Although scholars gave up trying to find the one best leadership style, today researchers continue to further develop behavioral theories. Transformational leadership, a contemporary view of leadership, is a behavioral theory because it focuses on the behavior of successful leaders. Transformational leadership is about change, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Transformational leaders also can be charismatic leaders. Although charisma is not needed to lead, it can help. Charismatic leaders have the ability to engage employees by energizing them to meet challenging objectives and inspiring them to greatness. Transformational leadership has been contrasted with transactional leadership. The transaction is based on the behavioral strategy of “you do this work for me and I’ll give this reward to you.”

Stewardship theory states that leaders should be servants of the employees and organization. Stewards focus least on satisfying their own personal needs to fulfill followers’ needs, as they live the values such as honesty, altruism, and courage and treat employees well. Authentic leadership is about being yourself. Use self-leadership or influencing yourself, because if we try to copy someone else we are not being our true self, and it is usually unsuccessful.

Positive manager-subordinate relationships are invaluable to organizations, as employees want to have inclusive leaders who they feel they can relate to and see as a person. Your most important job as a leader is to develop relationships with others.