Understanding Leadership

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- You are on a mountainside, miles away from any settlement. A member of your climbing party has been severely hurt and cannot continue. You are the designated decision-making for the group. What do you do?

- Tribal Approach-Leadership based on fear and survival (strength)

- Carry member with us till we get to the next settlement

- Classical Approach

- Organize others to take a vote and decide if members should be left behind, or come back for them later.

- Post-Progressive Approach

- Call 911 for help. Have all members carry hurt member to safety.

- You are preparing to lead a group of soldiers into a potentially fatal battle. As the battalion commander, you are looked to for leadership. What approach will you use to increase the likelihood of victory?

- Pre-Classical Approach

Not likely to produce victorious outcome because it is based on fear.

- Classical Approach

This approach is more likely to have an outcome of victory. This approach will assume the leader to have authority to make decisions, confront issues and make others accountable as well as hire and evaluate employees. Leaders in this tradition use directive and sometimes conceive means to get things done.

- Progressive Approach

Not likely to produce victorious outcome

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Chapter 03: Trait Theories

Discussion Questions

- Discuss the basic premise behind the great man theory.

Great man theory-earliest theories of leadership. They possessed qualities their fellow countrymen did not. They provided direction and influenced the masses. Examples are Martin Luther King. And George Washington.

- List and discuss the key variables identified by Stogdill’s 1948 Review.

Capacity-Intelligence, communication skills and judgement

Acheivement-Who have achieved a great deal more are more likely to lead

Responsibility-Leaders are responsible to themselves, followers, and to their organizations

Participation-Active players in a group which they belong.

Status-Socioeconomic status and position directly relate to leadership

Situation-Situations determine what type of leader you are.

- Discuss what you believe are the strengths and weaknesses of the trait approach to leadership.

Strengths of trait approach-Some of these traits are just within a person and some are learned

Weaknesses- Some people may try to mimic these traits by acting like someone else with these traits.

- Discuss the key elements of charismatic leadership theory.

Key elements are extreme vision, high personal risk, use of unconventional strategies, communicate self confidence.

- Give an example of a charismatic leader. Explain why you chose this individual.

President Obama-He has charisma. People are interested in what he says became of the day he carries himself and his ideas. I believe that charisma is a personality trait and comes natural. I chose him because of this trait. He displays several leadership qualities.

Activity

- Think about a highly visible corporate leader who has impressed you. Also think of a political leader that has positively impressed you. Finally, think of a religious/spiritual leader that has helped you grow. Name the leaders you have chosen. Consider the traits of each of these leaders and compare each leader to the others based on their traits.

- Tim Cook-Apple CEO-Use of unconditional strategies

- President Obama-President of the USA-Extreme vision and unconditional strategies

- Joel Olsten-Spiritual leader-Emotional-appeals to motivate followers

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Chapter 04: Behavioral Theories

Discussion Questions

- Describe the characteristics of:

- Autocratic style leaders

Formal rules and regulations to control activities

- Democratic style leaders

Collabarative approach. Follower involvement is encouraged

- Laissez-faire style leaders

Non interference. They don't intervene unless asked or invited to do so.

- What results do each of these styles produce?

Laissez-faire-not as productive, democratic or autocratic leadership and poor quality.

Autocratic-when respective leaders are called away, productivity dropped dramatically

Democratic-greater commitment and cohesiveness

- What results do they have on member satisfaction?

They all have different membership satisfaction results. Democratic has the most satisfaction.

- Define initiating structure and initiating consideration.

Intitiating structure is building friendships, mutual trust, interpersonal respect, warm working relationships, two way communication

Intitating consideration is planning, scheduling, encouraging standards of performance, making assignments, organizing

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