Introduction to Leadership Concepts

May 13, 2024

Week 1: Introduction to Leadership Concepts

Overview of Chapters 1 & 2

Chapter 1: Understanding Leadership

  • Definition of Leadership (Northouse): A process where an individual influences a group to achieve a common goal.
    • Elements:
      • Leader: The individual who leads.
      • Followers: Group of individuals influenced by the leader.
      • Goal: The common objective to be achieved.
    • Leadership quality depends on the perceived value of the goal.

Key Concepts in Leadership

  • Trait Leadership vs. Process Leadership
    • Trait Leadership: Innate characteristics that distinguish leaders from non-leaders. Traits include intelligence, extroversion, etc.
    • Process Leadership: Sees leadership as interactions between leaders and followers, depending on behavior and context.
  • Assigned vs. Emergent Leadership
    • Assigned Leadership: Based on a position given within an organization.
    • Emergent Leadership: Leadership that develops over time through interactions and recognition by others.

Power in Leadership

  • Concept of Power: Capacity to influence others.
  • Bases of Power (French & Raven):
    • Referent Power
    • Expert Power
    • Legitimate Power
    • Reward Power
    • Coercive Power
  • Position vs. Personal Power:
    • Position Power: Derived from rank within an organization.
    • Personal Power: Derives from being seen as likable and competent.

Chapter 2: Leadership Traits and Personality

Major Leadership Traits

  • Intelligence
  • Self-confidence
  • Determination
  • Integrity
  • Sociability

Big Five Personality Traits and Leadership

  • Neuroticism
  • Extraversion
  • Openness
  • Agreeableness
  • Conscientiousness

Emotional Intelligence

  • Defined as the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions.
  • Related to leadership effectiveness.

Applications and Critiques of Trait Approach

  • Focuses on leader's traits.
  • Utilized in hiring processes through personality assessments.
  • Strengths:
    • Intuitive appeal.
    • Centuries of credible research.
  • Critiques:
    • No definitive list of leadership traits.
    • Fails to account for situational effects.
    • Lists of traits often subjective.
    • Limited usefulness for training and development.

The Romance of Leadership

  • People attribute success/failure of an organization to its leader.
  • Leadership effectiveness is often in the "eyes of the beholder."
  • Highlights the skewed perception and expectation from leadership.