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The Focused Leader

In: Business and Management

Submitted By woodrebb1
Words 690
Pages 3
Rebecca Wood
The Focused Leader
2/20/14

Daniel Goleman’s research on the Focused Leader is directly related to the framework we are using for our Principles of Leadership course. We look at how the leader, follower, and situation play roles in outcomes as well as the power bases of leadership and leader development and competencies. All of which help us become a successful leader and how to improve as a leader.
There are three components in the leadership process; the leader, the followers, and the situation (Hughes , Ginnett & Curphy, 2012). Leaders and followers are very similar; they both are honest and competent, but leaders are forward looking and inspiring while followers are independent and cooperative (Hughes , Ginnett & Curphy, 2012). Leaders are very good at picking out followers in a group whose opinions hold the most sway, and persuading those individuals who will persuade others (Goleman, 2013). In certain situations leaders may have to respond to various followers differently or they may have to respond to one follower in different ways. In certain situations followers may also respond to their leaders differently as well as responding to each other differently (Hughes , Ginnett & Curphy, 2012). When individuals are more alert in social situations they exhibit stronger activity and more connections (Goleman, 2013). Tania Singer says, “You need to understand your own feelings to understand the feelings of others.” (Goleman, 2013). If as a leader you can relate to your followers in certain situations and know how to act accordingly.
There are five power bases of leadership: referent power, legitimate power, reward power, coercive power, and leadership development and competencies (Hughes , Ginnett & Curphy, 2012). Referent power is when the leader is admired by the follower (Hughes , Ginnett & Curphy, 2012). Goleman talks

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...Leadership Series Helping you navigate the leadership landscape Are Leaders Born or Made? Perspectives from the Executive Suite By: William Gentry, Ph.D., Jennifer J. Deal, Ph.D., Sarah Stawiski, Ph.D., and Marian Ruderman, Ph.D. Issued March 2012 Introduction Do you think a leader should be a hero or a negotiator? Out in front leading people or coordinating the work of the group? Destined to be a leader or developed to be a leader? The way we think about leadership affects how we perceive the leaders around us. For instance, if we expect a leader to be a hero, we are likely to see someone who takes charge to save the day as a good leader and someone who asks everyone’s opinions and lets the group make decisions as weak. Alternatively, if we think a leader should be collaborative and focused on making sure decisions arise from the group, we would view someone who is directive as aggressive or a tyrant. our beliefs about how people become leaders affect how we evaluate people’s leadership potential. Believing people are born leaders is likely to result in a focus more on selecIn the same way, tion (identify the right people) rather than on development (develop the people you get). On the other hand, believing that people are made into leaders by their experiences would be more likely to result in a greater focus on making sure people had the right opportunities to develop into leaders. Consider United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s description...

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Transactional and Transformational Leadership

...Certainly, an army would not be able to battle in the war without a commander who in charges of the whole strategy. Correspondingly, any organizations cannot function without leaders. Leader is the most substantial element of successful organizations. Becoming outstanding leaders, leadership skill is vital in order to drive the organizations forward. Several leadership principles are extensively used these days. Burns (1978) identified two types of leadership comprise of transactional and transformational leadership. Hence, leaders should be capable to indicate which theory should be applied in accordance with organization’s culture and objectives. This essay aims to evaluate the resemblances and the differences between transactional and transformational leadership as well as the feasibility to utilize a mixture of them by giving the definitions and examples followed by the supporting researches and studies. Initially, transactional and transformational leadership are different in terms of implementation and its outcomes. However, transformational leadership was developed from transactional leadership (Downton, 1973). Bass (1985) defined transactional leadership as an exchange activity that leaders execute to motivate subordinates in order to achieve their tasks by giving out reward or punishment correspond with their performance. Additionally, active and passive management by exception are taken into account when it comes to misconception and faults. Bass (1985) stated that...

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The Importance of Leadership

...Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The Importance of Leadership by Dorothy J. Mulcahy Why is the topic of leadership important? History is rich with stories of leaders who have shaped the course of nations, the economy, and society. It is well recognized that effectively run organizations are more productive and successful while poorly run organizations suffer at the hands of ineffective leaders. Compounding the need for effective leadership is the unethical and illegal behavior of numerous business and public sector leaders that has led to the failure of many organizations. The scandals at Enron, WorldCom, HealthSouth, OfficeMax, Tyco, Marsh & McLennan, Putnam, and Boeing, to name just a few, have focused on the importance of strong, effective, and ethical leadership. Dissatisfaction on the part of stockholders and boards of directors has increasingly led to the termination of high-profile CEOs. The recent termination of HewlettPackard’s CEO Carleton (Carly) Fiorina has focused considerable attention on the qualities a leader needs to have in order to achieve the organization’s goals. Employees have suffered at the hands of ineffective leaders. Job satisfaction has declined over the last decade, with the biggest decline in on-the-job happiness among workers earning $25,000 to $35,000 and among workers between the ages of 35 to 44. The biggest reason for people leaving their organizations is...

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Leadership Styles & the Role of a Team Leader

...style is how the task is approached while motivating and instructing a team. Without an effective leader the completion of the goal is reduced. Leadership Styles The authoritarian leader tells people how they want things done without discussing it with others. This style is commonly seen used in services such as the Army, where a strict role of discipline is expected from soldiers under higher commands. In war, there is no time to think so a set task can help prevent deaths and mistakes. It also helps newer recruits know what to do when they need to. Authoritarian leadership is useful when working with time restraints and deadlines. These leaders often keep their team motivated which allows jobs to be finished quickly and effectively and allows the best equipped to be making decisions. However, it may lead staff to feel unappreciated and angry. This style can also prevent staff from developing their own initiative. Communications can break down and in the long run the employees can lose their drive for the job. The democratic leader encourages people to be part of the decision making process. The leader is still in control, however, this leadership style allows others to use their personal experiences and expertise to help the team. An example of this style could be at a community meeting with the public; they bring forth their suggestions but in the end it is the leader that has the final say. Democratic leadership is very useful for problem solving and can produce...

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