Leadership and stress

Question 1

1. What are some characteristics of effective leaders or good leadership

Answer 1

Good communication skills, clear vision and goals, empathy, good subject knowledge, motivational

Question 2

2. Describe what is meant by a prescribed leader

Answer 2

Prescribed leaders are selected from outside of the group e.g. a new manager or coach

Question 3

3. Describe what is meant by an emergent leader

Answer 3

Emergent leaders come from within the group e.g. someone being nominated to be captain

Question 4

4. Why might emergent leaders be better for situations

Answer 4

Already accepted by the group, knows the team dynamic of a group, already demonstrated their ability, commitment and effort and have already proven themselves

Question 5

5. What are the 3 styles of leadership

Answer 5

Autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire

Question 6

When would an autocratic leadership style be most useful?

Answer 6

Hostile group
Dangerous activity
Beginners
Large groups
Males

Question 7

When would an democratic leadership style be most useful?

Answer 7

Safe activity
No time pressures
Smaller groups
When want to encourage relationship building
Females

Question 8

When would an Laissez-faire leadership style be most useful?

Answer 8

Elite performers
Creative tasks
Task involves decision making
Assessment situations
If leader trusts the group

Question 9

1. Describe the trait perspective theory of leadership

Answer 9

• States that people are born with characteristics that make them good leaders (innate)
• Does not take into account environment or other people

Question 10

2. Describe the social learning theory of leadership

Answer 10

• States that leadership characteristics are learned from others
• You observe these leadership skills and then copy them yourself
• More likely to do this if copying a high status or significant other
• These characteristics are learned if they are reinforced
• Does not take into account any innate characteristics

Question 11

3. Describe the interactionist theory of leadership

Answer 11

• Traits and environment influence our leadership characteristics
• States that people are born with innate leadership skills but they become apparent when faced with certain situations in front of them
• These leadership skills will show more when the situation demands it

Question 12

2. Describe the multi-dimensional model of leadership

Answer 12

• Situational characteristics – what is the environment or circumstance in front of the leader e.g. dangerous activity etc.
• Leader characteristics – what style of leadership does the leader want to be e.g. are they experienced at being autocratic
• Member characteristics – Who are the group being led e.g. what gender, what skill level, how many of them are there
• Required behaviour – what leadership style should be implemented e.g. I know the sport is dangerous and I have males, therefore required behaviour is autocratic
• Preferred behaviour – what leadership style would the group prefer the leader to use e.g. female group may want democratic
• Actual behaviour – with all of this factored in, what leadership style does the leader actually adopt and go for
• The more components that are in line, the higher the performance and satisfaction

Question 13

1. What is the definition of stress

Answer 13

Perception of an inability to cope with demands

Question 14

2. What causes stress

Answer 14

importance of winning, crowd, pressure from peers and coaches, feeling that you might get hurt, competition, frustration

Question 15

3. Describe cognitive stress management techniques

Answer 15

Positive self talk – telling yourself that you can do it
Imagery – picturing a calm environment like a beach
Negative thought stopping – when beginning to worry, stop the negative thought by saying no in your head
Mental rehearsal – picture yourself performing the skill successfully
Goal setting – setting SMARFT goals to keep you focused
Mindfulness – using meditation to keep a calm head
Rational thinking – thinking back to when you were successful and how fantastic you have done so far

Question 16

4. Describe somatic stress management techniques

Answer 16

Progressive muscular relaxation – tensing and then relaxing your muscles individually from feet to head
Biofeedback – using technology such as heart rate monitors to recognise when you are becoming too anxious
Centring technique – focusing concentration on the centre of the body in order to focus
Breathing control – taking deep slow breaths before performing the skills