Theories of Leadership

Gregory S. Waddell, DSL

Mid-South Christian College

Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Leadership . . .

A subject that provokes many questions.

Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Important Questions
Why do some leaders inspire?
How do some leaders create empires?
How can some losers come to occupy places of
great power?
Why do some followers suddenly reject their
leaders?
Why are some followers willing to give their lives
for the leader?

Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Definitions of Leadership

Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Definitions

Directing the activities of a group toward a

shared goal"

J. K. Hemphill, "Relations Between the Size of the Group & the Behavior of
'Superior' Leaders," Journal of Social Psychology 32 (1957): 7.
Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Definitions

The process of influencing the activities of an

organized group toward goal achievement"

C. F. Rauch and O. Behling, "Functionalism: Basis for an alternate approach to the

study of leadership," in Leaders & Managers: International Perspectives on
Managerial Behavior & Leadership, eds. J. G. Hunt, D. M. Hosking, C. A.
Schriesheim and R. Stewart (Elmsford, NY: Pergamon, 1984), p. 46.
Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Definitions

The ability to step outside the culture . . . to

start evolutionary change processes that are
more adaptive"

Edgar H. Schein, Organizational Culture & Leadership. 2nd ed. (San Francisco:
Jossey-Bass, 1992), p. 4.
Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Definitions

The process of making sense of what people

are doing together so that people will
understand and be committed"

W. H. Drath and C. J. Palus, Making Common Sense: Leadership As MeaningMaking in a Community of Practice. (Greensboro, NC: Center for Creative
Leadership, 1994), p. 4.
Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Definitions

Articulating visions, embodying values, and

creating the environment within which things
can be accomplished"

D. Richards and S. Engle, "After the vision: Suggestions to corporate visionaries

& vision champions," in Transforming Leadership, ed. J. D. Adams (Alexandria,
VA: Miles River, 1986), p. 206.
Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Definitions

To influence, motivate, and enable others to

contribute toward the effectiveness and success
of the organization"

Robert J. House et al., , "Cultural influences on leadership & organizations," in

Advances in Global Leadership, eds. M. J. Gessner and V. Arnold (Stamford,
CT: JAI, 1999), p. 184.
Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Definitions

An influence process of working with and

through people to accomplish organizational
goals or outcomes.

Simmons, T. (2004). A leadership audit: The impact of values on leadership,

culture, and performance [PowerPoint Presentation]. Virginia Beach, VA:
Regent University.
Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Definitions
The ability to discover and articulate what the
followers really want to do and then help them
design and implement strategies to achieve that
goal.

Stephen D. Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam and Michael J. Platow, "The New

Psychology of Leadership," Scientific American Mind, August/September, 2007,
p. 24.
Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Definitions

To receive power from God and to use it under

God's rule to serve people in God's way.

Leighton Ford, Transforming Leadership: Jesus' Way of Creating Vision,

Shaping Values, & Empowering Change. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press, 1991), p. 76.
Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Who exercises leadership?

A specialized role?

or shared influence?
Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Who exercises leadership?

Only democratic
and ethical
leaders?

Or also ruthless
dictators?
Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Who exercises leadership?

Only the good?

Or also the evil?

Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Who exercises leadership?

Only those with
high IQ?

Or is EQ the more
important
variable?

Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Leadership Vs. Management

Management is about coping with complexity.
. . . Without good management, complex
enterprises tend to become chaotic in ways that
threaten their very existence. Good
management brings a degree of order and
consistency to key dimensions like the quality
and profitability of products.
John P. Kotter, "What leaders really do," in Leadership: Understanding the Dynamics
of Power & Influence in Organizations, ed. Robert P. Vecchio University of Notre
Dame, 1997), p. 25.
Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Leadership Vs. Management

Leadership, by contrast, is about coping with
change. . . . More change always demands
more leadership.

John P. Kotter, "What leaders really do," in Leadership: Understanding the Dynamics
of Power & Influence in Organizations, ed. Robert P. Vecchio University of Notre
Dame, 1997), p. 25.

Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Key Leadership Theories

Traits
Behaviors
Influence and Power
Situational Leadership
Social Influence
An Integrative Perspective

Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

Other Ways to Categorize the

Leadership Theories

Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

The Focus
The Leader
The Follower
The Socio-Cultural Context
The Organizational Structure

Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell

The Methodology
Descriptive
Prescriptive

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Universal or Contingent?
Principles that work in any situation OR
Behavior that adapts to the context.

Copyright 2008 Gregory S. Waddell