Leadership Flashcards
Leadership vs Management
Leadership is the process of influencing individuals or group towards set goals (Barrows, 1977).
Leadership is using non coercive influence to direct and coordinate members of a group towards goals (Jack, 1982).
Management is arranging a group and telling them how to behave (Tom Peters).
Management is usually focused around getting tasks done, leadership is about people and vision.
The Style Approach
Lippitt & White, 1943.
Leadership style rather than the traits of the leader influence success. Three different styles: authoritarian, democratic and Laissez-Faire.
Features of each are the way information flows between members and leaders, how much leaders are liked and group atmosphere and productivity.
The Trait Approach
Across time and situations certain people will always be great leaders due to traits such as physical characteristics, personality and ability. Charisma is one of these traits described as being viewed as exceptional and set apart from others by Webster, 1921.
The Contingency Approach
Fielder, 1967.
Best style of leadership depends on situation as they differ in leader-member relations, tasks and leader power.
Example: government leader in natural disaster does not have much control over what people do despite position so best approach is task orientated.
Interactionist Approach
Leadership is interpersonal. Theory focuses on structure of leader, group and inter group relations. A good leader is one who gains support from group by offering help or rewards for achieving set goals (Hollander, 1985).
Transformational Leadership
Most modern idea. Belief people will follow a person who inspires them. Leader needs to have a vision and passion to be followed. Way to succeed is enthusiasm and energy known as ‘creative leader approach’.
Contradicts trait theory.
Followers
Crucial part of leadership. Types of followed include alienated, effective, sheep or ‘yes’ people. Ideal follower is independent, critically thinning and active.
Trait Theory - STUDY
Murray & Schmitz, 2011. Asked people to sketch people they viewed as leaders - drew them 60% bigger than those they did not view as leaders.
Predictors of leadership - STUDY
Stodgill, 1948. Reviewed 124 studies analysing 27 attributes e.g intelligence, social skills. Concluded 5 features:
Capacity (intelligence and alertness).
Achievement (knowledge).
Responsibility (dependency and initiative).
Social participation (activity and sociability)
Status (popularity, economic).
Negative correlations between traits like narcissism and leadership. No longer believed traits ingrained from birth.
Leadership and big five - STUDY
Judge et al, 2002.
Meta analysis. Relationship between big five personality traits and leadership (neuroticism, extroversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness).
Extroversion and conscientiousness correlated most with leadership and neuroticism showed negative correlation.
