Leadership Styles: Bureaucratic Leadership, Manipulative Leadership

2.5.5 Bureaucratic Leadership

The leader’s behavior is characterized by a high degree of reliance on rules, regulations and procedures to which both he and his subordinates subscribe.

The style of leadership fosters subordinates apathy. The rules serve as a minimum level of acceptable performance. It is possible for the followers to remain apathetic, for they know just how little they should do remain secure in their jobs. Rules also lead the habit of passing the buck and too great a desire to play safe.

Major Drawback

• Rules make possible for the workers to indulge in activity without participation; they also enable them to work without being emotionally committed to the work on hand.
  

2.5.6 Manipulative Leadership

This style of leadership is based on the belief that employees are persons who should be manipulated by the leader so that his goal may be attained. It exploits the aspirations of the employees or followers. Under this style of leadership the followers know that they are being manipulated and thus become resentful and bitter.

Major Characteristics

• Personal goals are reached by the manipulation by the employees.
• Employee needs and desires are viewed as tools to extract performance.

Manipulative Leadership is not Effective when……

• A relationship of long standing is involved.
• The structure of an open organization is so controlled that the ability of the manipulator to wheel and deal is severely restricted.