Leadership Mastery Model for High-Impact Leadership Development

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to address the critical challenge corporate professionals face in practically applying the vast and often overwhelming body of leadership literature for leadership development. This paper aimed to synthesize key leadership concepts from scholarly sources and, through this synthesis, introduced a novel, integrated model of leadership development. The model that can serve as a clear, practical framework designed to enhance leadership development efforts for corporate professionals. Methodology: A comprehensive literature review formed the foundation of this study. We systematically examined major leadership theories, including trait, behavioral, and contingency approaches, alongside key characteristics of contemporary leadership styles such as transformational, charismatic, authentic, servant, and Level 5 leadership. Moreover, components of toxic leadership and common leadership derailment behaviors were studied in detail. Insights gained from this rigorous review were then systematically synthesized to develop the model. Findings: Our research culminated in the Leadership Mastery Model, designed to develop high-impact leaders. A high-impact leader, as defined in the paper, is the leader who embodies all the major qualities of leadership, alongside the core strengths of transformational, charismatic, authentic, servant, and Level 5 leadership, while consistently avoiding common leadership derailment behaviors. Starting from a clear understanding of the purpose of leadership, the Leadership Mastery Model outlined key leadership traits essential for effective leaders. Then, the model discussed various leadership behaviors and emphasized the importance of adaptability in these behaviors, as needed, according to the situation at hand for a leader. The model also guided leaders regarding common leadership derailment behaviors that must be avoided by high-impact leaders. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Our research has made a valuable contribution to leadership theory and practice by introducing the Leadership Mastery Model that integrated key leadership concepts from scholarly research into a single, practical framework, offering a clear roadmap for organizations and corporate professionals to develop high-impact leaders. Now, anyone can use this model to develop high-impact leaders without going through the maze of the overwhelming amount of scholarly leadership literature.