...Personality Traits and Leadership Styles of Great Leaders What personality traits make up great leaders? Self-confidence: It is important for the leaders to exude self-confidence at all times, including during times of crisis. If the team is in a crisis mode, it is important for the leader to give words of encouragement such as: “We’ve been in a tougher spot before, and I know we will get through this.” Self-confidence is also shown though posture and gestures while working with the team. Humility: The leader must know how to balance their self-confidence so they do not come off as arrogant or boastful. The great leader will admit when they are not an expert in everything and knows when to ask for assistance. The Leader should also acknowledge the team or members when goals or projects are accomplished, because without the team, the leader could not have achieved in their position. Trustworthiness: The leader should portray trustworthiness both inside and outside of the office. The leader should be known for their character of integrity and always make decisions that right for the team, not just for political gain in the workplace. If the leader builds and acts of this type of behavior, then the rest of the team will follow suit creating a cohesive team that wants their actions to benefit the whole and not just to get themselves ahead. Sense of humor: A sense of humor can increase your approachability and likability from team-members if done correctly. Humor should not...
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...direct corporate empires from atop gleaming skyscrapers, or shape the course of nations. The exploits of brave and clever leaders are the essence of many legends and myths. Much of our description of history is the story of military, political, religious, and social leaders who are credited or blamed for important historical events, even though we do not understand very well how the events were caused or how much influence the leader really had. The widespread fascination with leadership may be because it is such a mysterious process, as well as one that touches everyone's life. Why did certain leaders(e.g., Gandhi, Mohammed, Mao Tse-tung) inspire such intense fervor and dedication how did certain leaders (e.g., Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great) build great empires? Why did some rather undistinguished people (e.g., Adolf Hitler, Claudius Caesar) rise to positions of great power' Why were certain leaders (e.g .• Winston Churchill. Indira Gandhi) suddenly deposed, despite their apparent power and record of successful accomplishments? Why do some leaders have loyal followers who are willing to sacrifice their lives, whereas other leaders are so despised that subordinates conspire to murder them? 1.1 Definition of Leadership There are various definition of leadership. Among all definition some are given below: • Leadership is "the behavior of an individual, , directing the activities of a group toward a shared goal," (Hemphill & Coons, 1957, P9, 7) • Leadership...
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...ENERGIZING BEHAVIOUR OF LEADER BENEFITS AND DOWNSIDES Leaders are people who do right things; managers are people who do things right. Professor Warren G Bennis Leader Leader is a person who guides people in the right direction to achieve the goal. Hence a leader plays a key role in the achievement of objectives. He is a person who inspires people to work. He motivates people, boosts them and encourages them to be productive. In order to get the tasks accomplished, the leader needs to know his fellow members well. He needs to have an influence on his people. A leader establishes a sense of purpose and creates value within the group. When we refer to a leader, it might be in various aspects like politics, sports, religion etc. In any aspect or field, he will be the person who guides the people in that particular field or will be there as a role model, where people follow his path towards the common destination. Coming to a leader in workplace, he needs to know the managerial skills in an efficient manner to guide people in achieving the goal. An individual with good set of skills, work efficiency and organizational values can be considered as a manager but not as a leader. Whereas a leader on the other hand apart from having these traits helps his fellow members to achieve these traits as well. A leader can actually arise from anywhere by creatively transforming his skills and abilities. A good leader is a person who doesn’t bosses around people, instead he should be...
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...“Organizational Behavior is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups and structure have on behaviour within organizations, for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organization’s effectiveness.” (Robbins, Judge, Sanghi 2009, 13th edition, Prentice Hall) . From the above statement we can say that, organization behavior shows how people behave in an organization and how their behavior affects the working of the organization. To understand organizational behavior we first need to know what an organization is. According to Robbins (2006), an organization is a consciously coordinated social unit, composed of two or more people that functions on a relatively continuous basis to achieve a common goal or a set of goals. Now we can clearly state that organization behavior is a distinct area of expertise which studies - individuals, groups and structure. It puts in these studies gained, in order to make organizations work more effectively and efficiently. Organizational Behavior is the study and application of knowledge about how people, individuals, and groups act in organizations. It does this by taking a system approach. That is, it interprets people-organization relationships in terms of the whole person, whole group, whole organization, and whole social system. Its purpose is to build better relationships by achieving human objectives, organizational objectives, and social objectives. (http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadob...
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... Distefano (Jan,1999), The earliest works on leadership can be traced back to ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans giving this field a great heritage. . Leadership has been viewed as: a) a personality attribute; b) the art of inducing compliance; c) an exercise of influence; d) a form of persuasion; e) a power relation; f ) an instrument of goal attainment; g) an effect of interaction, and h) an initiation of structure. Researchers in the early decades of this century emphasized theories of leadership related to great models that attempted to identify traits by researching characteristics of great leaders’ personalities. During this century’s World Wars personnel testing and selection programs as well as...
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...things done through people. Leaders are getting things done by working through people. Leadership has been described as the "process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task”. (Chemers, M. M. (2002). Meta-cognitive, social, and emotional intelligence of transformational leadership: Efficacy and Effectiveness. In R. E. Riggio, S. E. Murphy, F. J. Pirozzolo (Eds.), Multiple Intelligences and Leadership.)1 In today’s world, definition of leadership is changing. A leadership guru, Barry Posner, makes the following observations about the needed change in how business leadership is viewed: In the past business believed a leader was like the captain of a ship: cool, calm, collected. Now, we see that leaders need to be human. They need to be in touch, they need to be empathetic, and they need to be with people. Leaders need to be a part of what’s going on, not apart from what’s going on.1 Leadership Behaviors Noted leadership researchers House and Podsakoff have summarized the behaviors and approaches of great leaders that they drew from modern theories (e.g., charismatic and transformational) and basic research findings as follows1: Vision; Great leaders articulate and ideological vision that is congruent with the deeply held values of followers, a vision that describes a better future to which the followers have a moral right. Passion and self-sacrifice; Great leaders display a passion for, and a...
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...involves giving direction to people. It is a very important function in any organization. Leaders should understand that on the shoulders of the people they lead, they lean. This means that people are important in leadership. There are several scholars who have contributed to the knowledge of leadership. Some of the great quotes on leadership are: “The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say “I.” And that’s not because they have trained themselves not to say “I.” They don’t think “I.” They think “we”; they think “team.” They understand their job to be to make the team function. They accept responsibility and don’t sidestep it, but “we” gets the credit…. This is what creates trust, what enables you to get the task done.” Peter Drucker “The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already.” John Buchan “If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulder of giants.” Isaac Newton “A leader is a dealer in hope.” Napoleon Bonaparte Meaning of leadership Wendell French has defined leadership as, ‘the process of influencing the behavior of others in the direction of a goal or set goals or more broadly, toward a vision of the future.’ It is the processes of influencing behavior of individual or group accomplish organizational goals. It is a group effort, cooperation of all individuals sought by a leader for attaining a productive purpose. Koontz and O’Donnell defined leadership...
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...about are The Great Man Theory, Behavioral Theories, and Contingency Theories. The Great Man Theory is the oldest of all leadership theories and has more to do with presumptions made at the turn of the century then actual data. The Behavioral Theories, which are Role Theory and The Managerial Grid reflect what the leader does more than the traits of an individual. The Contingency Theories, Fiedler’s least-preferred co-worker (LPC) theory, Cognitive Resource Theory and the Strategic Contingencies Theory show how matching leadership in a situation with a leader’s personality. Relationships are important for these types of leaders. The Great Man Theory became popular during the 19th century. Many believed that great men were born not made. This theory was used to describe great leaders such as Abraham Lincoln and Alexander the Great. Inherent characteristics are what make these people effective leaders. The Great Man was used primary because leaders during this period of time were predominantly male. This theory could be very influential to both individuals and teams. Many of these individuals were born into the position; many of these leaders often “magically” appeared at the right time to lead their people into safety or success. Role Theory was formalized in the 1920’s. Many are given credit for creating this theory such as Margaret Mead, Talcott Parsons and Robert K. Merton. This theory presents a certain type of behavior and reaction to that behavior in a role-playing...
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...Leadership Style Segun Akinyemi Strayer University BUS 520: Leadership and Organizational Behaviors Professor: Laura Poluka Spring, 2014 Abstract The success of any organization depends on the leadership of the organization, it is important to stress how important the effectiveness of a leader is to the organization he is leading. This paper will examine the effectiveness of the Google CEO as a case study, the leadership style and the CEO organizational value. The ethical behavior of a leader can affect the effectiveness of other workers in the organization as the leader in any organization are often seen as an object of emulation by the employee of the company. Ethical behavior of Google CEO shall be review in this paper as well as the significant value that made the leader a successful CEO. Background of Google CEO (Larry Page) Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google in 1998, since inception, the company has recorded a growth of over 40,000 employees worldwide, Larry Page co-founded Google while pursuing his Ph.D. at Stanford University and became the first CEO until 2001growing the company to over 200 employees during the period. From 2001 to 2011, larry became the president of product for the company. He holds a bachelor degree in Engineering from University of Michigan and his masters in computer science from Stanford University. Larry was honored with Marconi’s prize in 2004, He is also a member of National Advisory Committee (NAC) of the University...
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...Usowicz Management vs. Leadership Many people tend to think that management and leadership are similar. Good managers are not always good leaders. Managers usually can perform their management responsibilities successfully but not show that they are great leaders as well. To be able to lead effectively will allow a successful to stand out from the average ones. A manager deals with the everyday tasks of the organization such as planning, organizing, and controlling but when you are a great leader you are able to make effective changes within the workplace. Leading involves setting an example, direction and also creating a visual of the goals that must be met. Management involves organizing the structure of the company, hiring good people to complete the work, and also monitoring events and activities. Leadership keeps employees motivated to overcome obstacles and focus on building the organization towards its potential future. The typical manager tends to focus on the daily activities and short-term profits. They usually do things as they come along. This is fine if your goal is just to manage, but if you are looking advance and reach long-term goals then you must focus on being a leader to your subordinates. (Bateman) To be a great leader and manager you cannot have one without the other. Managers must perform their tasks or else the organization can become ineffective and unorganized. Leadership on the other hand involves special processes that are distinguishable from basic management...
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...EXTRAORDINARY LEADER “The Zenger Folkman leadership model is distinguished from others in that it is backed up by research and data. That data validates the effectiveness of identifying an individual’s strengths and developing them, rather than focusing on weaknesses. The Zenger Folkman philosophy has its eye on the right goal – real, measurable results.” —Bill Blase Senior Executive Vice President Human Resources AT&T Corp. “I fell in love with The Extraordinary Leader on page 1. From the moment I started reading I really got jazzed, and my enthusiasm only increased the more I read. You see, I’m just mad about books that attack cherished but unsupportable assumptions about anything, especially leadership. That’s exactly what Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman do, and they do it persuasively, precisely, and professionally. The Extraordinary Leader is no hackneyed rehashing of tired nostrums. Through their exceptional research, the authors demonstrate and prove that leadership does make a difference and that you can learn to lead. There are some profound insights in this book, and whether you’ve studied leadership for over 20 years, as I have, or you are brand new to the subject, Zenger and Folkman give you much more than your money’s worth. And while their research gives the book distinctive credibility, their examples and practical applications give it life. This is a book that scholars and practitioners will be referring to for years to come. If your goal is to be a better leader than...
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...Abstract Organizational behavior is ones actions and attitude toward one another or the organization and its effect on the organization’s functioning and performance. Understanding organizational behavior can give managers an idea of what factors are necessary to create an effective and successful organization. Organizational behavior is a non-performance related set of practices which when implemented in organizations lend good credibility to the organization for its ethics.(Campbell) Ethics involves moral issues and choices and deal with right and wrong behavior.(Luthans) Businesses need people who have strong moral leadership skills and who are guided by clearly defined business ethics. Ethical standards have an important role not only in business decisions but also in a person’s everyday life. If a person is making unethical decisions others tend to not want to follow that person and the level of respect and trust are diminished, which can lead to a shift in employee organizational behavior. Even though there is not a published set of ethics to follow the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) has a code of ethical principles that include honesty, fairness, objectivity, and responsibility. The following responsibilities are standards in which all members should comply: Competence, Confidentiality, Integrity, Objectivity, and Resolution of Ethical Conflict. An effective leader should maintain a high level of confidence, integrity, and credibility by upholding his/her...
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...Abstract Leaders are the embodiment of individuals who seek to create a shared vision in which their followers are able to follow. Leadership incorporates several factors that include the capabilities of influencing, directing, and motivate others. Leadership takes more than just power and brawns, but instead focuses on the relationships that are able to be formed with their followers. Throughout this course, we have focused on the many ways many ordinary individuals could be capable of being leader. Leaders knowingly and unknowingly adopt leadership styles in which they use to carry out the responsibilities of doing the greater good for others. The purpose of this research is to view the leadership behaviors of a person that I admire, and caused for personal reflection. As well as look at the theoretical framework of leadership styles and behaviors that have help to craft the inherent leadership characteristics that I possess. Leadership Introduction The characteristics of leadership encompasses their abilities to direct, guide, and influence others. While there is not set definition, leadership define requires much thought. Leadership is viewed from the casting of a collective vision that others want to follow. Leaders are not born, even though many believe this old trope, but instead there are imperfect, which makes them all the more authentic. The capabilities of leadership can be found through anyone that has a desire to lead,...
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...suggest characteristics, behaviors and relationships that inspire and create effective leaders and followers within organizations. The Trait Leadership Model, Behavior Leadership Model, Situational Leadership Model, and Charismatic Leadership Model provide assumptions built on theories from approaches that incorporate characteristics, leader behaviors, outcomes affected by situations and how leader relationships inspire change in an organization. Differences and similarities exist among these approaches and may address some of the contemporary leadership and challenges in organizations. Trait Leadership Model The Trait Model examined specific traits researchers believed were associated with leadership and focused on the innate characteristics that make good leaders. This body of research included theories that “leaders were born and not made” (Clawson, 2006, p. 379) in the “Great Man” Theory of Leadership. Kouzes (2003) believes that to view a few men and woman as innate greatness is wrong and that heroes do exists in organizations. Other Theorists like Stogdill’s Leadership Traits, Maccobys Leader, and John Gardner’s Leaders noted characteristics believed to make great leaders. Stogdill believed leaders were strong, task-oriented, confident, handled stress, and accepted responsibility for actions were qualities of a good leader (Clawson, 2006; Clemers, 1984/1995). Theorists Maccoby identified the positive and negative tendencies of leaders and suggested that characteristics...
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...Effective Leader? 4 Communication 4 Motivation 5 Vision 5 Decisiveness 5 Leadership Behavior 6 Scenario 1: One-on-One 6 Born or Made 8 The Team Consensus 9 Appendix A: Leadership Traits 11 Appendix B: References 12 ODT Map As shown above, the Outcome-Directed Thinking (ODT) is a way for an organization and or an individual to be able to work together towards a common objective. ODT was created for leaders to get things done by effectively utilizing its resources and motivating its employees to reach its objectives. To do this, we have created an ODT map to create an action plan and accomplish our team objectives. This plan is designed as a motivational plan of action to accomplish our positive outcome statement “Create the most complete and convincing paper about leadership qualities”. What Makes an Effective Leader? If you ask an individual what makes an effective leader, more often than not you will probably not receive exactly the same answer. Everybody interprets this question differently; it could be due to past experiences or knowledge you have acquired during your career of what a leader should be. One of the most debatable questions regarding leadership is, is a leader born or made? We will reveal this later in the discussion, but what we can say is there are so many traits mentioned when defining a leader. We have decided that these below make a significant impact on leadership and what it takes to be defined as an effective leader. Communication ...
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