AIRC 1150: Leadership Theories

• AIRC 1150 covers topics like What is Leadership, Interpersonal Skills, Teamwork, and Other skills.
• Module 2 looks into the introduction to leadership theories.

Leadership Theories

• Focus on Trait, Behavioural, Situational (Contingency), and Transformational Theories.

Trait Theories

• Effective leaders possess innate personality traits, suggesting leaders are born, not made.
• Research focuses on identifying the specific traits that effective leaders have.

John Gardner's List

• Physical vitality/stamina, intelligence, action-oriented judgment are attributes of successful leaders.
• Includes eagerness to accept responsibility, task competence, understanding of followers' needs, and skill in dealing with people.
• Need for achievement, capacity to motivate, courage, resolution, trustworthiness, decisiveness, self-confidence, assertiveness, and adaptability/flexibility are also key.
• Source: Gardner (1989)

Zenger & Folkman's List

• This list identifies skills with the greatest impact on a leader's success according to 360-degree feedback from 332,860 bosses, peers, and subordinates.
• Inspiring and motivating others, displaying high integrity and honesty, and solving problems are key attributes.
• Driving for results, communicating powerfully and prolifically, promoting teamwork, and building relationships are also noted.
• Source: Zenger & Folkman (2014)

Zenger & Folkman's “Fatal Flaws” List

• Lack of energy/enthusiasm, accepting mediocre performance, and lacking clear vision were listed as fatal flaws
• Having poor judgment, not collaborating, not walking the talk, resisting new ideas, not learning from mistakes.
• Lacking interpersonal skills, and failing to develop others are further flaws.
• Source: Zenger & Folkman (2009)

Behavioural Theories

• Effective leaders engage in specific behaviors that improve team performance.
• Leadership can be learned.
• Research identifies and teaches leaders' actions.

Situational Theories

• There is significant overlap with contingency theories in situational theories.
• Successful leaders adjust their leadership style based on the situation and their followers.
• There is no one leadership style that works best in every situation

Transformational Theories

• Focus on leaders as visionaries.
• Focus on encouraging, inspiring, and motivating followers, and inspiring change
• These theories posit that transformational leadership leads to high-performing teams.

Assigned Presentations

• Assigned presentations require research and presentations on leadership theory.
• Presentations must include the history of the theory, main elements, and classic leadership category.
• Include the advantages, disadvantages, and implications for potential leaders.
• Apply the theory to an aviation industry scenario, person, or role.
• Presentations must be 10-15 minutes.
• Include a summary slide, have everyone participate, and include references to 3+ sources.
• Presentations will be held on Tuesday March 11th, Wednesday March 12th and Thursday March 13th.

Homework

• Read "Classical Models of Managerial Leadership" (Encyclopedia of Pedagogy/Informal Education).
• Read "10 Fatal Flaws that Derail Leaders" (Harvard Business Review).