Style theories - part 1

In this lesson

1. 0:00 Introduction to style theories and lesson overview
2. 2:10 Tannenbaum and Schmidt continuum explained
3. 6:36 Ashridge Management College model overview
4. 8:07 Ashridge findings and employee preferences
5. 9:33 Consistency in leadership style impact

About this lesson

This foundational knowledge is essential for understanding leadership models across your CIMA or ACCA studies. The lesson covers two key frameworks. The Tannenbaum and Schmidt continuum maps four leadership positions: autocracy (leader decides alone), tell and sell (leader decides but explains the reasoning), ask and listen (leader gathers input before deciding), and democracy (staff decide). The Ashridge Management College model uses similar categories—tell, sell, consult, and join—and reveals that while subordinates prefer the consult style (asking for feedback before deciding), most experience tell or sell approaches in practice. A critical finding from the Ashridge research is that consistency matters more than which style you choose. Leaders who shift unpredictably between styles create the most negative attitudes towards work. The key takeaway: select a leadership approach and apply it consistently. This understanding of style theories provides the foundation for distinguishing between different leadership models and choosing effective approaches in real-world management contexts.

Duration: 11m