Leadership Styles and Their Influence on Project Team Performance

Abstract

 Leadership styles play a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics and performance of project teams, directly influencing the success of projects across various industries. This study explores the impact of different leadership styles—transformational, transactional, laissez-faire, servant, situational, and distributed—on project team performance. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, including quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, the research provides a comprehensive analysis of how these leadership styles affect team outcomes. The findings reveal that transformational leadership significantly enhances team motivation, cohesion, and performance, particularly in environments requiring innovation and adaptability. Transactional leadership, while effective in structured settings, may limit creativity and flexibility. The study also highlights the challenges of laissez-faire leadership and underscores the value of servant and situational leadership in fostering team collaboration and addressing diverse needs. The implications for project managers and organizations include the importance of selecting and cultivating the appropriate leadership style to align with the specific demands of the project and team. Future research directions include examining the integration of multiple leadership styles and their long-term effects on team performance.