10 Leadership Theories

I gathered some insights from an AI language (ChatGPT). It provided some relevant information. It also provided several suggestions for a name, one being “21st Century Servant Leadership.”

From ChatGPT:
Servant leadership theory has evolved significantly from its origins in the 1970s and 1980s to 2024. Initially proposed by Robert K. Greenleaf in 1970, the theory emphasizes leaders serving their followers' needs, empowering them, and helping them develop and perform to their best abilities. Over the decades, several key developments have shaped servant leadership:

1. Expansion of Influence: Initially focused on organizational leadership, servant leadership principles have expanded to various fields, including education, healthcare, and community development.
2. Integration with Other Theories: Servant leadership has been integrated with other leadership theories, such as transformational and ethical leadership, highlighting its adaptive nature and compatibility with diverse organizational contexts.
3. Research and Validation: There has been growing empirical research validating the effectiveness of servant leadership in fostering employee satisfaction, organizational commitment, and overall performance.
4. Globalization and Diversity: With globalization, multiculturalism, and diversity becoming more prevalent, servant leadership has been adapted to address the challenges and opportunities presented by diverse workforces and global contexts.
5. Technological Advances: The rise of technology has influenced how servant leadership is practiced, with virtual teams and digital communication tools requiring leaders to adapt their servant leadership approaches.
6. Focus on Sustainability and Ethics: Contemporary servant leadership emphasizes sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and ethical decision-making, reflecting broader societal expectations and environmental concerns.
Overall, servant leadership theory has evolved to remain relevant in modern organizational settings, emphasizing empathy, collaboration, and ethical responsibility in leadership practices.

Karl,

I like the idea Simon Sinek encapsulates in the phrase "Noble Cause".  A leader who goes first, proffers hope and focuses on others casts the vision of the Noble Cause, and people buy-in because they grasp the greater good outcome of their contribution to the cause, company, or idea.

Like the old story of the three stonemasons working, when asked what they are doing; one says he's laying bricks, the second says he's building a wall, and the third, and most engaged, said he's creating a cathedral worthy of the glory of God.  Same work, different perspective.

So what to call our contemporary leadership model:  How about  "The Noble Cause Leadership Theory".

Sidebar: I would love to collaborate with you Karl on leadership and team building efforts.  When not at work, I'm a writer and a photographer,  bilingual English/Spanish with a passion for equity and social healing.

-John.Tindall@ag.tamu.edu

@John Tindall

Thanks for your comment! Totally agree, we need to come up with a cool name for where leadership is today. The label we use will help others connect to the current evolution and keep moving us forward. What ideas do you have? Love to connect with you on this sometime!

Keep leading!  -Karl

I appreciate the summary.  What's filling that massive void from the 1980's until now??

The prevailing leadership model today includes the best of each theory, plus the traits you identified.  We just need to come up with a cool name for it.

Simon Sinek has a great book (or two) on leadership called 'The 5 Why's'.  And here's a good talk of his on leadership: How Great Leaders Inspire Action

I enjoyed this summary of theories.  You can see how things have changed over time and the generations.  Thank you for pulling all this together a d providing a thought provoking summary.  
Maria