Chapter 5 Group Leadership 1 What is Leadership a Without leadership a group may be nothing more than a collection of individuals lacking the coordination and motivation to achieve a common goal b Leadership is the ability to make strategic decisions and use communication effectively to mobilize group members toward achieving a common goal c Leader is the title given to a person leadership reefers to the actions a leader takes to help group members achieve a common goal d As we see it there is an obvious reason why some leaders succeed whereas others fail those who fail often lack effective and appropriate communication skills e The ability to think and act self awareness and self discipline are critical leadership competencies but it takes communication to bind these building blocks together f Effective leaders walk a line between both fostering interdependence and encouraging self reliance between both building cohesion and welcoming disagreement and between both imposing structure and promoting spontaneity 2 Becoming a Leader the path to a leadership position can be as easy as being in the right place at the right time or being the only person willing to take on a difficult job Becoming the leader of a group primarily occurs in one of two ways being chosen to lead or naturally emerging as a leader a Designated Leaders outside authority i A designated leader is selected by group members or by an ii Designated leaders face unique challenges When a newly appointed leader enters a well established group there can be a long and difficult period of adjustment for everyone iii When group members elect or appoint a leader from within a group the problems can be as difficult as those faced by a leader from outside the group If the person who once worked next to you becomes your boss the adjustment can be problematic iv Being plucked from a group in order to lead it can present problems because it changes the nature of your relationship with the other members of the group v Even though the group knows you well you still must earn their trust and respect as a leader Here are a few suggestions 1 Involve the group in decision making as much as possible 2 Discuss ground rules for interactions with friends while assuring them of your continued friendship 3 Openly and honestly address leadership concerns with group members and seek their help in resolving potential problems b Emergent Leaders i Very often the most effective leadership occurs when a leader emerges from a group rather than being promoted elected or appointed ii An emergent leader gradually achieves leadership by interacting with group members and contributing to the achievement of the group s goal c Strategies for Becoming a Leader all of these strategies require a balanced approach that takes advantage of opportunities without abusing the privilege of leadership i Talk Early and Often and Listen to Others 1 Research shows that the person who speaks first and most often is more likely to emerge as the group s leader 2 The link between participation and leadership is the most consistent finding in small group leadership research Participation demonstrates both your motivation to lead and your commitment to the group 3 While it is important to talk it is just as important to demonstrate your willingness and ability to listen ii Know More and Share What you Know 1 Leaders often emerge or are appointed because they are seen as experts people who know more about an important topic than others do 2 Even if a potential leader is simply able to explain ideas and information more clearly than other group members that person may be perceived as knowing more 3 But don t be a know it all iii Offer Your Opinion and Welcome Disagreement 1 When groups have difficulty making decision or solving problems they appreciate someone who offers good ideas and informed opinions 2 Members often emerge as leaders when they help a group out of some difficulty 3 Criticizing the ideas and opinions of others may cause resentment and defensiveness iv Although you may talk a lot demonstrate superior knowledge and assert your personal opinions in order to become a leader you may find that the dialectic opposites listening rather than talking relying on the knowledge of others and seeking a wide range of opinions are equally necessary to succeed as a leader 3 Leadership and Power you cannot fully understand the dynamics of leadership unless you also understand the dynamics of power In the context of group communications power is the ability or authority to influence and motivate others In the hands of a just and wise leader power is a positive force in the hands of an unjust or foolish leader power can be a destructive and corrupting force a Types of Leadership Power i French and Raven classify power into five categories reward power coercive power legitimate power expert power and referent power ii Yuki and Fable add three more categories informational iii power persuasive power and charisma If you combine all these categories you end up with two basic types of power 1 Position power depends on a member s job or status within an organization 2 Personal power stems from a member s individual character competencies and earned status i Reward power legitimate power and coercive power are the ii iii least effective If you exert too much power your group may lose its energy and enthusiasm If you don t exert enough power your group may flounder and fail b The Power of Power 4 Leadership Theories Bennis and Nanus point out that no clear and unequivocal understanding exists as to what distinguishes leaders from non leaders and perhaps more important what distinguishes effective leaders from ineffective leaders We know that there isn t a single trait or style characteristic of effective leaders a Situational Leadership Theory Situational Leadership Theory claims that effective leaders use different leadership styles and strategies depending on the situation Situational Leadership Theory gives us the tools we need to become more effective leaders once we have carefully analyzed ourselves our group and the circumstances in which we work together i Fielder s Contingency Model of Leadership Effectiveness 1 His Contingency Model of Leadership Effectiveness contends that effective leadership occurs only when there is an ideal match between the leader s style and the group s work situation 2 Fielder characterizes leaders as being either task motivated or relationship