied by one leader of a smaller Norwegian service company with an international profile. A qualitative method, where the leader and four of his colleagues were interviewed, was used to gather the empirical data which this study is based on. The purpose was to bring out any nuances that could help clarify how aware the leader is of his flexibility in choice of leadership styles. The findings show that the leader of this company is very flexible in his choice of leadership style. In the light of the applied theories I interpret this flexibility to be an intuitive choice by a leader who relies on his extensive emotional intelligence.