Chapter 1: Understanding Leadership Chapter Objectives • Review the evolution of leadership. • Examine the different perspectives on leadership. • Understand the impact of culture on leader effectiveness. Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Overview • Everyone is asked to be a leader. • What sort of leadership roles are you called on to play in your life? • Leadership is exciting but carries with it many responsibilities. • Chapter examines different ways of looking at leadership. Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. The Evolution of Leadership • • • • • • Trait Approach Behavior Approach Situational Approach Relational Approach “New Leadership” Approach Emerging Leadership Approaches Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. How to Think about Leadership • As an approach – A general way of thinking about leadership, not necessarily based on research. • As a theory or model – A way of explaining how leadership works, using hypotheses, principles, or propositions that can be tested. Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Leadership Explained • • • • • • Leadership is a Trait. Leadership is an Ability. Leadership is a Skill. Leadership is a Behavior. Leadership is a Relationship. Leadership is an Influence Process. Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Leadership is a Trait • Each of us has unique leadership traits. • Emphasizes the leader in the leader–follower context. • Is it elitist to say only some have leadership? • Or, are we all born with certain traits that we can modify and change? Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Leadership is an Ability • It means you are able—you have the capacity. • Is it like playing the piano? The more you play, the better you get? Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Leadership is an Ability • It is a natural capacity but can also be learned. • We can develop our abilities through hard work and practice. • Example: UCLA Coach John Wooden Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Leadership is a Skill • This means leadership is a competency. • A skill means you know how to do something, that you are competent. • As a competency, leadership becomes available to everyone. • If we can learn from experience, we can acquire leadership. Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Leadership is a Behavior • It is about the actions of leaders. • Leadership requires task and process behaviors. • Effective leaders combine these two behaviors in the optimum way. Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Leadership is a Relationship • An unusual way of thinking about leadership • Centered on communication between leaders and followers • Not linear but an interactive process • Not top-down • Mutual purposes imply an ethical dimension Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Leadership is an Influence Process • A process whereby an individual influences a group to achieve a common goal • Interactive event • Leaders affect followers • Stressing common goals gives an ethical dimension to leadership Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Global Leadership Attributes • Leadership concepts outlined in this chapter are from a North American perspective. • Different views of leadership exist in other parts of the world. • House (2004) studied impact of culture on leadership effectiveness in 62 countries. • Universally accepted positive and negative leadership characteristics Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. TABLE 1.1 Universal Leadership Attributes Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. The Dark Side of Leadership • When leaders use their influence or power for personal ends. • Toxic leaders leave their followers worse off than they found them (Lippman-Blumen, 2005). • Three preconditions for destructive leadership to occur: (a) destructive leader; (b) susceptible followers; (c) weak checks and balances. Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Leadership Snapshot • Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo • One of the top female executives in the US. • Grew up in Madras, India; always pushed conventional boundaries. • Completed a Master’s in Management from Yale University. • Worked for Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Motorola, and Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) before joining Pepsi. • Chief dealmaker in acquiring Tropicana and Quaker Oats. • Creating healthier products such as Pepsi Next. Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Practicing Leadership • There is a strong demand for leadership today. • People want effective leadership. • Effective leadership is intentional and creates change for the common good. • The challenge is to be prepared to lead when called on. Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Case Study: King of the Hill • What leadership traits account for Denny Hill’s success? • How would you describe Denny Hill’s leadership abilities? • Leadership includes administrative skills, interpersonal skills, and conceptual skills. How does Denny Hill stack up on these skills? Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Case Study: King of the Hill • How does Denny integrate task and relationship behaviors in his leadership? • From a relational perspective, how would you describe Denny Hill’s leadership? • In what way does Denny Hill’s coaching exemplify leadership as an influence process? Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Summary • All of us at some time will be asked to show leadership. • Leadership is demanding and rewarding. Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018. Summary • Leadership is complex and multidimensional. • Leadership is a trait, ability, skill, behavior, relationship, and influence process. • How you think about leadership will influence the way you practice leadership. Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.
