Followers' commitment and motivation are influenced by leaders' styles and actions.
The 21st-century workplace faces challenges that change perceptions of leadership, requiring adaptability.
Co-creation of Leadership
Leaders often embody roles of both leaders and followers within dynamic contexts.
Effective leadership is a social process driven by the context of interactions and relationships.
Servant Leadership
Emphasizes serving team members and fostering respectful workplace culture.
Leaders should model behaviours that encourage a supportive environment, which amplifies team effectiveness.
Challenges in Motivating Followers
Engaging followers who are critical thinkers vs. those who merely agree can be complex.
Implementing engagement strategies and surveys helps gauge follower involvement and motivation.
Enhancing Decision-Making Skills
Leaders must take responsibility and model accountability for their decisions and team outcomes.
Flexibility and adaptability in leadership styles are crucial during challenging circumstances.
Post-modern Leadership Characteristics
Rejects the singular leadership style; recognizes the necessity to draw from various approaches.
Organizational structure is less hierarchical, focusing more on empowered teams and fluid information flow.
Leadership & Power Framework
Power is essential to leadership but must be understood beyond positional authority.
Northouse outlines six sources of power: Expert, Referent, Legitimate, Reward, Coercive, and Information.
Positional vs. Personal Power
Distinguishes between power derived from position (authority) and personal influence (charisma/competence).
Power as Influencer
Leadership effectiveness is influenced by the leader's ability to leverage different types of power according to situational needs.
Trait Theory and Leadership Development
Leaders may possess inherent traits (traits theory), but skills can also be learned and developed.
Skills approach emphasizes learning and refining leadership competencies.
Reflective Leadership Practice
Continuous self-reflection aids leaders in assessing their impact and aligning actions with goals.
Engaging in reflective exercises can enhance emotional intelligence and decision-making patterns.
Essential Questions for Self-Reflection
What have I learned from my leadership experiences?
How can I improve my engagement with followers?
Culture and Leadership
Organizational culture is shaped collectively, not by individuals alone; must account for followers' needs and feedback.
Summary
The interplay of leadership and followership, combined with evolving perceptions of power dynamics, forms the foundation of effective leadership practices today. Emotional intelligence, critical engagement with followers, and continuous learning are vital in navigating modern leadership challenges.