UoCELT Sample: Leadership

Part 1 – Speaking Component (up to 10 minutes)

(Questions may vary)

 What’s your name?

 Where are you at the moment?
 Are you working or studying?
 What do you do / What are you studying?
 How long have you been doing it?
 Do you like your job / studies? What do you like about it?
 What attracted you to the course you are applying for?
 What do you want to do in the future / when you graduate?

Part 2 – Pre-written task discussion (up to 5 minutes)

 Do social groups need a leader? / Do we naturally look to a leader?

 What makes a good leader?
 Is leadership you can learn or are people born with this quality?

Part 3 – Writing Component (10 minutes preparation and 15 minutes to write

up = 25 minutes in total)

Write an essay in an academic style in answer to the following question in between 150 and
250 words.

What are the qualities that make a good leader?

Include the following points in your essay:

- a definition of a good or bad leader

- situations where leadership is necessary

- examples of effective leaders

Part 4 – Reading Component

Say whether the following statements are true or false according to the information given in the
passage.

1. Leaders and followers have distinctly different goals.

2. Leaders and followers mutually influence each other.
3. A leader is someone who takes sole responsibility for deciding what should change.
4. Leadership means persuading people to want positive change.
5. Leadership is fundamentally a social phenomenon.
6. Successful leaders must know what it is like to be led.
7. Leaders and followers have very similar characteristics.
8. A good follower does not need to be independent as long as she or he is well-managed.
9. A good leader is always at the same time a follower.
10.Effective leadership is essentially a cooperative process.

Question True or False?

1. F

2. T

3. F

4. T

5. T

6. T

7. T

8. F

9. F

10. T
 Definition of leadership

Leadership studies are an emerging discipline, and the concept of leadership will continue to
change. Leadership here is defined as an influence relationship among leaders and followers who
want real changes and outcomes that reflect their shared purposes 1.
Leadership involves influence, it occurs among people, those people intentionally desire significant
changes, and the changes reflect purposes shared by leaders and followers. ‘Influence’ means that 5
the relationship among people is not passive; however, also part of this definition is that influence is
multidirectional 2. It does not use orders or threats to make somebody do something. The basic
cultural values in North America make it easiest to think of leadership as something a leader does to
a follower. However, leadership has an effect in both directions. In most organizations, superiors
influence subordinates, but subordinates also influence superiors 2. The people involved in the 10
relationship want real and important changes – leadership involves creating change, not maintaining
what normally happens. In addition, the changes sought are not dictated by leaders, but reflect
purposes that leaders and followers share.3 Moreover, change is toward an outcome that leader and
follower both want; a desired future or shared purpose that motivates them toward this more
preferable outcome. An important aspect of leadership is influencing others to come together around 15
a common vision. Thus, leadership involves the influence of people to bring about change toward a
desirable future. 4
Also, leadership is a people activity and is separate and different from administrative paperwork and
planning activities. Leadership occurs among people; 5 it is not something done to people. Since
leadership involves people, there must be followers. An individual performer who achieves 20
excellence as a scientist, musician or athlete may be a leader in their field of expertise. However,
they are not leaders as defined in this book unless followers are involved. Followers are an important
part of the leadership process, and all leaders are sometimes followers as well. Good leaders know
how to follow, and they set an example for others. 6 The issue of intention, or will, means that people
– leaders and followers – are actively involved in the pursuit of change. Each person takes personal 25
responsibility to achieve the desired future.
One stereotype is that leaders are somehow different, that they are above others. However, in
reality, the qualities needed for effective leadership are the same as those needed to be an effective
follower.7 Effective followers think for themselves and carry out assignments with energy and
enthusiasm. 8 They are committed to something outside their own self-interest and have courage to 30
protect what they believe. Good followers are not ‘yes people’ who blindly follow a leader 8. Effective
leaders and effective followers may sometimes be the same person, 9 playing different roles at
different times. At its best, leadership is shared among leaders and followers, with everyone fully
engaged and accepting their levels of responsibility. 10

Acknowledgement: Reading Skills Rogers, L. (Delta 2011)

Part 5 – Listening Component

You are going to a speaker talking about leadership and marketing in business.

The Golden Circle

What is ‘The Golden Circle’ and how does this explain the speaker’s views about leadership and
Apple’s marketing strategy?

Answer Key

All great and inspiring leaders think act & communicate in the same way, i.e. the opposite to everyone else. Simon
Sinek (the speaker) codified this into a simple idea called the ‘golden circle’. This explains why some
organisations/leaders can inspire and so are effective - some know what & how…but few know why they do what they
do, i.e. what’s the purpose/belief/raison d’etre of the business? (as opposed to making a profit)

E.g. (Martin Luther King / the Wright brothers)

Apple (= very innovative) works from the inside out - starts with What do we want to be able to do? Let’s make
something to achieve that end & communicates this: we believe in thinking differently and challenging the status quo,
i.e. we believe in tech being beautifully designed and user-friendly etc. and that we make great tech – We just happen
to make great computers… “wanna buy one?” (i.e. sales comes after).