“Traditional leadership methods and styles must change to meet changing environments” (Sims, 2002, p.242). Sims (2002) argues that organizations can ensure success by developing individuals into leadership positions such as leaders and managers. There is a perception that leadership is at a higher level than management. McConnell (2006) states that there are differences between leading and managing. In short, “people obey managers because they have to or are expected to; people follow leaders because they want to” (McConnell, 2006, p.147). Therefore, leadership can be defined as “the act of influencing others to work toward a goal” (Bauer & Erdogen, 2009, p.285) and can be considered “more art than science” (McConnell, 2006, p. 147). In healthcare organizations, leaders exist at all levels. In the imaging department, leaders are directors, supervisors and team leaders. There are various theories on leadership styles, McConnell (2006) states that the three basic leadership styles are laissez-faire, participatory (democratic) and authoritarian (autocratic). He argues that few leaders have only one leadership style. Sims (2002) states that factors such as the leader's experience, training, professional competence, technical competence and philosophy regarding human nature would influence his or her leadership style. However, he believes that leadership styles should be flexible and adaptable to various situations. Imaging departments exist in dynamic market environments, and many factors influence the leadership styles used by imaging department leaders. Ismail, Zainuddin, and Ibrahim (2010) argue that participatory (democratic) leadership and consultative leadership are the leadership styles that seem to be implemented in such departments and ment...... middle of paper... styles are suitable to their departments and communicate effectively with their employees. Works CitedBauer. T & Erdrogen.B (2009). Organizational behavior. Nyjack, NJ: Flat World Knowledge Inc. Madlock, P. E. (2008). The link between leadership style, communicator competence and employee satisfaction. Journal of Business Communication, 45(1), 61-78. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.McConnell, C, R. (2006). Umiker management skills for the new healthcare supervisor (4th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones Publishers and Bartlett Sims, R. R. (2002). Managing organizational behavior. Greenwood Publishing Group. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.Ismail, A., Zainuddin, N., & Ibrahim, Z. (2010). Linking participative and consultative leadership styles to organizational commitment as an antecedent of job satisfaction. UNITAR electronic journal, 6(1), 11-26. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.