2.3 Discuss the influence of culture and values on management and leadership styles

Back in the 1950s, Robert Tannenbaum and Warren H Schmidt made an early contribution to research on leadership styles by comparing on the one hand the managers' level of authority and control with on the other hand the degree of freedom to act on own initiative by subordinates. This comparison led to their proposed 'leadership continuum' consisting of seven stages (see Fig. 4). These stages range from a situation where the manager decides everything to a framework where team members are allowed to make decisions independently within agreed limits. Seven leadership styles can be identified (Understanding Management and Leadership Styles, n.d.):

Tells

Persuades

Shows

Consults

Asks

Shares

Involves

Manager's use of authority Area of freedom for employees Manager permits Manager employees to defines function within limits, the limits asks group defined Manager to make presents decision problem, gets Manager suggestions, presents makes tentative decision Manager decision presents subject to ideas and change invites questions Manager sells Manager decision makes decision and announces it