Leadership and Conflict Resolution
PAD 515006VA016-1184-001
Raheem Dow
Dr. Parham
04/29/2018
Public Leadership
Various scholars have defined leadership differently. Northhouse (2012) illustrates guidance as an individual’s ability to influence a group of individuals to accomplish a common goal. Another definition is by Bass and Riggio (2006) in which leadership entails inspiring others to pursue a specific vision within the parameters one set to the extent that that vision becomes a shared vision, shared effort, and shared success. A majority of leadership theories view leadership in many standpoints including administration as a relationship or process, leadership as particulars behaviors, or leadership as a combination of personal qualities or traits. All the theories at least agree to some extent that direction is a process entailing influence with a group of individuals towards goal realization. Also, from these theories emanates the leadership styles that various leaders employ. Thus, among the leadership theories, trait and contingency leadership theories and participative and transformational leadership styles better what a public leader should be.
Trait theory
The trait theory was coined by Gordon Allport which assumes that leadership is innate. According to this theory, civic leaders have innate traits or qualities which make them better suited to be leaders. About this theory, public leaders are born or made with specific characteristics which make them shine in the role of leadership (Northouse, 2012). That means that a civic leader is birthed with certain qualities that make one suit to be a public leader. Trait theory identifies specific behavioral or personality characteristics that make a diligent leader. Some of the inherent qualities that make a leader as contained in the trait theory include dominance, integrity, flexibility, high energy, self-confidence, intelligence, stability, internal locus of control, and sensitivity to others (Clack, 2017). An excellent public leader exhibits these traits.
Contingency theory
The contingency theory was coined by Fred Fiedler which assumes that leadership is contingent on matching the style to a specific situation or setting. The philosophy emphasizes on unambiguous variables related to the environment on which the leadership style best fitted for a particular context or position is dependent upon. The contingency theory states that there is no one leadership style that is best appropriate for all the situations (Northouse, 2012). Different conditions call for different leadership style. According to this theory, leadership is dependent on the extent of fitness between the qualities and style of a leader and that of a particular context or situation. Therefore, according to contingency theory of leadership, a public leader is one who can exhibit qualities and apply various leadership styles as different situation occur.
Participative leadership style
The participative leadership style is based on engagement and respect. Based on this style, a public leader focuses on the energy in every encounters and harness diversity, establishes shared responsibility for action and builds community (Park et al., 2015). A public leader emphasizes on contributions from others in which he/she welcomes inputs from others and encourages shared decision-making. To achieve this, a civic leader must be open to discussion, communicative, and open-minded in leading and working through issues. As a public leader to encourage the participation of the followers in decision-making and shared responsibility; one ought to facilitate the conversation. Provide open sharing of information and knowledge required for decisions being implemented and encourage the followers to share their ideas. That is in a succinct effort to bring forward opinions and beliefs (Park et al., 2015). Also, after receiving contributions from followers, a public leader synthesizes all the info and solutions the followers recommended and then based on that information and ideas, an open leader creates the best solution and communicates it to the followers explaining to them the basis of that decision.
Transformational leadership style
According to the transformational leadership style, a public leader works with the followers to establish the need for change, develop a vision to serve as a roadmap for that change through inspiring and implementing the change together with the followers (Bass & Riggio, 2006). A public leader inspires positive change among the followers. A transformational public leader, stimulate and instigates the subordinates to accomplish extemporary results and also in the course develop the leadership capacity of the followers. A public leader helps the followers to develop and grow into leaders by responding to the individual needs of the follows through aligning the goals and objectives of individual followers and empowering them. In reference with the transformational leadership style, a public leader has a clear vision, is a risk taker, self-motivated, inspires, knows people, self-managed, make difficult decisions, proactive, adaptable, welcomes contribution, and a motivator (Bass & Riggio, 2006).
Leadership theories
The trait theory entails establishing the essential attributes of a public leader founded on the qualities of the previous efficacious and unsuccessful public leaders and utilizing the findings to determine the public leaders’ effectiveness (Clack, 2017). The trait theory establishes innate characteristics that align with leader effectiveness. Unlike other theories, the trait theory according to Northouse (2012) builds on the idea that public leaders are distinctive and offers a benchmark for the identification of public leaders. Leadership effectiveness is central to the public leader’s personality, and thus public leaders with the right inherent traits would achieve success as leaders. President Obama is an example of a general leader who exemplifies the trait theory capabilities of a public leader. Some of the inherent traits that President Obama showed include high-energy to drive the American Dream. Self-confidence in getting things done even when some of the actions was unpopular and still took responsibility for his actions, he always made tough decisions and stood by them, and he was flexible adapting to the changing situations (Coggins, 2009).
The contingency theory, unlike other leadership theories, establishes that there is no one right way to lead, but leading entails applying various leadership traits and styles as situations call into action. That is, no individual leadership qualities and style fits all the conditions (Northouse, 2012). The contingency theory emphasizes the importance of the leadership style and demands of various contexts or situations. This theory suggests that leaders are not equally effective in all the cases and thus leaders should tailor their leadership styles to fit various circumstances (Northouse, 2012). President Obama is an example of the effectiveness of applying different leadership traits and techniques in different situations. During Obama’s era in office, he responded to different contexts and situations utilizing diverse models of leadership (Coggins, 2009). In this manner, contingency leadership exuded. For example, when Obama travelled overseas to represent the American interests, he was conciliatory and displayed flexibility. However, in domestic issues, he stood tough and called for necessary actions as seen when the automobile industry was failing he forced the Chrysler and GM to accept the MPG standards.
Leadership styles
Participative leadership styles entail encouraging the followers to contribute to decision-making. The follower's inputs to the decision that is made and thus shared decision-making. This leadership style has proven useful as it facilitates acceptance of the decisions and enhances making of effective decisions (Park et al., 2015). The followers are readier to accept decisions and policies that they participated in arriving at and support those decisions and policies. Additionally, involving and inviting the contributions of the followers in making decisions facilitates making of creative and practical decisions and procedures due to different inputs (Park et al., 2015). President Barack Obama is an example of the effectiveness of the participative leadership style. President Obama came into office when the American people were facing the worst economic crisis (Coggins, 2009), but through his participative leadership, Obama was able to pull the country from sinking further in the crisis. Through this approach, his administration was able to develop policies and strategies that saw America rise from the crisis.
Transformational leadership has been proven to be the most effective leadership style. It entails inspiring and motivating the followers to achieve the shared vision through individual consideration, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and idealized influence (Bass & Riggio, 2006). Personal attention entails knowing the followers by listening to them. Mental stimulation involves working with the followers through a problem, inspirational motivation encompasses engaging the followers, and idealized influence entails being a role model to the followers. This style motivates and inspires the followers and thus enhancing the level of acceptance of the decision and policies arrives at since the leaders and the followers share a common vision (Bumgarner, 2016). Also, through inspiration, the followers can work towards achieving the vision. President Obama’s slogan “Yes we can” and how he inspired the American people to work towards the American Dream is a demonstration of the effectiveness of the transformational leadership (Coggins, 2009). He was a president to whom the American people looked up to and through the shared vision, Americans worked together to get out of the economic crisis.
Conclusion
The trait and contingency leadership theories and participative and transformational leadership styles define a public leader. According to the trait theory, a general leader is born not made and thus has inherent leadership characteristics. The contingency theory provides that a civic leader is one who can exhibit qualities and apply various leadership styles as different situations arise. Participative leadership defines a public leader as one who emphasizes on contributions from others in which he/she welcomes inputs from others and encourages shared decision-making. Transformational leadership style defines a public leader as a leader who works with the followers to establish the need for change, develop a vision to serve as a roadmap for that change through inspiring and implementing the move together with the followers.
References
Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Transformational leadership. Psychology Press.
Bumgarner, G. K. (2016). Transformational Leadership in the Public Sector (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University). https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3382&context=dissertations
Clack, L. A. (2017). Examination of Leadership and Personality Traits on the Effectiveness of Professional Communication in Healthcare. Journal of Healthcare Communications, 2(2).
Coggins, E. (2009). Five Leadership Theories Applied in Barack Obama's First 100 Days as President. GRIN Verlag
Northouse, P. (2012). Leadership: Theory and Practice. SAGE Publications
Park, S. M., Miao, Q., & Kim, M. Y. (2015). The role of leadership behaviors for enhancing organizational effectiveness in the Chinese public sector. International Review of Public Administration, 20(2), 153-176.
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