According to the textbook, Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice, there are over 100 definitions of the word “leadership”, and all of them are unique in their own way (Northouse, 2015, p.1). There are so many different aspects to leadership that is it nearly impossible to have one definition that covers every area. Each and every person that is a considered a leader has his or her own way of leading because every situation, whether it be work, a team, at home, etc., calls for different and distinctive ways of leading people. Northouse states that there are six main aspects of leadership; it’s a trait, ability, skill, behavior, relationship, and an influential process (Northouse, p. 3-6). Giving a clear answer as to what leadership is defined as is very difficult, but this paper will talk about my specific leadership skills and what leadership means to me.
There are two kinds of people in this world, followers and leaders. Followers are the people that never take a leadership role in any activity. "They are more valued by followers and have higher performing teams." (Cherry 2014) However, leaders are the ones that use their leadership skills to make a difference in this world, such as presidents, teachers, or even college graduates. Leadership is not something you can learn from a book, but you have to gain this skill through experiences such as holding an office, organizing an event, speaking in front of people, or participating in a leadership program.
Throughout the entire course of this class, I have been asked to fill out different self-assessments related to whatever topic or approach to leadership Peter Northouse (2013) was discussing in his book Leadership Theory and Practice. Each one of these self-assessments were intended to help me in discovering who I was as a person and a leader. Some of the leadership self-assessments included the Least Preferred Coworker Measure from the Contingency Theory chapter, the Leader-Member Exchange Questionnaire from the Leader-Member Exchange Theory chapter, and the Servant Leadership Questionnaire from the chapter that discussed Servant Leadership. Many of these questionnaires I found to be very effective in helping me discover more about my personality traits and leadership style.
In order to better understand the ideals of leadership, I met with two respected and admired school leaders: the Assistant Principal/Dean of Curriculum, and the Athletic Director. I chose these two school leaders because I wanted to gain an understanding of leadership from two diverse perspectives. I am thankful for the opportunity to hear from two different types of leaders, who ultimately share a lot of the same visions for my school and for leadership in general.
Yammarino, F.J., Spangler, W.D., & Bass, B.M. (1993). Transformational leadership and performance: A longitudinal investigation. Leadership Quarterly, 4, 81–102.
Leadership is a concept that many probably think is a clear-cut subject that is well understood and extremely recognizable. Many would picture an all-powerful individual in a leadership postion, such as a chief execuative officer (CEO) of a company or a leader of a country. These individuals, most people would identify as obvious examples of people who have qualties, skills, or traits that have set themsleves apart from “the common man” and propelled them into the positions they now hold. It would surpirse many to find out that leadership is not as obvious concept as commonly precieved. In fact, as these indiviuals begin to study the numerous theories and studies on leadership, a picture obscure and non-sensical would emerge leaving the individual feeling like they are no closer to understanding what a “leader” is then when they had started. This relatively unknown truth about the absract concept of leadership is best demonstrated by an analyses of two individuals with two unique views of leadership.
Mary used her gift of writing to effectively communicate her stance on women's rights, and help spread awareness for her cause.
Strong leadership is vital to the success of any business, institution, school, team, or even church. Leaders that are considered effective encompass a leadership style and qualities that work to influence and motivate their followers. Joel Osteen, an evangelical pastor from Houston, Texas is truly one of the 21st centuries most captivating leaders. So much so, that he as selected by Barbara Walters as one of her 10 Most Fascinating People of 2016 (ABC News, 2006). His appeal is a phenomenon that is unmatched by any other current leaders in his profession. Over the past 15 years he has built a church, where he ministers one of the largest and most diverse congregations in America (Romano, 2005). Aside from his 45,000 attendees at his weekly services, his sermon is broadcasted in every television market in the United States and in over 100 other nations around the world (“About Joel,” n.d.). Joel Osteen is a prime example of a compelling leader who practices an effective leadership style that resonates with people on a personal level.
Anderson, R. C. (1959). Learning in discussions. A resume of the authorian and democratic studies(29), 201-212.
Throughout the modern era, we have had many individuals that have exemplified both great and terrible leadership qualities. Some pursue innovation, adhere to a strict moral code, or attempt to improve the life of millions through their company. There are others whose name cannot be mentioned without the word fraud coming shortly after due to their lack or a moral code. In fact, some the worst leaders in recent history, ruined the lives of thousands simply to make a profit. Perhaps the best way to illustrate this point of a moral leader compared in comparison to a corrupt one. The CEO and founder of the e-commerce giant Amazon.com, Jeff
The 21st century has experienced an immense growth in the interest for studying leadership (Hunter et al., 2007). Many women are taking the leadership role today and are excelling at it. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is definitely a leader in this 21st century and she is showing the world her leadership qualities by continuing to deliver on her promises to Liberia by; modelling a new approach to corruption, making women and children a priority, working towards making Liberia economically viable and not forgetting her strong stance on policy and ethical practices. Hughes et al. (2012) stated that there is no simple recipe for effective leadership and with that being said women in leadership roles is becoming more important because they incorporate
I find the statement “The effective leader today must be a director and motivator, implementer and innovator, mentor and team builder, expert and moral force, organizer and developer of people” (2015, p.61), to be both accurate and realistic. One reason I believe this to be the case is because of the number of individuals who have been able to facilitate these roles on their way to being considered successful leaders. One example being Vince Lambardi. While the story told of him in textbooks by Willie Davis primarily spoke of his motivating skills, he is a renowned leader (2015, p.30).
Care of the elders in the population also rests on the Kenyan woman’s shoulders, while she is also expected to run her own household. There are not places in Kenya to send one’s parents away to in their old age, such as the many nursing homes in American cities. Therefore, the community must come together and provide care for the older population. Women are already performing most tasks to provide for their own family. This practice begins when many mothers are still young girls, or students. Being the head of household often takes priority over seeking an education, if the woman was even fortunate enough to have had an opportunity to attend school.
Born on June 18, 1942, the former President of the African National Congress (ANC), who served as the second post-apartheid government in South Africa from the period of 1999 to 2008, is Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki. He graduated in 1966 with a master degree in economics from London Sussex University. Mbeki spent most of his life occupying leadership positions as he served as the general secretary for Oliver Tambo in 1978, Chairperson of the ANC in 1993, Vice President for President Nelson Mandela in 1994, and eventually inaugurated as the President on June 14, 1994 (Biography, 2015). Mbeki as a President was widely recognized for not only his intellectual endowment but also his mediation competencies towards continental issues like in the cases of
A game changer in the society of South Africa, Nelson Mandela said: “There are times when a leader must move out ahead of the flock, and discharge in a new direction, confident that he is leading his people the right way.” (Mandela) The article in question mirrors this quote. Thinking about leadership, it is normal to think about how a leader emerges, possessions that a person can do to gain leadership skills, and models that will aid companies to find the right leader to bring the company in the next direction. All of these practices hold true in the scholastic norm of higher education. However, how do scholars react to new leadership theories? This question is even more important when a new term is brought to into the leadership realm of theories and practice. The name is Flock Leadership. When this article appeared, the thinking about the concept centered around the natural leader follower dynamic of geese and other flock birds that are seen on a daily basis. However, after exploring the context of the paper, a new thought emerged. In this paper, there will be an exploration of Flock Leadership, and how it could apply to everyday leadership. Along with the comparison of Flock Leadership of Adaptive Leadership.