Check Your Understanding:
How would you define leadership in terms of its relative functions and components? Have you been led by others and/or have you been a leader? Was your experience positive or negative?
Exercises:
There is currently no grand theory of executive leadership. But you have become involved in a research project to develop one. Your objective in its development is to link the behaviors of leaders and managers. Your resulting theory might state, "leaders are the best part of managers" or "leaders are people-oriented managers." What does your theory state? Defend your theory with examples taken from your readings. You might give an example where you witnessed a manager focus on the people in the organization rather than on the problems at hand, or you might have seen a leader resist change rather than embrace it. Explain the event(s) and its effect on your theory development.
Remember, this is your opportunity to be creative. Be imaginative. Explore the possibilities. The objective is to exercise your creative thinking muscles while exploring the application of what you have learned in this module.
Professional Development
Describe some of the major approaches taken by researchers in the study of leadership.
Issues to Consider
Do you have the qualities to be a leader? What qualities of leadership do you lack or need to enhance?
Discussion
What are the differences between leaders and managers? Which would you be most comfortable being?