First Level Leadership
Increasing Critical Mass of Your Leadership Skills
1) Trait Theories
Do you think Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin possessed some sort of mystical charm that captivated their followers?
If yes, then what were these mystical charms they exuded?
• Their intelligence was above average.
• They had the ability and initiative to see and deal with complex problems.
• They were self confident.
• They were competent in their jobs.
• They had the ability to see problems in the wider context.
The above-mentioned characteristics fall under the category of Trait Theories. This theory is based on the assumption that the person is more important than the situation.
Let us look at another theory now.
2) Styles Theories
When your manager tells you what to do with a hint of an implied threat, what style is he using? The answer is simple – dictatorial or autocratic style.
When a manager shares his decision-making process and makes decisions based on common agreement, then he is using a democratic style.
When a manager discusses the problems with you before taking a decision but retains the right to make the final decision, he is adopting a Consultative Style.
Your manager gives you little or no direction, but allows you to make your own decisions. He is employing Laissez Faire Style.
What is this concept of Style Management?
These style falls under the category of Style Theories. They are based on the assumption that employees will work harder for managers who adopt certain styles of leadership.
3) Contingency Theories
There is another approach, which rests on the assumption that there is no single style of management applicable to every leadership situation. This approach is based on the concept of contingency theories. Fiedler developed this theory.
He identified two styles of leadership:
Psychologically distant; and psychologically close.
How do managers who follow the theory of psychologically distant preserve their distance?
1. These managers prefer formal means of communication as opposed to simply talking to the staff.
2. They maintain distance in their relationships with their colleagues.
3. They also ensure that they don’t cross the border between their superiors and subordinates.
How do managers who follow the theory of psychologically close preserve their distance?
• These managers maintain informal contacts.
• They prefer ensuring good human relationships than having high levels of efficiency.
• They maintain informal roles and relationships as far as possible with superiors and subordinates.
In short,
there have been many leadership theories from numerous contributions, but for the sake of simplicity, we have classified leadership theories into three main headings:
1. Trait Theories - mystical charms
2. Style theories – dictatorial or autocratic style, democratic style, Consultative Style, Laissez Faire Style
3. Contingency Theories - Psychologically distant; and psychologically close.
Something for you to think about…
The question that arises is how you can discover the best leadership style in a given situation. Well, there is no best answer but a leadership style is largely dictated by a leader’s decisions.
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