ABSTRACT
Modem theories have proposed two types of leadership: transactional and transformational. Transactional leadership attempts to preserve the status quo, while transformational leadership seeks to inspire and engage the emotions of individuals in organisations. Transactional leadership concentrates on exchanges between leaders and staff, offering rewards for meeting particular standards in performance. Transformational leadership highlights the importance of leaders demonstrating inspirational motivation and concentrates on relationships. In healthcare increasing consideration is being given to the organisational context within which people work and what is required of a leader in that work situation. Leaders and managers wield power: the ability to influence others. Classical views of leadership emphasised charisma as personified in an unbroken line of political figures going back before Alexander the Great - Julius Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler, John Kennedy and Nelson Mandela. The nature of the task can be adapted in terms of its complexity and time scales.
