Theories of Leadership

Orientation Leader Training 2017

Content

- Theories and Approaches to Leadership

- Your Leadership Philosophy
- Video
Trait Approach
● “Leaders are born, not made!”
○ Researchers tried to identify common traits of the best leaders
● Outdated, based on research from 1940s-50s
● Male-dominated subject population
● “Masculinity, dominance, extraversion” were used
○ But, important to consider one’s own traits and what they
contribute to in their style
○ Ex. I’m extroverted and talkative, so sometimes need to check
myself to allow others to be heard
Skills Model (Mumford et al.)
Three major categories
1. Problem solving: identifying problem, getting information, creative
solution options
2. Social judgment: understanding others attitudes and functions
(empathy), change behaviors based on the moment, effectively
communicate
3. Knowledge: accumulating and organizing information mentally
 Situational Leadership

● Supporting vs. Directing

○ High Support High Direction - Selling
○ High Support Low Direction - Participating
○ Low Support High Direction - Telling
○ Low Support Low Direction - Delegating

Credit: Center for Leadership Studies

http://situational.com/the-cls-difference/situational-leadership-what-we-do/
Servant Leadership

● Leaders are not above their followers; they are

there to provide help to their followers
● Put the followers first
● Leaders are not gaining through their action
○ Instead, provide positive impact to
community
 “Leadership = Conviction in Action”
● Leadership theorist Dennis C. Roberts (2007) defines leadership as
requiring conviction
○ Conviction is a deeply held belief that guides you
○ Action that aligns with that conviction is leadership

● Requires that a leader believes in the connectedness of the world

○ A negative impact on one person will be felt by many others
Activity
Write your leadership philosophy.

2-3 traits you recognize in yourself (whether they are

“good” for leadership or not)

How you motivate others

What you value as an important goal: your

“conviction”
Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h
VCBrkrFrBE
References

http://situational.com/the-cls-difference/situational-leadership-what-we-do/

Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice. Los Angeles: SAGE.

Roberts, D. C. (2007). Deeper learning in leadership: helping college students find the potential within. San Francisco, CA:
Jossey-Bass.