Powerful and Effective Leadership – Within Reach! - Part 2
Posted by
John Earll on Fri, Dec 09, 2011 @ 04:58 PM
Does the Definition Tell Us Much?
Leadership is a term that has been thrown around in organizational settings for a long time. So much so that the term itself has come caused frustration due to the range of meanings for which its definition contains. One hand, leadership can typify the kind of charismatic, and often selfishly destructive, behaviors of a Julius Caesar or Napoleon Bonaparte, while at other times we see the term bounded by the determined and effective pacifism of Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King. Both extremes make excellent arguments for what leadership is really all about. The trouble is they are poles apart!
In my last offering, I made an attempt at what represented an arguably academic discussion of the quandary that leadership can represent. (Click here to see: Does It Matter How You Define Leadership?) With my apologies to for sounding overly clinical, I am offering this discussion of leadership that will attempt to put some “flesh on the bones” of the term: Leadership. In so doing, it is my hope that I will offer some down to earth perspectives on leadership that can be of value to leaders in any organization.
Suffer the Academics a Little Longer. You’ll See My Point…
With this said, I will still rely on the benefits of the best that organizational science has to offer on the subject. Hang in there.
The science is solid and I believe its conclusions will make sense: Common sense that will empower you as a leader, and application that will be effective to impact subordinates to levels of greater effectiveness.
Organizational Science Brings Some Powerful Insights!
Leadership has been studied by behavioral theorists, organizational psychologists and social scientists from antiquity. However, the 20th century has seen the most intense studies in the field of leadership. For decades, such study has resulted in a natural ebb and flow of theories that have been tested, analyzed, re-tested and refined. Even though studies continue, leadership as a behavioral phenomenon is well defined for practical application.
The good news is that theoretical integration of leadership theory can bring bottom line value to almost any organization. Such value can be within reach of organizations and teams from the largest to smallest organizations.
Let’s Talk Transformational Leadership…
Of all of the elaborate and complex issues within the scholastic study of leadership a key concern is theoretical integration. In other words – “If we have learned anything in all those years, what can we apply from our knowledge that is readily trained in leaders, transferred to the workplace and applied for positive effect?”
The Answer: Transformational Leadership Theory!
Originally formulated by Bernard Bass (1985) and based on prior work related to concepts of charismatic leadership, this practical theory of leadership has undergone what amounts to the equivalent of being run over by a fleet of diesel trucks from a scientific perspective since Bass proposed the theory and as it exists today. Heck, the title alone sounds almost “too special”! In fact, Bass and his associates now refer to the theory as the Full Range Leadership Theory, which is arguably better. (Maybe not!?) In any event, the theory has changed little since the mid-1980s. Again, it has been tested, critiqued and largely confirmed as being valid.
More importantly, it is a theory that can be rapidly deployed, trained and used to bring effective improvement in any organizational environment. The evidence is in…
Look for my next blog... I'll give you the keys to the secret door! Ya' know, the one to the room with the really cool treasure...
Here's a grapic on transformational leadership theory that we will be referring to often. Take a look and absorb what you can. We'll get intimate with this easy to understand and powerful theory that can make a difference in your organization.
