Leaders don't often plug nicely into a single hole. In my experience they operate along a range, sometimes achieving excellence and other times noterity. I developed the idea of a spectrum from the numerous articles I've read over the course of school and in the Army.
The leader categories, Transformational, Transactional, Laissez faire and Management by Exception are taken from the transformational leadership model. I feel they best capture the basic levels most leaders operate from.
Management by exception is the leader who only finds fault. There is no attempt at concensus building, they are often micromanagers who are focused mainly on themselves.
Laissez faire leaders are those who provide little to no guidance. In my experience these are "scalded dogs". Leaders who don't give guidance, make few decisions and put off the decisions they do make till the last moment.
Transactional Contingent leaders are the most common. These leaders focus on the carrot and stick approach. While it can be very pleasing to operate for a contingent boss they are not going to change the world.
Transformational leaders are about changing the world. These are the charasmatic leaders who define organizations. They have the ability to communicate vision in a way that makes others excited. They don't need a carrot or stick.
Management by exception could also be called Toxic. These leaders can achieve goals and look good to thier bosses but at a cost. Their teams seldom function well or autonomously. The ultimate goal is to make the leader look good.
Contrasted to transformational leaders who are in fact mentors. They develop teams and share their successes with thier teams. They impact the organization for years, even after they have left.
Leadership is a process. Where do your processes place you in the spectrum?
