EDLM2006

REVIEW OF UNIT 1
Theories of Leadership in Social Psychology

Erika Ellis Buchanan

Course Instructor
 Unit 1 Objectives

• At the end of the session you will be able to:

• Summarise the different leadership theories in Social psychology;
• Use the leadership theories to identify the different kinds of leaders
that are in the education system in your country;
• Explain why a school is considered a living organism;
• Describe the relevance of social psychology in describing school
systems
Leadership Theories from a Social Psychology
Perspective
 Common Leadership Theories
The Great Man Theory
• It was based on the premise that there are key personalities traits that
make great leaders, that is, leaders are born not made. The theory
postulates that you are naturally a leader. Alexander the Great, Gandhai.
Any Caribbean leaders that might be considered? Marcus Garvey?
The Trait Theory
• The trait theory sees individuals with particular traits make better leaders.
The trait theorists believe that leaders inherit a particular trait that makes
them stand out - similar to “great man” theory
Situational Theory
• The theory proposes that leaders make decisions based on the situation.
Common Leadership Theories cont’d
Contingency Theory
• Contingency theory acknowledges environmental conditions that may elicit
a particular leadership style to address or work with the situation. The
theory posits that one leadership style is not sufficient to deal with all
situations. Similar to Situational Theory
Behavioural Theory
• Behavioural theory focuses on the development of leaders. The premise of
the theory is that leadership qualities are not innate but learned.
Transformational Theory
• Transformational theory is a contemporary theory of leadership. This
theory of leadership acknowledges the dynamic environment with
information easily accessible, so that subordinates will question decisions
made by their leaders. Leader and ‘follower’ have a shared vision.
 Leadership Styles
• Kurt Lewin’s leadership framework based on a leader’s decision making behaviour. Lewin identified three types of leaders:
• autocratic leaders, democratic leaders and laissez-faire leaders.
• Blake-Mouton Managerial Grid that gives you an indication of the most effective way you can lead your organisation from a
concern for the people in the organisation rather than from the standpoint of productivity.
• Concern for People: this is the degree to which a leader considers team members' needs, interests and areas of personal development when
deciding how best to accomplish a task.
• Concern for Results: this is the degree to which a leader emphasizes concrete objectives, organizational efficiency and high productivity when
deciding how best to accomplish a task.

• Hersey- Blanchard situational leadership theory. This framework linked the leadership style with the level of maturity of the team
members - The leadership style should be adapted to reflect the maturity of the employees.
• leadership depends upon each individual situation, and no single leadership style can be considered the best. For Hershey and Blanchard, tasks
are different and each type of task requires a different leadership style.

• The trait theory identified some qualities that emerge from an individual personality that impact on his/her leadership style. Some
of the traits identified: empathy, assertiveness, good decision making skills, and good interpersonal relationship.
• Transformational leaders are described as highly motivated and dependable. ional setting. A leader using this style displays
integrity, has clear goals, is able to communicate the vision and mission of the school effectively, stimulates the employees, and
facilitates the holistic development of his subordinates.
 How would you define leadership?

• Are traits important vs can people learn to become leaders?

• Who do you consider to be an effective leader?
• What type(s) of leadership is required for the education setting?
 School as a living Organism
• The School Environment: A Living Organism
• An organism is “a whole with interdependent parts, linked to a living
being” (organism, 2011). A school is “an institution for educating
children” (school, 2011).
• The evolution of the school from an institution to an organism is a
necessary analysis for understanding the link between social
psychology and educational leadership. Viewing the school as a
dynamic, breathing, moving organism that will be affected either
positively or negatively by the behaviour of any one of its parts is
essential to educational leadership.
Types of Schools in the Caribbean

Age 17+

Age 12+

Age 6+

Age 3+