Introduction
Leaders are expected to use a leadership style, communication skills, and their knowledge of interpersonal and team dynamics to create an appropriate quality of work life for their followers in the workplace. A leadership style is a combination of a leader’s attitude, expertise, character, and values that is exhibited in the leader’s behavior. Each style of leadership reflects a leader’s beliefs about a follower’s capabilities. A follower’s perception of leadership style really matters to them, as they do not respond solely to what leaders think, do, say and intend, but to what they perceive leaders are. There are a variety of leadership styles that differ on the basis of motivation, power, or orientation toward tasks and people.
Research Purpose
Leaders approach people to motivate them in many ways. If the approach emphasizes rewards, and a supportive approach, the leader uses positive leadership. On the contrary, if emphasis is placed on threats, fear, intimidation, and penalties, the leader is applying negative leadership. While this approach may possibly get acceptable short-term performance in certain situations, positive leadership generally results in higher job satisfaction and performance. Leaders use a mix of positive and negative leadership styles, however the dominant style sets a tone within the team. For the purposes of this research paper, the path-goal theory of leadership from the standpoint of both leader and follower will be analyzed.
According to Harold Koontz, “leadership is defined as an art or process of influencing people so that they strive willingly and enthusiastically towards attainment of group goals”.
A leadership philosophy helps to define and let others know what you expect, what things you value, and how you act as a leader. Different styles of leadership are needed for different situations. Every leader needs to know when and how to display a particular approach of leadership within a group. Leadership strategies define every leader’s personal leadership style. Three leadership styles of a counselor are the following: authoritarian style leaders, democratic style leaders, and laissez-faire style leaders.
Urban Meyer is the head coach for The Ohio State Buckeyes football team. He is 49 years old and was born in Toledo Ohio. He attended University of Cincinnati where he played football. Coach Meyer is married and has three children. Prior to coaching Ohio State he retired from coaching was working as a sports analyst for ESPN. Before retiring and working for ESPN, Coach Meyer was the head coach for the University of Florida. He led the Gators to two BCS championship wins and he held the highest percentages of wins for any active college football coach. (www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com).
An effective leader has many factors that enable them to be successful. Some of the key characteristics of an effective leader are passion, charisma, dependability, problem solver, communication skills, and multi-tasking abilities. Marquis and Huston (2015) describe four types of leadership styles; autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire, and bureaucratic. The autocratic leadership style deals more with acquiring control and accomplishing tasks rather than relationships (Marquis & Huston, 2015). This type of leader generally makes independent decisions and uses force to implement power. Democratic leadership differs by having human relations and teamwork as the main focus (Marquis & Huston (2015). This leadership welcomes open and two-way communication. Laissez-faire leadership has minimal established policies abstains leading (Marquis & Huston, 2015). The bureaucratic style leans on established rules and policies and lacks security (Marquis & Huston, 2015). Most of the time, the rules are inflexible and the relationship with staff is impersonal. An effective leader can recognize the needs of the organization and foster that leadership style. W.C. recognizes fairness, consistent decisions, listening ability, and knowledge of the field as key qualities in a leader. She believes she has a combination of democratic and bureaucratic leadership styles. Her bureaucratic style promotes corporate policies and mandated regulatory compliance. Part of the qualities of a
Most individuals probably feel as if they know enough about leadership to speak on the subject. In many cases, however, this is not truly the case at all. Leadership is a broad concept, and there are several different styles and approaches to consider when studying the topic. It is important to consider these styles and approaches when evaluating the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of any particular form of leadership. With that in mind, this essay will consider the leadership styles of two leaders who are involved in the current presidential election process. Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate, and Gary Johnson, the Libertarian nominee each utilize different leadership styles, though, the two operate within the same professional arena. That said, the two candidates share the same battle of being outsider candidates struggling to gain notoriety and momentum from a portion of the voting population no longer willing to support mainstream political candidates. This essay begins with a theoretical discussion of leadership and then focuses on the two political leaders, comparing and contrasting each one. This will allow for conclusions to be drawn about how they both work within the same public sphere, while employing different styles to earn votes.
When it comes to the topic of leadership, most of us are curious about our leaders as well as critical of them and their actions. Leaders set the tone, vision, and goals of any organization. Hence, a leader’s behavior and leadership style are constantly scrutinized. Northouse (2009) has suggested that leadership has a huge impact on the culture of an organization and how people communicate within the organization. Therefore, the action of leaders should inspire also positively impact followers. After all, a leader’s approach and handling of adversities highlights many features of his/her character.
According to J. Seyfarth, there are four types of leadership styles: directive, supportive, participative, and achievement-oriented leadership (Seyfarth, 1996). These styles vary from one another, but all may be visible within a school environment. During a recent interview with an elementary school principal, Amy Zilbar, she described her dominate leadership style as supportive (personal communication, April 25, 2013).
To successfully define, enter, and grow the new market segment, combination of team and transformational leadership approaches are highly recommended. This is a cultural shift from the leaders motivates followers by setting goals and promising a reward when those goals were reached; described by Robbins and Coulter (2012) as transactional leadership. Successful penetration of the new market requires a transformational leader with high degree of emotional intelligence, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill (Goleman, 2004). Transformational leader assesses the resources’ personalities, cultural contexts, and organizational behaviors. Leader applies appropriate leadership
The contents and assignment in this course has helped me understand the various theories of leadership and how different leadership styles can have a negative or positive effect on followers and organizations. The leadership theories helped me understand the concept of leadership better because it educates me on the different leadership options that are available. Leadership and followership is not based on specific characteristics. Leaders must draw from things and approaches to find the right style. A follower’s attitude determines the way a leader leads. According to Johnson (2011) “Being a good follower means ensuring your boss is supported, but only if he is making optimum decisions”.
The focus of this chapter is understanding theories of leadership and leadership styles. Van Wart (2008) provides a framework for discussing such theories. The framework asks: What performance goals tend to be achieved with what leader styles, under what conditions? Additionally, for each theory the following aspects are briefly discussed: what is the background of the theory and what have researches tried to explain? Which contingency factors does the theory emphasize? Which style or styles does the theory emphasize? What type of performance goals does the theory emphasize? What are the strengths and weakness of the theory or approach? (Van Wart, 2008). Throughout this chapter Van Wart (2008) identifies nine overall styles that have been recommended
What is leadership? Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines leadership as “the power or ability to lead other people”. Although this is simply put, it is also correct. But leadership is much more than the ability to lead. The ability is one piece of the puzzle. Other pieces to consider in leadership are education, attributes, and style, just to name a few. In this assignment, I will focus on leadership style. Specifically, I will discuss my style according to the assessment developed by The University of Kent in the UK.
When one thinks of successful leadership, words like power, authority, and control often come to mind. Examining leadership in detail reveals that many different leadership styles exist. Some leaders may be authoritarian, where their rules are law and enforced in a utilitarian fashion. Others may prefer to lead in a more democratic manor, where employees help make decisions and feel involved in workplace happenings. Robert Greenleaf, who at the time was an executive at AT&T, developed another style, servant leadership (Marquis, 2014). Though the terms “servant” and “leader” may seem paradoxical when paired together, his style of leadership focuses on the idea that leaders should serve those who work for them. This does not mean catering to
Group leadership refers to the processes of leading, influencing and motivating members of a group to become highly competent in achieving the goals or objectives of the group (Aritz and Robyn 73). Though the adoption and implementation of a relevant and effective leadership style, group leaders become effective in driving change through work groups and facilitating the achievement of organizational goals. Leaders play a wide range of roles in leading groups, such as motivating members, coordinating group activities, influencing positive behaviors among members and motivating productivity and innovation (Tabernero et al. 1393). The following sections presents a detailed analysis and discussion of the role of leadership style in group work and the most important leadership roles in work groups. The paper uses evidence to support the argument that group leaders must adopt effective leadership styles so that they can be successful in facilitating group activities and ensuring that members of the group actively contribute towards the achievement of shared goals (Thompson 23).
Leadership is a concept most people feel informed enough to discuss, but that few are truly educated sufficiently to comment on. Therefore, it is instructive to consider the leadership styles of people with very different approaches both to better understand the diversity underlying leadership, as well as to appreciate the effective and less effective strategies that underlie different leadership outcomes. For that reason, this essay will consider the styles of two leaders who are less visible in this highly contentious presidential election season: Jill Stein (the Green Party nominee) and Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate. The leadership styles of both are very different, yet they are aligned in the sense that both are outsider candidates struggling to gain momentum from a disaffected electorate. This essay begins with a theoretical discussion of leadership more generally and then turns to the two leaders as case studies, comparing and contrasting them and drawing conclusions about how they both work within the same public sphere and for putatively similar ends (i.e., gaining votes).
I have been analyzing your problems and concerns at DPU. My understanding is that you are having problems with your team embracing the FISH! philosophy, and that there is a lack of employee engagement from your directors in charge of the various departments at DPU. I have done some research on leadership in regards to different approaches to team leadership. I wanted to share with you what I discovered. I researched three different styles of team leadership to be able to provide you with a sufficient amount of background to be confident in my recommendation for you.