Which type of leadership is focused on the completion of tasks and compliance to avoid punishment?

The appropriate response identifies transactional leadership as the correct answer because this leadership style primarily emphasizes the completion of tasks and compliance through a system of rewards and punishments. In transactional leadership, leaders establish clear expectations and rules, and they maintain control over their followers through structured rewards for compliance and potential consequences for failure to meet those expectations. This creates a framework where tasks are achieved due to the assurance of reward or the avoidance of punishment, thereby facilitating a focus on short-term goals and routine operations.

Adaptive leadership, in contrast, is more about guiding teams through change and complexity, while transformational leadership seeks to inspire and motivate followers to achieve greater levels of innovation and personal development. Servant leadership, on the other hand, prioritizes the growth and well-being of team members, focusing on serving others rather than enforcing compliance through a reward and punishment system. Each of these alternative leadership styles fundamentally differs in approach, objectives, and interactions with followers, which further supports the selection of transactional leadership as the accurate answer.