Leadership in Contemporary Organisations

Seminar 2

Becoming a leader

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 Today, we will explore:

• Your implicit leadership theories

• Compare your findings from a research study

2
ACTIVITY:
a picture paints a thousand words

1. Individual reflection
On your own, think about and make some notes on effective / good leaders
in general, from your perspective.
– What characteristics do they have?
– What do they do and what don't they do?

2. Draw your thoughts on an effective leader

Picture with no words!!

3. Discussion
Share your individual ideas and drawing with your neighbour
– Which points do you agree/disagree on?
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ACTIVITY:
a picture paints a thousand words

4) Plenary and whole group discussion:

 Share your pictures to the whole class.

– Whole group discussion on what you have found and
what this tell us about our implicit leadership
theories.
– What patterns are emerging?

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ACTIVITY:
a picture paints a thousand words
• 'The general learning outcome of our drawing exercise is that
apart from learning about their own images of leaders and
leadership, students understand that their implicit leadership
theories have an individual and social component that others
may or may not share.

• Based on the theoretical underpinnings of implicit leadership

theories outlined, a key outcome of teaching implicit leadership
theories is that students understand there can be no overall
valid truth to what effective or “good” leadership is, and that it
depends more on individual, social, and cultural constructions
than on the characteristics and behaviors of the leader as such'
(p.406).
Schyns, B., Tymon, A., Kiefer, T. and Kerschreiter, R. (2013). New ways to leadership development:
A picture paints a thousand words. Management Learning, 44 (1), 11-24. 5
ACTIVITY:
a picture paints a thousand words

5) Exploring the findings from the following paper in

relation to your pictures and discussions:

Schyns, B., Tymon, A., Kiefer, T. and Kerschreiter, R.

(2013). New ways to leadership development: A picture
paints a thousand words. Management Learning, 44
(1), 11-24.

The article provides data on 138 drawings .....

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 Follow ups
• Useful further reading if interested in the exercise itself as it was
adapted from the following article:
Schyns, B., Kiefer, T., Kerschreiter, R., and Tymon, A. (2011). Teaching Implicit
Leadership Theories to Develop Leaders and Leadership: How and Why It Can Make
a Difference. Academy of Management Learning and Education, 11 (3), 397-408.
• Consider:
– What experiences in your life to date have influenced your implicit
leadership theories and your journey of becoming?

– What can you do this year to help you on your journey of becoming a
leader?

• Also see Blackboard site for extra work and follow-up work ideas