Reflect on the leadership theories presented in this week’s readings.
Create a chart comparing at least 3 leadership theories presented in this week’s reading. In next week’s assignment, you will use this information to select leadership theories and approaches to support organizational change that aligns to your chosen organization’s mission and values.
1. Vision- The first requirement for a leader is a strong sense of purpose. A vision of what could and should be is a basic force that enables the leader to recognize what must be done and to do it. Vision inspires others and causes the leader to accept the duties of leadership, whether pleasant or unpleasant. A sense of vision is especially powerful when it embodies a common cause- overcoming tyranny, stamping out hunger, or improving the human condition.
2. Ability- The leader must know the job-or invite loss of respect. It helps if the leader has done the job before and done it well. Employees seldom respect the individual who constantly must rely on others when making decisions, giving guidance, or solving problems. Although employees usually shoe a great deal of patience with a new leader, they will lose faith in someone who fails to gain an understanding of the job within a reasonable period of time. Job knowledge helps the leader make good decisions and discover ways to improve efficiency. Also, the leader must keep job knowledge current. Failure to keep up leads to lack of confidence and loss of employee support. Finally, a leader must have a keen mind to understand information, formulate strategies, and make correct decisions.
3. Persistence- The leader must have drive and determination to stick with difficult tasks until they are completed. According to Niccolo Machiavelli, “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain as to success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things”. Israeli prime minister Golda Meir referred to the quality of persistence when she advised that things do not just occur in one’s life. She encouraged people to believe, be persistent, and struggle to overcome life’s obstacles.