Abstract

This study is focused upon leadership styles, i.e. potential; “lassiez-fair”; “resigned”; and “negative” others, expressed by leaders in the Swedish Police force. The occupational mapping of leadership styles was based upon material derived from interviews with and observations of police leaders as well as from collected questionnaire data. The styles were characterized as "experienced-based" categories (EPCs) with measureable attributes related to the Job Match Talent (JMT). In order to associate the EPCs with the JMT scales, nominal regression analyses were performed. A control group of nine selected police leaders was used as a reference category for the regression. The results showed that 12 (out of 30) JMT scales significantly predicted the EPCs. There were 7 unique predictors. In general, multiple influences on different EPCs by a JMT scale had the same direction, but with one exception. Trust in others decreased the odds ratio for Negative-other, while the odds ratios were increased for two other EPCs being influenced by this category. While Focus on order, Optimism and Vision decreased odds ratios for a certain EPC, Winning instinct had the opposite effect. The present results are discussed in relation to leadership and effective policing within the Swedish Police force.