Q Topics of Leadership Pequannock Township High School

Leadership is Everyone’s Business Chapter 1 1 “Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime and, departing, leave behind us footprints on the sands of time.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

What is Leadership? Different researchers have defined “Leadership” in different ways: The process by which an agent induces a subordinate to behave in a desired manner. Directing and coordinating the work of group members. An interpersonal relation in which others comply because they want to, not because they have to. Transforming followers, creating visions of the goals that may be attained, and articulating for the followers the ways to attain those. The process of influencing an organized group toward accomplishing its goals. McGraw-Hill/Irwin© 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-3

How we will define Leadership Leadership is the process of understanding situations and influencing others toward achieving group goals. We will view it as is an interaction involving a leader, followers, and a situation

Leadership is Both a Science and an Art Some managers may be effective leaders without ever having taken a course or training program in leadership. Some “scholars” in the field of leadership may be relatively poor leaders themselves. McGraw-Hill/Irwin© 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-5 “Any fool can keep a rule. God gave him a brain to know when to break the rule.” ~ General Willard W. Scott

Leadership is Both Rational and Emotional Leadership includes actions based on reason and logic as well as those based on inspiration and passion. Good leadership is more than just calculation and planning, or following a “checklist.” Good leadership involves others’ feelings; emotions play an important role in leadership too. McGraw-Hill/Irwin© 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-6

Leadership and Management Managers administer; leaders innovate. Managers maintain; leaders develop. Managers control; leaders inspire. Managers have short-term view; leaders, a long-term view. Manager ask how and when; leaders ask what and why. Managers imitate; leaders originate. Managers accept the status quo; leaders challenge it. What are we trying to say here? What is the difference? McGraw-Hill/Irwin© 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-7

Leadership and Followership McGraw-Hill/Irwin© 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-8 Leadership and Management are two separate disciplines that occasionally share some common traits.

Leadership and Followership (continued) McGraw-Hill/Irwin© 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-9 Leadership and Followership are actually closely related. In fact, it is believed that you really can’t have one without the other. They merge.

Leadership on Stages Large and Small Not all leaders are famous or powerful. Most leaders are not known outside their own particular sphere or activity, nor should they be. I think this was evident as part of our poster activity Every one of us has the opportunity to be a leader. McGraw-Hill/Irwin© 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-10

Myth: Good Leadership is All Common Sense If leadership were nothing more than common sense, then there should be few, if any, problems in leadership situations. Then again, maybe many really lack common sense Effective leadership must be something more than just common sense. McGraw-Hill/Irwin© 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-11

Myth: Leaders are Born, not Made Innate factors as well as experience influence many sorts of behavior, including leadership. Research indicates that many abilities and personality traits are only partially innate. Our basic nature may be fixed, but different environments can nurture or suppress different leadership qualities. LEADERS ARE BORN AND MADE. McGraw-Hill/Irwin© 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-12

Myth: The Only School You Learn Leadership From is the School of Hard Knocks Formal study (research) and learning from experience compliment each other. Being able to analyze your experiences from multiple perspectives may be the greatest single contribution a formal course in leadership can give you. Spiral of Experience (to be discussed later) McGraw-Hill/Irwin© 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-13

Summary We define leadership as the process of understanding situations and influencing others toward achieving group goals. Both education and experience are important for effective leaders. Leaders must weigh both rational and emotional considerations when attempting to influence others. Leadership does not occur without followers. Leadership is everyone’s business and everyone’s responsibility. McGraw-Hill/Irwin© 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-14