psychology of leadership Flashcards
(235 cards)
overall definition of leadership
having social influence over a group of people
components of leadership
- process
- involves influencing others
- within the context of a group
- involves goal attainment
- goals are shared by leaders and followers
*this view of leadership suggests that it is not a trait or characteristic endowed at birth
leadership as a process
it is a two-way interaction, available to everyone, not restricted to one person with formal position power
trait vs process: trait
- emphasises attributes such as personality, motives, values and skills
- certain individuals have special innate characteristics that differentiate them from non-leaders
- suggests that leadership is inherent in a few select people and restricted to only those with those attributes
trait vs process: process
- implies that leadership is a phenomenon that is contextual
- leadership is a property or a set of properties possessed in varying degrees by different people
- suggests that anyone is capable of exercising leadership and can be learned through observing behaviours
assigned leadership
appointment of people to formal positions of authority, ie. vote/random assign to choose someone as the leader
emergent leadership
when a group member becomes a leader because of how other members respond to them, ie. treat them with respect, look up to them, others perceive the person to be the most influential member regardless of their title
types of power
- referent power
- expert power
- legitimate power
- reward power
- coercive power
what is power
power is the capacity or potential to influence, the ability to affect others’ beliefs, attitudes, and actions
ie. if you have power, you can be a leader
referent power
based on followers’ identification and liking for the leader
eg. a teacher who is adored by students has referent power
what types of power fall under ‘position power’
legitimate, reward, coercive
what types of power fall under ‘personal power’
referent, expert
expert power
based on followers’ perceptions of the leader’s competence
eg. a tour guide who is knowledgeable about a foreign country has expert power
legitimate power
associated with having status or formal job authority
eg. a judge who administers sentences in the courtroom
reward power
derived from having the capacity to provide rewards to others
eg. a supervisor who gives rewards to employees who work hard is using reward power
coercive power
derived from having the capacity to penalise or punish others
eg. a coach who sits players on the bench for being late to practice is using coercive power
what is position power?
power that comes from holding a particular office position or rank
what is personal power?
the capacity to influence that comes form being viewed as knowledgeable and likeable by followers
abusing position power leads to…
erode the ability of a leader to influence people, bc the do not like you, too domineering etc
managers vs leaders: managers
- more transactional
- focused on solving problems, stress calculations and rationality, plan, organise, and problem solve
- minimal emotional involvement
managers vs leaders: leaders
- more transformational (but not all leaders?)
- more emotionally involved, seek to shape ideas instead of reacting to ideas, stress commitment, view organisations with an integrative perspective, rooted in integrity, set a direction, align people, motivate and inspire
manager vs leader (Zaleznik, 1977)
manager: solve problems, minimal emotional involvement
leader: emotionally involved, seek to shape ideas instead of just reacting
manager vs leader (Mintzberg, 1998)
manager: lead using a cerebral face (more analytical and fact-based approach to leadership)
- stress calculations
- view org as components of a portfolio
- operates with words and numbers of rationality
leader: lead using an insightful face
- stress commitment
- view org with an integrative perspective
manager vs leader (Kotter, 1998)
manager: plan, organise, control and problem solve
leader: set a direction, align people, motive and inspire