Leadership

Question 1

Define leadership

Answer 1

Definition: The ability to influence people towards the attainment of organizational goals.
Importance: Leadership is crucial for organizational success, though its influence can sometimes be overestimated.

Question 2

historical evolution of Leadership (4 theories)

Answer 2

Trait Theories: Focus on the personal characteristics that differentiate leaders from non-leaders. Early research identified traits like intelligence, self-confidence, and ambition.
Behavioral Theories: Emphasize the behaviors that leaders exhibit rather than their traits. Key behaviors include task-oriented and people-oriented styles.
Contingency Theories: Suggest that the effectiveness of a leadership style depends on the situation. Examples include Fiedler’s Contingency Model and Hersey and Blanchard’s Situational Leadership Model.
Transformational and Transactional Leadership: Transformational leaders inspire and motivate followers to achieve higher performance, while transactional leaders focus on exchanges and rewards to manage performance.

Question 3

Transformational Leadership
- key characteristics
- impact

Answer 3

Key Characteristics:
Idealized Influence: Acting as role models with high ethical standards.
Inspirational Motivation: Communicating a compelling vision and inspiring commitment.
Intellectual Stimulation: Encouraging innovation and creativity.
Individualized Consideration: Providing support and encouragement to individual followers.
Impact: Leads to higher levels of employee motivation and organizational performance.

Question 4

Transactional leadership
- Key characteristics
- impact

Answer 4

Key Characteristics:
Contingent Reward: Providing rewards for achieving goals.
Management by Exception: Monitoring performance and taking corrective action when necessary.
Impact: Effective for maintaining routine and stability but may not inspire high levels of commitment.

Question 5

Contemporary approaches to leadership (3)

Answer 5

Servant Leadership: Leaders prioritize the needs of their followers, empowering them to achieve their full potential.
Authentic Leadership: Leaders are genuine, transparent, and ethical, fostering trust and integrity.
Charismatic Leadership: Leaders use their personal charm and persuasiveness to inspire and motivate followers.

Question 6

Challenges of Leadership

Answer 6

Bad Leadership: Leadership that fails to produce desired outcomes or violates ethical standards. Kellerman’s framework categorizes bad leadership as incompetent, rigid, intemperate, callous, corrupt, insular, or evil.
The Dark Side of Charisma: Charismatic leaders can sometimes use their influence unethically, leading to negative outcomes for the organization.

Question 7

factors influencing leadership effectiveness

Answer 7

Leader Traits and Behaviors: The personal characteristics and actions of leaders.
Follower Characteristics: The needs, expectations, and behaviors of followers.
Situational Factors: The organizational culture, type of tasks, and formal authority systems.

Question 8

Developing Effective Leadership

Answer 8

Self-Reflection and Feedback: Leaders should engage in self-reflection and seek feedback to improve their effectiveness.
Leadership Development Programs: Organizations can invest in training programs to develop leadership skills.
Ethical Leadership: Leaders should maintain high ethical standards and act as role models for their followers.