Content
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Behavioral Models of Leadership
From trait-based observations, research in leadership switched to what leaders DO rather than what they look like. This week, we’ll be examining leadership behaviors and how they are manifested within an organizational setting and within you. There is a self-assessment that you will complete this week. Keep in mind how your own self-awareness may or may not affect your perception and perspective of effective leadership.
Objectives this Week
By the end of this week you will be able to:
- Contrast the behavioral approach to leadership with the trait approach.
- Locate your own practice on the Blake and Mouton Managerial Grid using concern for people and concern for results.
- Analyze how specific leadership behaviors are expressed in an organizational setting.
- Critique your own leadership behavior using evidence from your self-assessment.
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Content in Context
Trait-based observations do not explain good leadership. Good leadership stems from effective leadership behaviors. An effective leader's ability to inspire followers comes most from the way the leader interacts with followers, as well as how the leader promotes his or her ideas. Good leaders understand how their behaviors either contribute to, or detract from their ability to promote their ideas and influence followers to work on behalf of leaders' goals. In the end, effective leaders establish trusting relationships with subordinates, understand power, what it is, where it comes from, and how to use it to achieve organizational goals (Braynion, 2004; Harland, Harrison, Jones, & Reiter-Palmon, 2005).
Leadership personality and leadership style also have an influence on leadership ability. Personality refers to an individual's dominant modes of perceiving and understanding the world (McClelland, 1956). Leadership style refers to the specific sets of behaviors that leaders employ to influence others. A transformational style most closely associated with trust building (Sosik & Dionne, 1997).
Activity: Blake and Mouton Managerial Grid
Knowing your preferred leadership style is an important part of your self-development as a leader. Complete either the interactive version or PDF version of the Blake and Mouton Managerial Grid. The interactive version will compute the results for you, while the PDF version will require you to compute your style for yourself.
Blake and Mouton Managerial Grid (PDF Version) Blake and Mouton Managerial Grid (Interactive Version)
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What do effective leaders DO that makes them effective? Would you label the leader good or bad based on the behavior? Why?
Submission Instructions
Complete the assignment by clicking on the Discussion title above or the button below and then "Create Thread." Next, review at least three peers' work. If possible, select posts for which there are not yet any replies.
View the Discussion rubric by clicking the button below.
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Based on your self-assessment using the Blake and Mouton Managerial Grid, assess your own preferred behavioral leadership style. Are you where you want to be given your current position within your organization? Provide anecdotal evidence of behaviors in support of your perspective on behavioral leadership. In addition, provide academic research articles in support of your assessment.
Submission Instructions
Maximum 5 pages – not including title page, references or appendices.
APA format is required. Minimum of 2 academic and/or professional references.
The rubric for this assessment will be used to provide feedback and grade your work. Review the rubric by clicking the link below and use it to guide your work.
MHA Assignment RubricStart Assignment
Complete the assignment by clicking on the assignment title or the button above.
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2.1 | Effective Leaders (10 points)
2.2 | Self-Critique (100 points)