Fundamentals of Leadership

Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.

• Process: transactional event occurring between leaders and followers

• Influence: how leaders affect followers

• Group: leadership occurs as a group dynamic, in groups of various sizes

• Common Goal: addresses the concept that leaders and follows have a mutual purpose

Leadership based on occupying a position within an organization

• Team leaders

• Managers

• Department heads

• Basis of leadership whereby individual perceived by others as the most influential member of a group or organization, regardless of position or title.

• Leadership emerging over time as a result of communication and behaviors

  • Verbal involvement

  • Being informed

  • Etc.

• Power and authority affect an individuals ability and capacity to lead

• Power:

  • Capability or potential to influence

  • Ability to affect others’ beliefs, attitudes, or actions

• Referent Power

• Expert Power

• Legitimate Power

• Reward Power

• Coercive Power

• Information Power

Based on followers’ identificationn and liking for the leader. A teacher who is adored by students has referent power.

Based on followers’ perceptions of the leader’s competence. A tour guide who is knowledgeable about a foreign country has expert power.

Associated with having status or formal job authority. A judge who administers sentences in the courtroom exhibits legitimate power.

Derived from having the capacity to provide rewards to others. A supervisor who gives rewards to employees who work hard is using reward power.

derived from having the capacity to penalize or punish others. A coach who sits players on the bench for being late to practice is using coercive power.

Derived from possessing knowledge that others want or need. A boss who has information regarding new criteria to decide employee promotion eligibility has information power.