Week 1 Discussion

Purpose

1. To identify how you view leadership

2. To explore your perceptions of different aspects of leadership

Directions

1. Consider for a moment your own impressions of the word leadership. Based on your experiences with leaders in your lifetime, what is leadership?

2. Using the scale below, indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements about leadership.

2. Sum scores on items 2, 8, 14, and 20 (ability emphasis)

3. Sum scores on items 3, 9, 15, and 21 (skill emphasis)

4. Sum scores on items 4, 10, 16, and 22 (behavior emphasis)

5. Sum scores on items 5, 11, 17, and 23 (relationship emphasis)

6. Sum scores on items 6, 12, 18, and 24 (process emphasis)

Total Scores

1. Trait emphasis: ___________

2. Ability emphasis: ___________

3. Skill emphasis: ___________

4. Behavior emphasis: ___________

5. Relationship emphasis: ___________

6. Process emphasis: ___________

Scoring Interpretation

The scores you received on this questionnaire provide information about how you define and view leadership. The emphasis you give to the various dimensions of leadership has implications for how you approach the leadership process. For example, if your highest score is for trait emphasis, it suggests that you emphasize the role of the leader and the leader’s special gifts in the leadership process. However, if your highest score is for relationship emphasis, it indicates that you think leadership is centered on the communication between leaders and followers, rather than on the unique qualities of the leader. By comparing your scores, you can gain an understanding of the aspects of leadership that you find most important and least important. The way you think about leadership will influence how you practice leadership.