Executive Leaders

Executive Leaders were first described by Burns (1978), as one of his five types of transactional leaders.  The other four leadership styles include group leaders, legislative leaders, opinion leaders, and party leaders.  Burns distinguished executive leaders from legislative leaders and party leaders in the way they conducted transactions.

Burns felt that true executive leaders were able to transcend party lines, and use their own personal power and popularity to gain support.  This means executive leaders do not rely on the power derived from the political party to which they belong; rather they rely on their connection with the people, the masses, which they represent.

Executive leaders often use press conferences to manipulate others.  They are also able to immediately understand the political agendas of those that might oppose them, and use this understanding to create mutually-beneficial transactions.