Defining Leadership – Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards that capture the major terms and definitions presented in the Defining Leadership lecture.

Leadership

A process of social influence in which an individual mobilizes people and resources to achieve a common goal.

Transformational Leadership

A style that enhances motivation, morale, and performance by inspiring followers to pursue a higher purpose.

Management

Coordinating people and resources efficiently and effectively to accomplish organizational objectives.

Leader’s Vision

A clear, distinctive view of the future that guides strategic direction and inspires followers.

Mission

An organization’s core purpose that clarifies the value it creates, helping prioritize activities.

Engaging Leadership

Style focused on reaching out to employees, sharing information, and involving them in key decisions.

Autocratic (Authoritarian) Leadership

Centralizes decision-making in the leader, allowing little to no input from subordinates.

Laissez-faire Leadership

Provides minimal direction, leaving team members free to decide policies and methods on their own.

Participative (Democratic) Leadership

Shares decision authority with group members, valuing their input and fostering commitment.

Transactional Leadership

Motivates through a system of rewards and punishments; emphasizes contingent reward and management by exception.

Narcissistic Leadership

Leadership driven by self-image and ego; can range from healthy confidence to destructive arrogance.

Charismatic Leadership

Leadership based on personal charm and persuasive communication that inspires strong follower devotion.

Leadership Traits

Individual characteristics—such as intelligence, extroversion, and conscientiousness—linked to leadership effectiveness.

Trait Theory (of Leadership)

Suggests certain personal traits consistently predict leadership emergence and success across situations.

Behavioral Theory (of Leadership)

Focuses on what leaders do—their actions and behaviors—rather than their inherent traits.

Contingency Theory (of Leadership)

Posits that effective leadership depends on matching a leader’s style and traits to specific situational demands.

Full-Range Theory (of Leadership)

Model identifying four transformational behaviors: individualized consideration, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, and idealized influence.

Individualized Consideration

Leader behavior that attends to each follower’s needs and provides coaching or mentoring.

Intellectual Stimulation

Leader encourages creativity, challenges assumptions, and solicits new ideas from followers.

Inspirational Motivation

Leader communicates an appealing vision that energizes and aligns followers’ efforts.

Idealized Influence

Leader serves as an ethical role model, earning respect and trust from followers.

Contingent Reward

Transactional practice of providing rewards in exchange for desired performance.

Management by Exception

Transactional approach where the leader intervenes only when performance deviates from standards.

Proximal Traits

Personal attributes that exert a direct, immediate influence on leadership behavior.

Distal Traits

Underlying attributes (e.g., motives, values) that indirectly shape leadership over time.

Extroversion

Personality trait characterized by sociability and assertiveness; correlated with leadership emergence.

Self-Efficacy

Belief in one’s capability to execute tasks successfully; linked to effective leadership.

Conscientiousness

Trait marked by reliability and diligence; positively associated with leadership effectiveness.

Vision vs. Mission

Vision states direction (where we’re going); mission states purpose (why we exist).