Three types of leadership were classified in the 1930s by psychologist Kurt Lewin, PhD, and colleagues: autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. Since then, the conversation has continued to refine the meanings and what they can bring to a business’ success.
Other researchers added finer distinctions to Lewin’s categories, including transformational, transactional, servant, and adaptive leadership to put a finer point on the possibilities, but they also suggest that effective and self-aware leaders can evolve based on the needs of their organizations.
The SHRM analysis identified eight types of company culture that develop based on management styles that focus on spectrums of growth, stability, and hierarchy. For example, a “growth collaborator” values collaboration, adaptability, and long-term thinking, while a “strategic architect” blends long-term vision with structured leadership.
The report emphasized that no one type of leader, style, or culture is best.
“Instead, organizations must intentionally align their cultural practices with strategic goals, operational needs, and workforce dynamics to thrive in an increasingly competitive and dynamic global environment.”
According to 2023 research by leadership development and human resources consulting firm DDI, only 40 percent of leaders rated their organization’s leadership quality as very good or excellent, an 8 percent drop since the pandemic.1
SHRM, DDI, and Gretchen Oltman, JD, PhD, associate professor of interdisciplinary studies and program director of the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership at Creighton University, all conclude that correction is possible.
“Our best leaders can shift from style to style when circumstances demand it,” Oltman says. “This is called situational leadership—or the notion that a leader should adapt and change to best fit the situation and the people involved,” said Oltman in an article about leadership styles.
As O&P businesses expand their data collection toward an improved evidence base for patient care, they can also act on data toward a stronger organization and a culture of leadership in support of a successful company.
To read the 2026 Global Workplace Culture Report, visit SHRM.
To read “The 8 Most Common Leadership Styles,” visit Creighton university.
References
- Global Leadership Forecast 2023: Confidence in Leadership Takes a Nosedive, https://www.ddi.com/global-leadership-forecast-2023/leadership-quality
