Different leadership theories exemplified in business leaders.

Identify and discuss different leadership theories exemplified in business leaders. Students will also describe power bases leaders use to resolve challenges and explain behaviors that leaders should demonstrate or avoid in order to be successful. Specifically, identify one business leader you either know personally or are able to gain access to for the purpose of conducting an interview who meets the following criteria:

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1. Leadership Theories:

Here are some key leadership theories exemplified by various business leaders:

  • Transformational Leadership:
    • Focus: Inspiring and motivating followers to achieve extraordinary outcomes.
    • Characteristics: Visionary, charismatic, intellectually stimulating, and individually considerate.
    • Examples:
      • Steve Jobs (Apple): His vision and passion transformed the tech industry.
      • Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX): He inspires with ambitious goals and innovative thinking.
  • Transactional Leadership:
    • Focus: Emphasizing clear goals, rewards, and punishments to motivate followers.
    • Characteristics: Focused on structure, efficiency, and compliance.
    • Examples:
      • Many successful project managers or operational leaders who prioritize meeting deadlines and achieving specific targets

 

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  • Servant Leadership:
    • Focus: Prioritizing the needs of followers and empowering them to grow and develop.
    • Characteristics: Humble, empathetic, and focused on serving others.
    • Examples:
      • Howard Schultz (Starbucks): Emphasized employee well-being and community involvement.
  • Situational Leadership:
    • Focus: Adapting leadership style based on the readiness and competence of followers.
    • Characteristics: Flexible, adaptable, and able to assess and respond to different situations.
    • Examples:
      • Leaders who effectively manage diverse teams with varying levels of experience.
  • Authentic Leadership:
    • Focus: Leaders who are genuine, transparent, and build trust through their actions.
    • Characteristics: Self-aware, relational transparency, balanced processing, internalized moral perspective.
    • Examples:
      • Oprah Winfrey, known for her genuine connections with her audience.

2. Power Bases:

Leaders use various power bases to influence others:

  • Legitimate Power: Derived from a formal position or authority.
  • Reward Power: The ability to provide rewards or incentives.
  • Coercive Power: The ability to punish or threaten.
  • Expert Power: Derived from specialized knowledge or skills.
  • Referent Power: Derived from personal charisma and the ability to build strong relationships.

3. Effective and Ineffective Leadership Behaviors:

  • Effective Behaviors:
    • Active listening and clear communication.
    • Empowering and delegating.
    • Providing constructive feedback and recognition.
    • Building trust and fostering a positive culture.
    • Demonstrating integrity and ethical behavior.
    • Adaptability.
    • Emotional intelligence.
  • Ineffective Behaviors:
    • Micromanaging and lack of trust.
    • Poor communication and lack of transparency.
    • Ignoring or dismissing feedback.
    • Creating a toxic or negative environment.
    • Lack of accountability.
    • Inconsistency.

4. Conducting the Interview:

  • Identify a Business Leader:
    • Seek someone who has demonstrated leadership qualities in their field.
    • Consider local business owners, managers, or community leaders.
    • Ensure they are willing to participate in an interview.
  • Prepare Interview Questions:
    • Focus on their leadership experiences, challenges, and strategies.
    • Ask questions related to leadership theories and power bases.
    • Examples:
      • “How would you describe your leadership style?”
      • “What challenges have you faced as a leader, and how did you overcome them?”
      • “What power bases do you rely on to influence your team?”
      • “What behaviors do you believe are essential for effective leadership?”
      • “How do you motivate your team?”
  • Conduct the Interview:
    • Create a comfortable and respectful environment.
    • Listen actively and take detailed notes.
    • Ask follow-up questions to gain deeper insights.
  • Analyze and Reflect:
    • Connect the interview findings to leadership theories and concepts.
    • Identify the leader’s strengths and areas for development.
    • Reflect on how their experiences can inform your own understanding of leadership.
  • Document and Report:
    • Clearly document the interview, and the answers given.
    • Build your paper around the answers, and how they relate to the leadership theories, and power bases.

Example Interview Questions to Tie into Theories:

  • “Can you give me an example of a time you inspired your team to achieve a goal that seemed impossible?” (Transformational Leadership)
  • “How do you ensure your team members understand their roles and responsibilities?” (Transactional Leadership)
  • “What steps do you take to support the growth and development of your team members?” (Servant Leadership)
  • “How do you adapt your leadership style to different situations and team members?” (Situational Leadership)
  • “How do you build trust with your team?” (Authentic Leadership)

By following these steps, you can effectively complete your assignment and gain valuable insights into the world of leadership.

 

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