Leadership

What is Leadership?

Leadership and Followership

Leadership – the process of guiding and directing the behavior of people in the work environment

Formal leadership – the officially sanctioned leadership based on the authority of a formal position

Informal leadership – the unofficial leadership accorded to a person by other members of the organization

Followership – the process of being guided and directed by a leader in the work environment

Leadership vs. ManagementLeaders and managers

– Have distinct personalities– Make different contributions

Both make valuable contributionsEach one’s contributions are different

Leaders agitate for change and new

approaches

Managers advocate for stability and

status quo

Leaders and ManagersPersonality Dimension

Manager Leader

Attitudes toward goals

Impersonal, passive, functional; goals arise out of necessity and reality

Personal, active; goals arise from desire and imagination

Conceptions of work

Combines people, ideas, things; seeks moderate risk, enables process

Looks for fresh approaches to old problems; seeks high-risk with high payoffs

Relationships with others

Prefers to work with others; avoids close and intense relationships, avoids conflicts

Comfortable in solitary work; encourages close, intense relationships; not averse to conflict

Sense of self Born once; accepts life as it is; unquestioning

Born twice; struggles for sense of order questions life

Early Trait Theories

• Distinguished leaders by – Physical attributes– Personality characteristics– Social skills and speech fluency– Intelligence and scholarship– Cooperativeness– Insight

• Early trait theory research resulted in controversial findings

Leadership Behavioral Theory: Lewin Studies

Democratic Style – the leader takes collaborative, reciprocal, interactive actions with followers; followers have high degree of discretionary influence

Laissez-Faire Style – the leader fails to accept the responsibilities of the position; creates chaos in the work environment

Autocratic Style – the leader uses strong, directive, controlling actions to enforce the rules, regulations, activities, and relationships; followers have little discretionary influence

Leadership Behavioral Theory: Ohio State Studies

Initiating Structure –Initiating Structure – leader behavior aimed at defining and organizing work relationships and roles; establishing clear patterns of organization, communication, and ways of getting things done

Consideration –Consideration – leader behavior aimed at nurturing friendly, warm working relationships, as well as encouraging mutual trust and interpersonal respect within the work unit

Leadership Behavioral Theory: Michigan StudiesProduction-Oriented LeaderProduction-Oriented Leader

• Constant leader influence• Direct or close supervision• Many written or unwritten rules and

regulations• Focus on getting work done

Employee-Oriented LeaderEmployee-Oriented Leader• Relationship-focused environment

• Less direct/close supervision• Fewer written or unwritten rules and

regulations• Focus on employee concern and needs

Concern for People

Concern for Production

High

HighLow

Low

Leadership Grid Definitions• Leadership Grid – an approach to

understanding a leader’s or manager’s concern for results (production) and concern for people

5,5

• Organization Man (5,5) – a middle-of-the-road leader

Concern for People

Concern for Production

High

HighLow

Low

Leadership Grid Definitions

• Country Club Manager (1,9) – a leader who creates a happy, comfortable work environment 1,9

9,1

• Authority Compliance Manager (9,1) – a leader who emphasizes efficient production

Concern for People

Concern for Production

High

HighLow

Low

Leadership Grid Definitions

• Impoverished Manager (1,1) – a leader who exerts just enough effort to get by

1,1

9,9

• Team Manager (9,9) – a leader who builds a highly productive team of committed people

Leadership Grid Definitions• Paternalistic “father knows best” Manager

(9+9) – a leader who promises reward and threatens punishment

Concern for People

Concern for Production

High

HighLow

Low

1,9

9,1

9+9

Leadership Grid Definitions

Opportunistic “what’s in it for me” Manager (Opp) – a leader whose style aims to maximize self-benefit

Opportunistic Management

Concern for People

Concern for Production

High

HighLow

Low

1,9

9,1

9,9

1,1

5.5

1,9

9,1

9+9

Path–Goal Theory of Leadership

Leader behavior styles• Directive• Supportive• Participative• Achievement oriented

Follower pathperceptionsEffort–Performance–Reward linkages

Follower goals• Satisfaction• Rewards• Benefits

Workplacecharacteristics• Task structure• Work group• Authority system

FollowerCharacteristics• Ability level• Authoritarianism• Locus of control