Assignment 4

Theories and Styles of Leadership

Dr. Angela Parham

Darrin Clanton

PAD 515: Leadership and Conflict Resolution

April 26, 2019

Determine two (2) leadership theories and two (2) leadership styles that support the definition of a public leader.

A public leader is anyone who holds public office with the mandate of serving the people. This can be a community chief, priest, and the president of country among others. In terms of leadership theories, trait and situational leadership theories would support the definition of a public leader. On leadership styles, participatory style and transformational leadership styles would suffice a public leadership position.

Trait theory of leadership

This theory asserts that leaders should have certain traits that would make them effective in carrying out their mandates. These traits are categorized in various groups including physiological, demographic, intellective, task-related and social characteristics. Although these traits are not used to identify successful and unsuccessful leaders, they are viewed as preconditions for people with leadership potential (Northouse, 2018).

Cognitive ability, honesty, integrity, self-confidence, achievement drive, creativity, charisma and emotional intelligence among other are some of the traits that characterize potential leaders. Success in leadership is being able to achieve the objectives and needs of the public by using the resources in place in an efficient and effective way. This involves being able to work with people. Therefore, these traits have been identified based on this background (Northouse, 2018).

Situational theory of leadership

This theory presupposes that effective leadership is one that can adapt from one situation to another without compromising on service provision. Since circumstances change, it is important for a leader to be able to adapt to the changes in circumstances and provide solutions to challenges as they come. While some employees may work best under autocratic leadership, others may be effective under participatory leadership. Similarly, there are cases where participatory leadership is required and leaders have to adjust and embrace such requirements (Northouse, 2018).

Participatory leadership style

This is where leaders are actively engaged in the activities conducted in service of the public. People are more motivated and satisfied when they see their leaders actively involved in addressing their concerns. It also establishes some sense of touch between the leader and the public. The public is involved in decision-making and most activities that seek to address their concerns. This chemistry between a leader and the public has to exist because the public has to approve of their leader to help facilitate the achievement of goals (Fielder, 1967).

Transformational leadership style

Public leaders are expected to improve the status of the people they are serving. This means bringing in developments in critical areas that impacts the lives of the public. Transformational leaders have the ability to identify the needed change, establish a vision and through inspiration, guide their teams in executing the change in the best interest of the public. Such leaders have to be inspiring and motivating in order to effect change in their communities (Fielder, 1967).

What are the differences, if any, between successful leaders in public, private, and non-profit organizations?

Public, private and non-profit organization leaders are guided by different objectives which makes their nature of success to differ. A successful public leader is one who has served the society by meeting their needs and improving their lives. Private organizations have different needs and this is dependent on companies. While some may be driven by the need for high profits, others may be driven by the need to expand their customer base (Choi, 2001).

Therefore, success is measured based on the ability of the leader to meet the company’s desired objectives. Public leaders undergo through a unique kind of accountability. Perhaps because the taxpayers money is involved. This determines the level of success of a public leader compared to private and non-profit organization leaders.

Since public leaders do not choose their own goals, there success is measured by their ability to involve the public in decision-making. This is different for private organizations where a leader is successful when he/she makes the right decisions. For non-profit organizations, leaders are considered to be successful when they make informed decisions either based on knowledge or research (Choi, 2001).

Private, public and non-profit organizations have goals that are fundamentally different. While the private organization leader’s focus is on growing the organization and making profits for company, public leaders are focused on serving the community and making their lives better. Non-profit organizations also have their own goals to meet and this includes providing service to the community using resources from donations. This is different from public organizations because the public expects from them since taxes are paid for the same purpose of giving back to the society (Choi, 2001). From this perspective, success is therefore, measured from the achievement of the varied fundamental goals and this makes approach to leadership different for the three types of positions.

Some think leadership is a born ability. Some think leadership can be learned. Some think leadership is a product of a need or challenge. What do you think?

Just like the controversy of chicken and egg, the question of whether leaders are born, made or educated, is a controversy. The scriptures from where we draw most of the knowledge we have presupposes that leaders are born. Today, we have numerous learning institutions that teach leadership as a course. Similarly, the world has shown that there is a possibility to nurture a leader (Avolio, 2005).

I think leaders are born. Leadership is characterized by certain traits that are innate. Inasmuch as leadership skills can be taught in schools, there are traits that are personal to individuals that make them exhibit leadership traits. Honesty is a virtue that cannot be taught. Charisma is a trait one can learn in a school, neither can it be nurtured. It’s a natural inclination. I therefore believe that despite the possibility of making and teaching people to become leaders, the best of leaders are born. Leadership is about inspiring people, motivating them towards a noble course and having the drive to push people through challenges and good times (Avolio, 2005).

There are certain leadership skills that can be taught. For example emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills. These are fundamental skills that enable leaders to be effective in doing their work. However, it is important to note that these skills alone are not sufficient to make someone a leader.

There is the naturally proclivity to leadership that exists inside a person that gives them the ability to influence, motive, inspire and drive people towards achieving a purpose. It is this characteristic that affirm the argument that leaders are born. It is one thing to appear like you have the leadership traits and it is another thing to actually have them (Avolio, 2005).

References

Fiedler, F. E. (1967). A Theory Of Leadership Effectiveness. Mcgraw-Hill Series In Management. McGraw Hill

Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.

Avolio, B. J. (2005). Leadership development in balance: Made/born. Psychology Press.

Hooijberg, R., & Choi, J. (2001). The impact of organizational characteristics on leadership effectiveness models: An examination of leadership in a private and a public sector organization. Administration & Society, 33(4), 403-431.