Leadership, Leadership Styles and Leadership in Public Administration Special of Turkish Customs Administrations

Leadership has been the subject of many researches as a concept that has existed since the past. History has been recorded with the traces/doings of great leaders and the knowledge of important leaders has survived to the present day. Scientific research on leadership dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, in parallel with research in management science. In the historical process, the theories of leadership were examined under the titles of “Great Man Theory, Characteristics Theory, Behavioral Leadership Theories, Situation Leadership Theories and Modern Leadership Theories”. Many new leadership styles have emerged in the recent past and today. The aim of this study is to explain in general terms the leadership styles that emerged in the historical process covering the last century and have survived to the present day, and to relate these leadership styles to public administration in particular of customs administrations. In accordance with the qualitative research methods, this study was carried out according to the literature review and theoretical information about leadership was presented. As a result, it was stated by the leaders/managers in public administration that democratic, supportive, transformational, transactional, task-oriented, charismatic, autocratic, team management and managerial leadership styles could be applied more appropriately/effectively among 32 different leadership styles.