Which leadership style focuses primarily on task completion rather than on building relationships?

The leadership style that emphasizes task completion over building relationships is transactional leadership. This approach is characterized by a clear structure and focus on achieving specific goals through established procedures and rewards for meeting those objectives. In transactional leadership, leaders typically set expectations and provide support based on the performance of their team members, emphasizing the completion of tasks and adherence to rules.

In contrast to other styles, such as transformational leadership, which fosters deeper connections and inspires change and innovation among team members, or affiliative leadership, which focuses on harmony and emotional bonds within the team, transactional leadership prioritizes the completion of work and meeting targets over personal relationships. The laissez-faire style allows for a more hands-off approach, which does not prioritize either tasks or relationships, making it different from the focused task orientation of transactional leadership.