Leaders are able to influence and guide people under them, so an organization can become more effective in achieving its goals. Styles of leadership are affected by external factors, such as the organizational environment, demographics, staff characteristics, resources, economic and political factors, technology and the culture of the organization.

Organizational Environment

Organizations have their own particular work environment with its own values, which is a legacy of past leaders, as well as current leadership. These values are the care the organization has for investors, customers, staff and the community, and they determine how the business will be managed. Goals, values and concepts that define products or services make up the personality of the organization.

Organizational Resources

Leaders are dependent on organizational resources, such as staff, technology, finances and physical resources to achieve their goals. The success of management depends on how well resources are acquired and used.

Employee Roles

When an employee takes on a role in an organization, his position is defined by the tasks and responsibilities he must perform in relationship with others. Employees have varying levels of maturity in approaching tasks and relationships that impact the style of leadership needed to guide them. Employees also affect the organization by their work ethic and personal values. Roles have pitfalls and roadblocks that leaders must recognize and reduce in order to help staff accomplish their tasks.

Organizational Culture

The culture of an organization is a combination of its founders, past and current leaders, history and crises. Culture is difficult to change, because it is the result of long-held information and formal systems, traditions, customs and rules that represent the self image and shared expectations of the organization. Established rites, such as rituals, routines and a set way of doing things impacts company norms, such as how a worker can be in good standing and how a worker can respond appropriately for various circumstances.

Sociological Factors

Leaders need to understand the demographic makeup and cultures of the clients of the organization and trends in the marketplace to design products and services for particular populations.

Economic and Political Factors

Leaders must educate themselves on their suppliers, customers and competitors to determine the economic and current political factors that affect the marketplace. These factors influence how leaders accomplish their goals.

Technology

Technology can dramatically change the business environment, overnight. Leaders must adjust their management styles to help the company adapt to technology. Research and development help leaders to create innovative new techniques that make operations easier.