Leadership Flashcards
Leadership
The ability to influence a group towards the achievement of a vision or set of goals
Trait theories
Most of the traits fit under the Big Five
Good leaders have key traits in common
Very important -> Emotional intelligence
Can predict good leadership
Behavioral Theories
Imply wen can train people to be leaders
Behavioral dimension
Production-oriented leader: Emphasizes technical or task aspects of the job
Focused on accomplishing group tasks
Employee-oriented leader: Interpersonal relationships
Taking personal interest in the needs of employees
Fiedler contingency Model
Effective groups depend on proper match between a leader’s style of interacting with subordinates and degree to which the situations gives control and influence to the leader
Situational leadership model
Focuses on the followers
Successful leadership depends on selecting the right leadership style
Leader should follow one of four behaviours depending on follower readiness: Able, unable, willing, unable
Path-Goal Theory
Leader’s job to provide follower’s with information and support to achieve goals
Should leader be directive or supportive?
Directive: Better when tasks are ambiguous or stressful; Can be perceived as redundant by employees with high ability
Supportive: Results in high performance when employees are performing structured tasks
Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX)
Due to time pressures, leaders establish special relationships with a small group of their followers
Ingroup: Trusted, receive disproportioned amount of attention <=> Outgroup
Usually employees with similar demographic, attitude and characteristics
Key characteristics to charismatic leadership
- Vision and articulation: Propose a future better than the status quo
- Personal risk: Willing to take on high personal risk
- Sensitive to follower’s need
- Unconventional behaviour
People are especially receptive to charismatic leadership when they sense a crisis or are under stress
Are charismatic leaders born or made?
Individuals are born with traits that make them more charismatic
The behaviours can also be trained
Extroverted, self-confident and achievement-oriented
The dark side of charismatic leadership
Unprecedented autonomy and resources
Higher salaries even with mediocre performance
Allowing personal goals to override the goals of the organization
Transformational and Transactional Leadership
Inspire followers to transcend their self-interests for the good of the organisation
Can have extraordinary effect on followers
Gives the group a “can do” spirit
<=>
Transactional: Guiding followers towards established goals by clarifying role and task engagement
Complement each other: Transformational build on transactional
The reverse isn’t true
Best leaders are both
Ethical Leadership
Unethical leaders use their charisma to enhance power over followers
Ethical ones use it in a socially constructive way to serve others
Trust and Leadership
Breaking trust can have serious adverse effects on a group’s perfomance
Followers who trust their leaders are confident their rights and interest will not be abused
Trust develops through integrity, benevolence and ability
Enhaces productivity
Mentoring
Mentor is a senior employee who sponsors and supports a less-experiences employee
Serve both career and psychosocial functions
Why would a leader want to be a mentor?
Share with younger generation
Provide legacy
Unfiltered access to the attitudes of lower-ranking employees
