PRELIM - Leadership Theories Flashcards
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way (John Maxwell)
A leader may or may not be assigned by the organization
Leadership Theories
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way
John Maxwell
EARLY LEADERSHIP THEORIES
- Great Man Theory
- Trait Theory
- Individual Character Theory
- Assumes that the capacity for leadership is inherent
- Great leaders are born, not made
- Great leaders are heroic, mythic and destined to rise to leadership when needed
- Examples: Sun Tzu, Genghis Khan, Aristotle, Kings of Great
Britain and Abraham Lincoln
Great Man Theory
- Assumes that people inherit extraordinary qualities and traits that make them better suited to leadership
- They have special traits that make them leaders: tireless
ambition, zest for life, great orator skills, irresistible looks and extremely persuasive - Almost similar to the “Great Man Theory” since it is believed that leaders are born with special traits
- Examples: Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, Margaret Thatcher, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi
- Stogdill (1974) found that leaders tend to be higher than non-leaders on: (1) intelligence, (2) dominance, (3) self-confidence, (4) activity level and (5) knowledge on the task.
- Reeves (2001) noted that leaders possess these traits: (1)
emotional stability and composure, (2) admitting error, (3) good interpersonal skills and (4) intellectual breadth - Gardner (1993) also said that decisiveness, trustworthiness, self- confidence, capacity to motivate people, skills in dealing with people, task competence among others make up traits
Trait Theory
REEVES: TRAITS OF THE LEADER
- Emotional stability and composure: Calm, confident and predictable when under stress
- Admitting error: Owning up to mistakes rather than covering up
- Good interpersonal skills: Can communicate and persuade others without resorting to negative or coercive tactics
- Intellectual breadth: Understands wide range of areas rather than narrow area of expertise
- Traits determine whether or not a person can be an effective leader
- Distinctive physical and psychological individual characteristics account for leadership effectiveness: naturally
taller, attractive, intelligent, self-reliant and creative - Napoleon complex: alleged type of inferiority complex affecting some people are sort since Napoleon Bonaparte who was short, went against this ideal of a leader
Individual Character Theory
- Concerned with what leaders do and act than who the leader is
- The actions of the leaders and not their mental qualities or traits make them leaders
- Focus is moved from leaders to leadership
- Great leaders are made, not born
- People can become leaders through experience and observation
Behavioral Theories
Behavioral Theories
- KURT LEWIN
- CHRIS ARGYRIS
- ALVIN TOFFLER
- RENSIS LIKERT
- ROBERT BLAKE AND JANE MOUTON
- A famous psychologist that proposed that worker’s behavior is influenced by interactions between the personality, the structure of the primary work group and the socio-technical climate of the workplace
- Categorized leadership styles as (1) authoritarianism, (2)
democratic, and (3) laissez-faire - Developed the “Field Theory of Human Behavior” where people act the way they do depending on self-perceptions and their environments. To understand a leader’s behavior or that of the follower, one must look at the totality of the individual’s experience.
- This individual carries perceptions that are valid and must be taken
into account.
KURT LEWIN
Kurt Lewin categorized leadership styles as
(1) authoritarianism
(2) democratic
(3) laissez-faire
Kurt Lewin
- Strong control is maintained over the work group
- Others are motivated by coercion
- Others are directed by command
- Communication flows downward
- Decision making does not involve others
- Emphasis is on difference in status (“I” and “you”)
- Criticism is punitive
AUTHORITARIAN LEADERS
KURT LEWIN
- Less control is maintained
- Economic and ego awards are used to motivate
- Others are directed through suggestion and guidance
- Communication flows up and down
- Decision making involve others
- Emphasis is on “we” rather than “I” and “you”
- Criticism is constructive
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS
Kurt Lewin
- Permissive with little or no control
- Motivation by support when requested by the group or individuals
- Provision of little or no direction
- Communication upward and downward flow among members of the
group - Decision making dispersed throughout the group
- Emphasis is on the group
- Criticism is withheld
LAISSEZ-FAIRE LEADERS
KURT LEWIN PROPOSED THAT CHANGE UNDERGOES THREE
STAGES
- First stage: Unfreezing
- Second stage: Changing
- Third stage: Re-freezing
KURT LEWIN PROPOSED THAT CHANGE UNDERGOES THREE
STAGES
- People in the organization made aware of problems or performance gap and need for change. Diagnosis stage is often driven by a change agent
First stage: Unfreezing
KURT LEWIN PROPOSED THAT CHANGE UNDERGOES THREE
STAGES
- People experiment with new workplace behavior to deal with needed change. Intervention stage.
Second stage: Changing
KURT LEWIN PROPOSED THAT CHANGE UNDERGOES THREE
STAGES
- People employ new skills and attributes and are rewarded by
organization. Changes are institutionalized in the corporate culture
Third stage: Re-freezing