Leadership Theories and Traits

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Questions and Answers

What leadership style is characterized by centralized authority and limited employee participation?

Laissez-faire

Democratic

Autocratic (correct)

Transformational

Which leadership style encourages employee participation and decision-making?

Laissez-faire

Democratic (correct)

Transformational

Autocratic

What dimension of leader behavior focuses on organizing work and establishing roles?

Consideration

Task orientation

Team dynamics

Initiating structure (correct)

What term describes a leader who shows concern for followers' well-being and comfort?

Employee-oriented (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the University of Michigan studies, what do production-oriented leaders primarily focus on?

Accomplishing tasks (D) Signup and view all the answers

What aspect was highlighted by the Ohio State studies as an important part of leader behavior?

Initiating structure (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which leader behavior dimension involves mutual trust and respect for group members?

Consideration (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant finding from the Iowa studies regarding the democratic leadership style?

It contributed to good quantity and quality of work. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What should a vision provide to effectively inspire individuals within an organization?

Clear and compelling imagery (C) Signup and view all the answers

What specific role do team leaders often assume within a group?

Troubleshooters (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of leaders focus on clarifying roles and motivating followers towards established goals?

Transactional leaders (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a source of leader power?

Status (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of power arises from a person's formal position in the organizational hierarchy?

Legitimate power (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a charismatic leader?

Self-confidence and influence (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about transformational leaders is true?

They aim to inspire and change followers' perspectives. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of leadership is defined by the ability to articulate a credible vision for the future?

Visionary leadership (B) Signup and view all the answers

What effect does transformational leadership typically have on employee performance?

It enhances effort and performance beyond transactional methods. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which behavior is not recommended for individuals trained in charismatic nonverbal communication?

Avoiding eye contact (C) Signup and view all the answers

Given Sam's management style, which statement is likely true?

He likely cultivates a negative working environment. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is true regarding transactional and transformational leadership?

They can coexist within an organization (B) Signup and view all the answers

The statement 'Charisma is an essential quality for all leaders to achieve high employee performance' is:

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

People working under charismatic leaders are typically motivated by:

High workload with high emotional satisfaction (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is false regarding charisma in leadership?

Charismatic leaders must possess charm to be effective (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a vision in the context of leadership?

An attractive yet achievable future scenario (D) Signup and view all the answers

What leadership style is characterized by a leader making all decisions without employee input?

autocratic (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which leadership style involves soliciting input from employees and fostering a collaborative environment?

democratic (B) Signup and view all the answers

What leadership style allows for a high degree of autonomy and decision-making freedom for subordinates?

laissez-faire (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which leadership style is defined by the leader actively participating and sharing decision-making responsibilities with team members?

participative (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these leadership styles is least likely to involve employees in the decision-making process?

autocratic (A) Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a leader at stage R1 in the leadership framework?

Incompetent and unconfident (B) Signup and view all the answers

Barbara's approach of praising good work while offering suggestions for improvement exemplifies which leadership style?

supportive (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the R2 stage, what is the primary characteristic of individuals?

They are willing but lack appropriate skills. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which leadership style is generally more focused on control and direction rather than collaboration?

autocratic (C) Signup and view all the answers

What style of leadership emphasizes providing feedback and coaching while including employees in the decision-making process?

participative (C) Signup and view all the answers

What likely outcome does LMX theory suggest for team members left out of the core group?

Higher turnover rates among those excluded (B) Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes transformational leaders according to contemporary views of leadership?

Their ability to exhibit more than just charisma (A) Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of Rachel's leadership style is highlighted by her colleagues and subordinates?

Her inspiration for the team to exceed expectations (D) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of leadership stages, what does stage R3 signify?

Ability without willingness (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best reflects a misconception about transformational leaders?

They are often less effective motivators. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of individuals in stage R4?

They are both able and willing to perform tasks. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the degree of influence a leader has over power-based activities?

Position power (C) Signup and view all the answers

Fiedler's assumption about a person's leadership style characterizes it as which of the following?

Fixed (D) Signup and view all the answers

What did Fiedler identify as the key situational factors for determining leader effectiveness?

Situational factors for determining leader effectiveness (A) Signup and view all the answers

What evidence has been found regarding the overall validity of Fiedler's model?

Considerable evidence to support the model (B) Signup and view all the answers

How would Fiedler's contingency model classify a leader who is task-oriented and emphasizes performance with a heavy-handed approach?

Task-oriented (B) Signup and view all the answers

In Fiedler's model, which dimension would NOT be considered as a factor in defining effective leadership?

Follower attitudes (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of leadership style does Fiedler’s model emphasize as influencing leader effectiveness?

Situational context (B) Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic is NOT typically associated with a leader who is described as relationship-oriented in Fiedler's model?

Focusing on task completion (C) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Leadership Traits

Early research focused on identifying consistent traits that differentiate leaders from non-leaders.
This approach proved inconsistent, as there weren't universal traits that applied to all effective leaders.

Early Leadership Theories

Leaders weren't effective due to specific traits, but also situations they found themselves in.
Leadership theories developed to address varied leadership styles in different contexts.
- Trait theory: Focuses on physical and personal characteristics of effective leaders.
- Early trait theory ignores the interaction amongst leaders and their group members, as well as situational factors.
- Behavioral theory: Assesses leadership based on the actions or behaviors of leaders rather than inherent traits.
  - Autocratic: Dictatorial approach.
  - Democratic: Participative approach.
  - Laissez-faire: Hands-off approach.
  - Participative: Involves employees in decision-making.
- Contingency theories:
  - Fiedler's contingency model (and least preferred coworker): Leadership performance depends on a proper match between leader's style and the situation.
  - Hersey–Blanchard situational leadership theory: Tailors leadership style to followers' readiness. This model focuses on leadership based on the situation (task and relationship orientation), and follower readiness (unable/unwilling, unable/willing, able/unwilling, able/willing).
  - Path-goal theory: Leadership effectiveness depends on adjusting to the circumstances.

Contemporary Views

Transformational leadership: Leaders inspire and motivate followers to achieve extra work effort and performance goals that go beyond normal expectations. They encourage innovation and change.
Transactional leadership: Involves a clear exchange relationship between leader and follower; followers exchange their efforts for rewards from the leader. This focus is on day-to-day tasks.

Managerial Power

There are different sources of managerial power.
- Legitimate: Power derived from the position in an organizational hierarchy.
- Coercive: The power to punish or control based on fear.
- Reward: The ability to provide positive reinforcement and incentives.
- Referent: Power derived from the followers' admiration and desire to emulate the leader.
- Expert: Power related to possessing knowledge, special skills, or expertise, a leader's position, seniority, or competence in an industry.

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Description

Explore the evolution of leadership theories, focusing on the traits and behaviors that define effective leaders. This quiz examines the differences between early trait theories and contemporary behavioral and contingency approaches. Test your understanding of how various styles influence leadership effectiveness in diverse situations.