Leadership Styles in Project Management Through Disney Characters

Introduction

• Discussion on leadership styles in project management.
• Applicable across any management system.
• Derived from the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK).
• Projects are increasingly significant in organizations.

Leadership Styles Overview

• Eight main leadership styles according to PMBOK:
  1. Autocratic
  2. Democratic/Participative
  3. Laissez-faire
  4. Servant Leadership
  5. Transactional
  6. Directing
  7. Transformational
  8. Charismatic

Autocratic Leadership

• Description: Focus on task completion with little regard for team members' feelings.
• Disney Example: Elsa (Frozen)
  • Prioritizes tasks and decisions despite team members' opinions.
  • Example: Stopping her sister Anna's spontaneous marriage plans.

Democratic/Participative Leadership

• Description: Encourages team involvement in decision-making.
• Disney Example: Mufasa (The Lion King)
  • Involves team in kingdom responsibilities and encourages learning from failures.
  • Delegates tasks to team members like Zazu.

Laissez-faire Leadership

• Description: Delegates tasks and monitors work at a high level.
• Disney Example: Peter Pan
  • Allows Lost Boys freedom while overseeing important matters like dealing with Captain Hook.

Servant Leadership

• Description: Leads by serving the team and removing obstacles.
• Disney Example: Mulan
  • Serves her family and country, taking initiative in challenging situations.
  • Joins battle to protect her father, demonstrating servant leadership.

Transactional Leadership

• Description: Leadership based on rewards for accomplishments.
• Disney Example: Rapunzel (Tangled)
  • Strikes a deal with Flynn Rider for mutual benefits.

Directing Leadership

• Description: Provides explicit instructions on tasks and actions.
• Disney Example: Sebastian (The Little Mermaid)
  • Directs Ariel on how to win Prince Eric's heart with specific guidance.

Transformational Leadership

• Description: Empowers and inspires team with a vision.
• Disney Example: Aladdin
  • Envisions a better future and leads others towards it, exemplified by his journey from street rat to prince.

Charismatic Leadership

• Description: Inspires through energy, enthusiasm, and confidence.
• Disney Example: Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
  • Self-confident and enthusiastic, willing to sacrifice for others, ultimately inspiring the Beast.

Conclusion

• Leadership styles are diverse and can be aligned with various characters for better understanding.
• Importance of identifying and employing the appropriate leadership style in project management.
• Encouragement to reflect on examples of these styles in our own environments.