Leadership
Running head: LEADERSHIP
Leadership
Leadership Since the beginning of humankind, all types of leaders have existed. Some led with fear others with respect. In modern society, we attempt to isolate all the characteristics and attributes that go into good leaders by studying leaders of the past and leadership styles that have proved to be successful. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “A leader is not someone who searches for consensus but molds consensus”. This is how we view leadership today, an individual that has the ability to affect the motivation and competencies of the individuals in a group. As a society, we attempt to not only identify leaders but also to train them in effective styles and techniques that are efficient at motivating a group to be innovative and perform efficiently. The Trait Theory of Leadership is an attempt to identify characteristics of individuals that are associated with successful leaders. These characteristics are based on various researches that that relates physical, mental, and personality traits to success criteria. The idea is that if an individual exemplifies all these traits, their ability to be a successful leader is reasonably assured. The first category of traits is the personality traits of a leader. These traits usually include someone with a high energy level, high stress tolerance, substantial self-confidence, emotional maturity and strong integrity. Being a leader presents its self with a plethora of challenges that can create high levels of stress. A leader more able to deal with these challenges with good stress tolerance and emotional maturity will have greater success. The second category of traits is the motivational traits of a leader. These traits include socialized power orientation, strong need for achievement, week need for affiliation, and persuasiveness. Persuasiveness goes without saying, however it is important to note that a strong need
Leadership
Leadership Since the beginning of humankind, all types of leaders have existed. Some led with fear others with respect. In modern society, we attempt to isolate all the characteristics and attributes that go into good leaders by studying leaders of the past and leadership styles that have proved to be successful. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “A leader is not someone who searches for consensus but molds consensus”. This is how we view leadership today, an individual that has the ability to affect the motivation and competencies of the individuals in a group. As a society, we attempt to not only identify leaders but also to train them in effective styles and techniques that are efficient at motivating a group to be innovative and perform efficiently. The Trait Theory of Leadership is an attempt to identify characteristics of individuals that are associated with successful leaders. These characteristics are based on various researches that that relates physical, mental, and personality traits to success criteria. The idea is that if an individual exemplifies all these traits, their ability to be a successful leader is reasonably assured. The first category of traits is the personality traits of a leader. These traits usually include someone with a high energy level, high stress tolerance, substantial self-confidence, emotional maturity and strong integrity. Being a leader presents its self with a plethora of challenges that can create high levels of stress. A leader more able to deal with these challenges with good stress tolerance and emotional maturity will have greater success. The second category of traits is the motivational traits of a leader. These traits include socialized power orientation, strong need for achievement, week need for affiliation, and persuasiveness. Persuasiveness goes without saying, however it is important to note that a strong need
References: Gibson, J. L., Ivancevich, J. M., Donnelly, J. H., Jr., & Konopaske, R. (2012). Organizations behavior, structure, processes (14th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Leadership with You (2011). Theories of leadership Path-Goal leadership theory. Retrieved Novemeber 25,2011, from www.leadership-with-you.com/path-goal-leadership-theory.html Leadership-central (2011). Vroom-Yetton-Jago decision-making model of leadership. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from www.leadership-central.com/Vroom-Yetton-Jago-decision-making-model-of-leadership.html#axzz1dcyBmS5n Mind Tools (2011). Fiedler’s contingency model Matching leadership style to a situation. Retrieved November 25, 2011, from www.mindtools.com/pages/article/fiedler.htm Mind Tools (2011). The Hersey-Blanchard situational leadership theory Choosing the right leadership style for the right people. Retrieved November 25, 2011, from www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_44.htm Mind Tools (2011). The Vroom-Yetton-Jago decision model Deciding how to decide. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_91.htm