Leadership Effectiveness

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Questions and Answers

Which trait is negatively related to leader performance?

Openness

Agreeableness

Neuroticism (correct)

Extraversion

What is highly correlated with leadership effectiveness?

Management, decision-making, and oral-communication skills (correct)

LPC Scores

Cognitive Ability

Task Structuredness

Who theorized that the key to effective leadership is the synthesis of wisdom, intelligence, and creativity?

Sternberg (correct)

Hersey-Blanchard

Blake-Mouton

Fiedler

What is the fourth method by which a leader can become effective?

Changing the climate itself Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a personal characteristic that has received some support in leadership research?

Need for power, need for achievement, and need for affiliation Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept that focuses on what leaders do as opposed to what they are?

Self-monitoring Signup and view all the answers

According to House's path-goal theory, what type of leader shows concern for employees?

Supportive-style leader Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor influencing leader effectiveness?

Subordinate ability and attitudes Signup and view all the answers

What is most important when the leader is not distracted by stressful situations and uses a more directive leadership style?

Cognitive Ability Signup and view all the answers

What should a leader do when dealing with high-ability subordinates?

Be less directive Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of a participative-style leader?

To share information and let employees participate in decision making Signup and view all the answers

What is the condition for leaders to be successful?

If they work with subordinates to meet certain goals Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the Vroom–Yetton Model?

Improving decision-making skills in leaders Signup and view all the answers

According to Cooper, Kaufman, and Hughes, which skill is essential for first-line supervisors?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What does the theory of leadership suggest about the development of leaders?

Leadership skills can be learned through experience Signup and view all the answers

What is Management by Walking Around (MBWA) primarily concerned with?

Leader involvement in daily operations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a skill identified by Cooper, Kaufman, and Hughes as essential for first-line supervisors?

Time management Signup and view all the answers

What is a key assumption underlying the concept of leadership development?

Leadership skills can be learned Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Effective Leadership

A leader can become effective by changing followers' perception of the climate to match their behavioral style.
Another way is to change the climate itself rather than just changing followers' perceptions.

Subordinate Ability and Leadership

The abilities and attitudes of followers influence leader effectiveness.
Leaders who adapt their behavior to match the needs of their subordinates will be more effective.
According to House's path-goal theory, a leader can adopt one of four behavioral leadership styles:
- Instrumental-style: planning, organizing, and controlling activities.
- Supportive-style: showing concern for employees.
- Participative-style: sharing information and involving employees in decision making.
- Achievement-oriented style: setting challenging goals and rewarding performance.

Leadership Performance

Research on leadership performance focuses on personal characteristics, including traits, cognitive ability, and needs.
Traits such as extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness are positively related to leader performance.
Neuroticism is negatively related to leader performance.
Management, decision-making, and oral-communication skills are highly correlated with leadership effectiveness.
High self-monitors tend to be better leaders than low self-monitors.

Cognitive Ability and Leadership

Cognitive ability is most important when the leader is not distracted by stressful situations and uses a more directive leadership style.
Sternberg's theory suggests that effective leadership requires the synthesis of wisdom, intelligence, and creativity.

Needs and Leadership

A leader's need for power, need for achievement, and need for affiliation are important personal characteristics.

Essential Skills for Effective Leadership

Cooper, Kaufman, and Hughes (1996) identified the following skills as essential for first-line supervisors:
- Organizing
- Analysis and decision making
- Planning
- Communication (oral and written)
- Delegation
- Work habits (high-quality work)
- Carefulness
- Interpersonal skill
- Job knowledge
- Organizational knowledge
- Toughness
- Integrity
- Development of others
- Listening

Learning Leadership

If leadership and management are learned through experience, then most people can be trained to become effective leaders.
Identifying specific behaviors and skills important for effective leadership can help in training leaders.

Leadership Through Decision Making

Decision making is a specific behavior or skill important for a leader to possess.
The Vroom-Yetten Model provides a flowchart for leaders to make decisions in a particular situation.

Leadership Through Contract: Management by Walking Around

Management by walking around (MBWA) is another popular specific behavioral theory.

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Description

Explore the various methods by which a leader can become effective, including changing followers' perceptions and the climate itself. Learn how subordinate abilities and attitudes influence leader effectiveness.