Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to present leadership limitations that infl uence leadership effectiveness and examine if it is possible to overcome these limitations.

Methodology: The study presents the results of literature analyses and the fi ndings of the recent research studies on leadership. It also refers to literature items that might be helpful in analyzing the leadership limitations.

Conclusions: The study indicates that some leadership behaviors that fall into a particular category are useful in understanding and refl ecting on their limitations, while other leaders’ actions enable them to overcome those limitations or use them to support leadership effectiveness.

Research limitations: This is a theoretical and conceptual study. It formulates propositions to further empirical research studies.

Originality: The study analyzes a number of behaviors from different leadership theories. These behaviors fall into four meta-categories: situational, transformational, authentic and boundary spanning. The study also provides information about leadership styles that are useful in understanding and overcoming leadership limitations.