INTRODUCTION
TO
LEADERSHIP
1
Overview
• Leadership Basics
– Course and Air Force definitions
– Leadership is both an art & science
• Leadership vs. Management
• Model – Interactional Framework for
Analyzing Leadership
• AS 300 Course Overview
• Case Study
2
Leadership Basics
• Definition
“Leadership is the art and science
of motivating, influencing and directing people
to accomplish the mission.”
• Fundamental elements of leadership
– People
– Mission
• Leadership as an ART
• Leadership as a SCIENCE
3
Leadership as a Science
• Myth #1: Leaders are born, not made.
Truth: Innate factors interact with experience
• Myth #2: Good leadership is all common sense.
Truth: What seems obvious after you know the results and
what you would’ve predicted are not the same thing.
Hindsight is always 20/20
• Myth #3: The only school you learn leadership from is the
School of Hard Knocks.
Truth: Formal study provides a variety of ways of examining
a leadership situation. Examining leadership from multiple
perspectives is a skill in becoming a better leader
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Leadership vs. Management
LEADERSHIP
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•
•
•
•
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Risk taking
Dynamic
Creative
Change
Visionary
Value laden
MANAGEMENT
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•
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•
•
•
Efficiency
Planning
Paperwork
Procedures
Regulations
Consistency
“Two overlapping functions…although some functions performed by leaders
and managers may be unique, there is an area of overlap…organizations
need both to be successful.” (Hughes, Curphy, & Ginnett, 2002)
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Interactional Framework
for Analyzing Leadership
Leader
Followers
Situation
• Leadership is a process, not a person or position
• Leadership…a complex interaction; not easy to make broad
generalizations about leadership
• Useful heuristic to analyze situations
• Use heuristic to organize leadership theories and research
6
Course Overview
• Leadership Overview
Leadership basics, AF Leadership, the Profession of Arms
• Basic Skills in Leadership
Self assessment, effective communication skills, critical thinking,
problem solving, management skills, follower role, team building,
motivation, managing conflict, choosing best behaviors for given
situations
• Military Relationships
Professional/unprofessional, case study
• Advanced Skills in Leadership
Effective supervision, counseling, authority, responsibility, accountability
• Ethics in Leadership
Applying core values, ethics, law, joint ethics, supervision, putting it all
together (capstone case study)
7
Summary
• Leadership Basics
– Course and Air Force definitions
– Leadership is both an art & science
• Leadership vs. Management
• Model – Interactional Framework for
Analyzing Leadership
• AS 300 Course Overview
• Case Study
8
“Freedom to do your best means nothing
unless you’re willing to do your best.”
Colin Powell
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Any Questions?
Introduction to Leadership and AS300 Course
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