With more than six decades in business, Chandler Macleod has borne witness to huge changes within the Australian employment landscape. One of the incredible transformations throughout the years has been the evolution in leadership styles to reflect shifting societal values and workplace dynamics. We have witnessed the move from authoritarian, top-down approaches to more collaborative and inclusive leadership and management models and the positive impact these have bad on both the culture and success rates of business models. We have been proud to see Australian business leaders increasingly embrace participative and transformational leadership styles, driven by the growing recognition of the importance of employee engagement, innovation, and adaptability. This dramatic shift has not only influenced how decisions are made but also shaped the very ethos of workplaces, fostering environments that emphasise diversity, collaboration, empowerment, and a shared vision for success. As businesses navigate a continuously evolving economic landscape, understanding these shifts in leadership styles offers valuable insights into ways businesses can ensure a positive workplace culture and future-proof for success.

The Authoritative Era

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, as Chandler Macleod was developing itself within the recruitment services industry, Australian workplaces were characterised by a hierarchical structure where businesses were lead in a primarily authoritative structure. Leaders made decisions unilaterally, and employees were expected to follow instructions without question. This top-down approach was effective in maintaining order and efficiency but often stifled creativity and innovation, attributions that we have come to recognise for their beneficial impact on business practices.

The Shift Towards Participative Leadership

The 1980s and 1990s saw a significant shift forwards with movement toward a more participative leadership model. As the global economy became more competitive, business leaders in Australia began to recognise and respect the importance of employee engagement and collaboration. This move towards a participative leadership style encouraged input from employees at all levels, fostering a new sense of ownership and accountability, previously unseen for the majority of employees. This period also saw the rise of team-based evolutions of the work models and a focus on employee development and empowerment. Chandler Macleod adapted to these changes by offering services that emphasised employee engagement and development, consulting with businesses and developing training and programs to build more collaborative work environments and strength work relationships.

The Rise of Transformational Leadership

While Y2K didn’t bring the technological disruption we were led to expect, the turn of the millennium did bring about huge changes in the workplace with the rise of transformational leadership. This leadership style emphasises inspiring and motivating employees to achieve their full potential and contribute to the organisation's vision. Transformational leaders are characterised by their ability to create a positive and inclusive workplace culture, where innovation and adaptability are highly valued. By recognising this shift in leadership attitude, Chandler Macleod was able to play a crucial role during this period by providing insights and tools to help organisations foster transformational leadership, thereby enhancing their ability to navigate the rapidly changing business landscape.

Embracing Diversity and Inclusion

The progressive movement towards embracing and emphasising diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace has also seen changes to leadership models. The workplace leaders of the Australian climate today are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace, which include improved decision-making, greater innovation, and enhanced employee satisfaction. Leadership styles today are more collaborative and inclusive, with a focus on creating environments where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute and to be themselves in the workplace. Chandler Macleod is proud to have been a part of contributing to the advancement of diversity, equity, inclusions and belonging in the workplace through various programs and partnerships with our clients, helping organisations turn their diversity aspirations into tangible outcomes.

The changes in leadership style and methodology Chandler Macleod have been privy to since our formation in 1959 to today reflect the broader societal changes in Australia and the growing recognition of the importance of employee engagement and emphasis on positive workplace culture. As businesses continue to navigate the ever-shifting economic environment and workplace landscape, understanding the shifts in leadership styles and the dynamics leading to these shifts offers valuable insight into ways to ensure a positive workplace culture and help to future-proof the success of a business. Chandler Macleod’s journey through these changes has highlighted our commitment to supporting businesses to build effective and inclusive leadership.



Talk to the Chandler Macleod team about how we can work with you to maximise the potential of your leaders and create an environment of success.