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A Review of Leadership Theories and Possible Changes to Police Leadership

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Leadership Theories and Change
Running Head: Leadership Theories and Change

A Review of Leadership Theories and Possible Changes to Police Leadership
Randy L. Conyers
University of Central Florida

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Leadership Theories and Change

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Abstract
Throughout the history of law enforcement, leaders have used many different styles to lead employees. From the early styles of Autocratic and Laissez-Faire to Participative
(democratic), Transactional and Transformational leadership. Leadership within policing has evolved over the years in some organizations to a more participative style and yet there are still leaders who cling to an antiquated domineering style.
The purpose of this paper identified trait theories, leadership theories and change …show more content…

Leadership Traits and Characteristics
An important characteristic of leadership is using human talents to grow performance, trust and integrity in employees and the organization (Daft, 2005). One’s personality plays a major role in the way they lead. Personality is a combination of traits (distinguishing personal characteristics) that classifies an individual’s behavior. Personality affects conduct as well as insight and attitudes. Knowing personalities helps explain and forecast others’ behavior and job performance (Lussier & Achua, 2004). The Big Five Model of Personality assesses whether a person is stronger in surgency, agreeableness, adjustment, conscientiousness, or openness to experience. Surgency includes leadership and extraversion traits (Lussier & Achua, 2004). The need for power compares to the Big Five dimension of surgency. People with a high need for power are depicted as wanting to control situations and enjoy competition in which they can win because they do not like to lose.

Leadership Theories and Change

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They lean toward being ambitious and have a lower need for affiliation. They are more concerned with influencing other people than they are with what other people think about them
(Lussier & Achua,).
Extraversion is the extent that a person is outgoing, sociable, talkative, and relaxed in meeting and talking with new people. A person with high marks in surgency wants to be in charge and have influence over others (Daft, 2005).

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