Week 8: Leadership Fundamentals

Clive brings an insight on the idea of leadership, aswell as other people's ideas of leadership, thus creating a huge sense of different leadership styles alongside their benefits

WHAT DOES MANAGEMENT FOCUS ON?

o   Focuses on operational efficiency

o   Doing things right, asserting authority, creating stability

o   Concerned with budgets deadlines, processes

WHAT IS MATS ALVESSON’S 2002 QUOTE ON LEADERSHIP?

  “Leadership. Too easily captures ‘everything and nothing”

WHAT IS THE TRAIT APPROACH?

Stems from the “great man” approach. It suggests that leaders have personality traits that distinguish them from the rest of the population

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF “GREAT MAN” THEORY BY CARLYLE, 1841

·       Leaders are seen as possessing natural traits:

Self-confidence, achievement drive, honesty, integrity, intelligence, creativity, adaptability, appearance

WHAT ARE THE EXPANDING TRAITS OF THE TRAIT APPROACH?

o   Physical: energy and stamina

o   Social background: education or military

o   Social characteristics: sociability, tact and cooperativeness

o   Personality: optimistic, independence, desire to lead

o   Intelligence/ability: knowledge, judgement

o   Work related: tenacity, mentality

WHAT IS THE MODERN REFLECTION CONCEPT?

Introverts (Susan Cain), creative thinkers (goffee and Jones) also show leadership potential

WHAT IS THE BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH?

This approach identifies behavioral associated with leadership, focusing on what leaders do, not who they are

WHAT ARE TWO MAIN BEHAVIOURS OF THE BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH?

o   Task-oriented (initiating structure, directing towards goals)

o   People-oriented (Consideration, respect, trust, morale)

WHAT IS THE FRED FIELDER’S CONTIGENCY THEORY

incorporates the situation and the group as key variables in effective leadership/management

·       Leadership effectiveness depends on the situation

·       Two styles:

o  Task-oriented

o   Relationship-oriented

 

WHAT ARE THE SITUATIONS THAT CONTIGENCY THEORY APPLY?

       Situations:

o   Favorable (clear tasks, harmony): task-oriented leaders excel

o   Unfavorable (discord, unclear tasks): task-oriented leaders also excel

o   Intermediate: relationship-oriented leaders excel (flexibility, trust)

WHAT ARE THE 4 STYLES THAT BLANCHARD AND HERSEY’S SITUATIONAL LEADERSHIP LOOKS AT?

o   Directing (s1): High directive low supportive (for new/inexperienced staff)

o   Coaching (s2): High directive, high supportive (for developing staff)

o   Supporting (s3): low directive, high supportive (for capable but variable commitment)

o   Delegating (s40; low directive, low supportive (for highly competent, committed staff)

WHAT IS TRANSACTIONAL LEADERSHIP?

o   Based on exchange; as in rewards and punishments

o   Effective in crisis and emergency

o   Focus on compliance and efficiency

WHAT IS TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP?

• Inspires change, new directions, continuous improvement.

• Mission statements, vision, change management.

“Leading towards the promised land.”

WHAT IS COLLECTIVE (SUBSTITUTE) LEADERSSHIP?

• Self-managed teams, empowerment.

• Skilled professionals lead themselves.

• Associated with lean management.

WHAT IS EMERGENT AND INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP?

Leadership can emerge from context, not formal authority

• Leadership can arise from moral clarity, activism, and purpose, not just position.

WHAT IS THE HUMANISTIC LEADERSHIP ACCORDING TO ROSEBETH MOSS KANTER?

Businesses as social institutions, not just profit machines

Great companies Create value for society and Solve global problems while making money

Leadership in corporations must balance profit with social responsibility

WHAT ARE THE 6 FACETS OF INSTITUTIONAL LOGIC ACCORDING TO THE HUMANISTIC LEADERSHIP APPORACH?

1.    Common purpose – coherence and meaning beyond transactions.

2.    Long-term focus – invest in people, sustainability over short-term profit.

3.    Emotional engagement – work is compelling, meaning comes from organization, not cult of personality.

4.    Community building – concern for public issues, partnerships with society.

5.    Innovation – looking for greater purpose apart from money can create innovation and help in creating personal/corporate values in their everyday work

6.    Self-organization – the logic believes that people are able to care not only of their jobs but of the whole enterprise by searching for improvement and innovation without direct instructions