Week 3 Leadership and Interpersonal Skills

Master: What are the key contemporary leadership theories?

Transformational Leadership; Transactional Leadership; Pseudo-Transformational Leadership; Charismatic Leadership; Authentic Leadership; Ethical Leadership; Servant Leadership.

What is the core idea of contemporary leadership theories?

Contemporary leadership theories emphasise that leadership is socially constructed, evolving, and shaped by societal changes. Leadership is not fixed but reflects current social, economic, and organisational contexts.

Why is leadership considered socially constructed?

Leadership is considered socially constructed because who is recognised as a leader changes over time. For example, modern influencers can have significant influence without formal authority, showing leadership depends on societal perception.

Do contemporary theories replace earlier leadership theories?

No, contemporary theories are cumulative. They build on earlier theories, refine them, and recycle ideas in new forms rather than replacing them entirely.

Why do leadership preferences change over time?

Leadership preferences shift due to economic instability, social anxiety, and perceived inefficiency. For example, some groups may accept authoritarian leadership during uncertain times for efficiency.

What is transformational leadership?

Transformational leadership is a follower-centred approach that focuses on intrinsic motivation, development, and elevating followers’ potential beyond self-interest.

What are Burns’ (1978) three types of leadership?

Burns identified transactional leadership (exchange-based), transformational leadership (development and moral purpose), and pseudo-transformational leadership (self-serving and manipulative).

What is transactional leadership?

Transactional leadership is based on quid pro quo exchanges, where behaviour is linked to rewards or punishments, focusing on structure, control, and short-term performance.

What are the strengths and limitations of transactional leadership?

Strengths include clarity, efficiency, and predictability. Limitations include inflexibility, reliance on extrinsic motivation, and suppression of creativity.

What is pseudo-transformational leadership?

Pseudo-transformational leadership involves leaders who appear transformational but are self-serving, manipulative, and prioritise personal gain over collective good.

What are the Four I’s of transformational leadership?

The Four I’s are Idealised Influence, Inspirational Motivation, Intellectual Stimulation, and Individualised Consideration.

What is idealised influence?

Idealised influence refers to leaders acting as ethical role models, building trust and credibility, and influencing followers through moral authority rather than power.

What is inspirational motivation?

Inspirational motivation involves communicating a compelling vision, creating emotional engagement, and encouraging followers to exceed expectations.

What is intellectual stimulation?

Intellectual stimulation encourages creativity, innovation, and critical thinking by challenging assumptions and supporting new ideas.

What is individualised consideration?

Individualised consideration involves coaching, mentoring, and supporting individual follower development through strong interpersonal relationships.

How does transformational leadership exceed expectations?

It raises awareness of goals, encourages collective over self-interest, and motivates followers through intrinsic and higher-level needs, leading to performance beyond expectations.

What are the strengths and criticisms of transformational leadership?

Strengths include strong research support and focus on development. Criticisms include heroic bias, cultural limitations, measurement issues, and potential for abuse.

What is charismatic leadership?

Charismatic leadership focuses on transforming followers’ self-concepts, building emotional connections, and linking identity to organisational goals through persuasion and vision.

How does charismatic leadership influence followers?

It builds confidence, emotional attachment, and identity alignment, leading to strong loyalty, trust, and commitment.

What role does rhetoric play in charismatic leadership?

Rhetoric is central, using framing, metaphors, repetition, and emotional language to shape perceptions and inspire followers.

What is the dark side of charismatic leadership?

It includes manipulation, moral ambiguity, follower dependence, and concentration of power, where persuasion overrides critical thinking.

What is authentic leadership?

Authentic leadership focuses on self-awareness, internal values, transparency, and consistency between beliefs and actions to build trust and credibility.

What are the four components of authentic leadership?

Self-awareness, internalised moral perspective, balanced processing, and relational transparency.

What are the strengths and limitations of authentic leadership?

Strengths include trust-building and societal relevance. Limitations include weak empirical evidence, unclear causality, and potential insufficiency for achieving outcomes.

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is based on the principle of serving others first, prioritising follower development, wellbeing, and long-term growth over leader self-interest.

What are the key strengths and criticisms of servant leadership?

Strengths include focus on altruism, empowerment, and societal impact. Criticisms include conceptual ambiguity, practicality issues, and difficulty balancing service with performance demands.