Organizational Leadership: Nature of Leadership 7.1

Leadership Definitions

• Leadership, according to Lunenburg and Ornstein, is the process of guiding and directing the behavior of people in the pursuit of certain goals and objectives.

Sources of Leader Influence

• Legitimate power is a source of leader influence that is vested in the leader's position or role in the organizational hierarchy.

Leadership Styles

• Autocratic leadership style allows no participation in decisions, and the leader makes decisions without input from others.
• Referent power is based on the leader's personal characteristics and traits, such as charisma, expertise, and reputation.

Laissez-Faire Leadership

• Laissez-faire leadership entails a lack of involvement in decision-making and avoids giving directions, allowing employees to make their own decisions.

Leadership Traits

• Consideration refers to the leader's concern for the well-being, comfort, and needs of employees.

Leadership Focus

• A production-centered leader emphasizes the achievement of organizational goals and objectives, prioritizing productivity and efficiency.
• A leader engaging in 'telling' behavior provides clear instructions and directions to employees, specifying what needs to be done and how.

Managerial Grid

• The focus of authority-obedience leadership style, according to the Managerial Grid, is on getting the job done and achieving results, with an emphasis on obedience and compliance.
• A 1,9 rating on the Managerial Grid is associated with a Country Club leadership style, which prioritizes employee satisfaction and social relationships over task accomplishment.

Test your understanding of the nature of leadership in organizational settings with this quiz. Explore concepts such as influencing group activities, guiding actions, building cohesive teams, and effective influence.