Leadership

Question 1

Define leadership

Answer 1

Leadership requires a following to be considered valid. Only when people ‘buy into’ the influencing power of a leader does it become an effective tool.

Leadership is the ability to influence others to behave in ways that are conducive to achieving the aims and objectives set by the leader.

Question 2

Explain Traits theory and give examples of leadership personality traits

Answer 2

A trait is an aspect of personality that influences behaviour in a particular direction. The traits approach centers on the idea that there exists some quality in certain individuals which distinguishes them from others and marks them as leaders.

1. Intelligence: above average but not of genius level. Particularly good in solving complex and abstract problems.
2. Initiative: independence and inventiveness, the capacity to perceive a need for action and the urge to do it. This is linked to conscientiousness and coming up with new ideas.
3. Self-assurance: implies self-confidence, reasonably high self ratings on competence and aspirational levels, and on the perceived ultimate occupational level in society.
4. The helicopter factor: ability to rise above the particular of a situation and perceive it in its relation to the overall environment.

Question 3

Explain Situational theory

Answer 3

Situantial: situations and circumstances bring forth leaders (e.g. Winston Churchill in WWII)

Question 4

Explain Functional theory and Five key functions of leadership for promoting group effectiveness:

Answer 4

1. Environmental monitoring
2. Organising subordinate activities
3. Teacher and coaching subordinates
4. Motivating others
5. Intervening actively in the work of the group

Question 5

Leadership styles and behavioural theories

Answer 5

1. Bureaucratic = Mario Monti (Italian prime minister)

2. Autocratic =
Josef Stalin (former Russian president)

3. Democratic =
Steve Jobs (Apple entrepreneur)

4. Laissez-faire =
Richard Semler (Semco)

5. People-oriented = Hugo Chavez (ex-president of Venezuela)

6. Task oriented =
James Dyson (innovator)

7. Transformational = Nelson Mandela (ex-president of South Africa)

Question 6

Define Transactional leadership

Answer 6

leaders who guide, mentor and motivate followers by clearly establishing roles and tasks for the achievement of a stated aims or goals.

Question 7

Define Transformational leadership

Answer 7

where a leader works with teams or followers beyond their immediate self-interests to identify needed change, creating a vision to guide the change through influence, inspiration, and executing the change in tandem with committed members of a group

Question 8

Define power

Answer 8

the ability to control others actions

Question 9

Give example and define Sources of powers

Answer 9

1. Coercive: Power is dependent on fear. People react out of the feat of the negative consequences of non-compliance
2. Reward: Compliance is achieved through the ability to dispense rewards that followers perceive as valuable
3. Legitimate: Power is derived from the status or position that a person holds within an organisation
4. Expert: Power is derived from the possession of skills, experience of expertise that others aspire and may seek to emulate
5. Referent: Power is derived from the possession of valuable resources or personal traits are valued by others

Question 10

Give examples of Leadership attributes in the 21 st century

Answer 10

1. Sensitivity to the broad based external factors that influence their decisions
2. Relational skills that allow them to integrate a more eclectic range of stakeholders in geographically dispersed and culturally diverse location
3. Creativity and problem solving skills that inspire followers
4. Motivational skills to mobilise and channel human resources effectively
5. Strategic and tactical skills to exploit short term opportunities and set a long term path for success
6. Informational skills that enables them to deal with the complexity and scale of knowledge and data