Theories of Leadership

Question 1

A leader is a person within a group who directs and coordinates that group toward mutual group goals.

Answer 1

leader

Question 2

In this situation a leader influences, or attempts to influence, others.

Answer 2

influences

Question 3

Several theories of how the relationship between the leader and their follower’s works are available.

Answer 3

theories

Question 4

This essay will consider three such theories – trait theory of leadership, behavioural theory of leadership, and the transformational theory of leadership. Each of these theories describes a different conception of the relationship between leader and follower.

Answer 4

essay

Question 5

The trait theory of leadership suggests that leaders possess certain characteristics, or traits, that make them leaders.

Answer 5

traits

Question 6

This theory grew out of the earlier ‘great man’ theory that assumed historically significant figures had certain characteristics that lead to their greatness.

Answer 6

‘great man’

Question 7

If we can identify these key traits, then we can identify future leaders by their characteristics.

Answer 7

identify

Question 8

Trait theory focuses exclusively on the leader and their attributes, attempting to determine those few singular differences that make that person a leader, and by extension, others non-leaders.

Answer 8

leader

Question 9

This theory fails to take into account the interconnectedness of leaders, followers and organisations.

Answer 9

interconnectedness

Question 10

Followers are merely the entity that is influenced by the leader, not an active participant in the leadership process.

Answer 10

active participant

Question 11

The behavioural theory of leadership is so called because it focuses on the behaviours exhibited by people in leadership roles rather than the traits of the leader.

Answer 11

behaviours

Question 12

These behaviours fell into two categories according to Ohio State University researchers, consideration and initiating structure.

Answer 12

categories

Question 13

Consideration was about interpersonal relationship building, while initiating structure was about defining and organising group activity.

Answer 13

interpersonal

Question 14

A third dimension, that of participative behaviour, was added by other researchers that acknowledged how leaders allow subordinates to take part in decision making.

Answer 14

participative

Question 15

This theory is also leader focused and dismissive of the influence of followers and context on the behaviour of the leader, assuming that some people are born leaders and others are not, yet both followers and organisational context can have a great impact on a leader’s effectiveness and behaviour.

Answer 15

leader

Question 16

Transformational leadership takes a different view. The transformational leader seeks to inspire and encourage followers to achieve their best.

Answer 16

transformational

Question 17

There is an interplay here between leaders and followers whereby each motivates the other to achieve to greater levels.

Answer 17

interplay

Question 18

Transformational leaders are charismatic and inspirational; they are role models of ideal behaviour; they are genuinely concerned about their followers; and they encourage innovation and creativity in followers.

Answer 18

charismatic

Question 19

This type of leader makes followers want to be better than they currently are.

Answer 19

better

Question 20

There are however dangers inherent in this form of leadership too.

Answer 20

dangers

Question 21

While the assumption is that charismatic leaders such as those above will seek the moral high ground and lead followers to betterment, this is not always the case.

Answer 21

not

Question 22

Such leaders, who have now become destructive leaders, can also influence followers toward great harm. Dissension and discussion from followers in this case is seen as disloyalty and discouraged, rather than being an essential tool in forward momentum.

Answer 22

disloyalty

Question 23

In this harmful scenario the focus is again on the now destructive leader and their qualities; recent history has shown that a number of transformational leaders have actually been doing shady practices behind the scenes for personal gain rather than collective benefit.

Answer 23

leader

Question 24

In each of these theories the leader-follower relationship is very much top down with the focus essentially on the leader with little regard for the effect of followers on leadership.

Answer 24

top down

Question 25

One cannot deny however that the relationship between leaders and followers is inevitably a two-way street, with leaders influencing followers and followers directly influencing leaders.

Answer 25

two-way street

Question 26

Within this interplay is the truly good leader able to influence exceptional results.

Answer 26

interplay