BUS401: Management Leadership

1a. Develop a working definition and a distinction between management and leadership

1. Leadership is "a process of social influence in which one person enlists the aid and support of others in accomplishing a common task". Management is "the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives".

For a more in-depth look at management and leadership concepts, read Defining Leadership, and pay particular attention to the "Management versus Leadership" section.

2. Many people have very rigid concepts of managers and leaders: The former is results-oriented and concerned with internal tasks like scheduling, budgeting, controlling, etc. The latter is heroic and inspiring and focused on creating change in the world. Since the 1960s, social scientists have become more interested in studying leadership and the traits and behaviors common among effective leaders.

• Why is it important to differentiate between management and leadership?
• How is this image of a manager and a leader accurate? How is it inaccurate?

If you feel less confident in your ability to separate leadership and management, read What is Management? and focus on the "Management versus Leadership" section.

 

1b. Apply Kurt Lewin's leadership typology to the identification of leadership styles of contemporary leaders

Think about the five common styles of leadership. 

• For each of the five leadership styles, who are two leaders – from politics, business, athletics, the arts, etc. – who exhibit the characteristics of that leadership type?
• What is the leadership style of each of the leaders you have identified? How can you tell?
• Which leadership styles do Vince Lombardi, Steve Jobs, Nelson Mandela, and Teddy Roosevelt exhibit?

The five leadership styles originally posited by Kurt Lewin are examined in the Styles of Leadership. You may also want to brush up on Lombardi, Jobs, Mandela, or Roosevelt's leadership styles.

 

1c. Differentiate the leadership styles of leaders from their personal traits

Some traits, when found in individuals, are highly predictive of strong leadership capacity. Zaccaro argued that effective leaders possess cognitive abilities, social capabilities, and dispositional tendencies. When most people think of traits, they think of a leader's character, but be sure not to overlook cognitive abilities and skills!

• What are the five personality traits related to leadership from Stephen Zaccaro's model?
• What is the Trait Theory of Leadership?
• How are traits different from leadership styles?
• How do traits and tendencies make individuals predisposed to following a certain leadership style or leading with a certain leadership style?

Zaccaro's model is discussed in Defining Leadership.

 

1d. Assess the role of environment – athletics, business, and politics – in shaping the leadership provided by these individuals

Part of leadership is innate to our person, but part of it comes from our environment.

• How do people become leaders?
• What is the Contingency Theory of Leadership?
• What is the Behavioral Theory of Leadership?
• What does it take to become a leader in sports, the military, business, politics, or the arts? Does each field require a different type of leader?
• How are traits different from leadership styles?
• How do traits and tendencies make individuals predisposed to following a certain leadership style or leading with a certain leadership style?

To review, see Defining Leadership.