Milestone One

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1 Milestone One Katie Colon Southern New Hampshire University OL-670 Organizational Leadership Dr. Barbara Alston October 8, 2023

2 Introduction Leadership is a versatile role; It means different things to different people, different cultures, and in different situations (Mind Tools Content Team, 2023) . The leadership concept consists of a wide range of dimensions and definitions. As a result, no two leaders are the same. Theories of leadership provide an explanation for how and why specific individuals come to be leaders, emphasizing the traits and movements that individuals may adopt to improve their leadership competencies (Simplilearn, 2023) . It’s essential that leaders learn a variety of leadership theories and styles so that their organizations can be well-led. This paper will discuss three chosen leadership theories and a leader that aligns with each theory. The three leadership theories that will be discussed are Trait Theory, Transformational Leadership, and Situational Leadership. I have chosen Trait Theory because this aligns with my beliefs that some individuals have natural personality qualities that allow them to be effective leaders. The leader that I have chosen to discuss who exemplifies this leadership theory is Robert Wihtelin, my former mentor and supervisor. The theory of situations focuses on a leader’s ability to adapt their leadership style to the situation at hand. Today’s leaders face a world that is rapidly and constantly changing; therefore, this is an essential ability that is needed in a leader. An influential leader that utilized situational leadership was Queen Elizabeth II. The theory of transformation contends that effective leaders inspire workers to go above and beyond what they are capable of (Simplilearn, 2023) . In order for a business to succeed, transformational leadership is essential. Organizations that exhibit transformational leadership have employees that have a clearer vision which results in the employees being more engaged and motivated. A leader like Oprah Winfrey exhibits transformational leadership.

3 Analysis of Established Theories Theories Review Trait Theory The Trait Theory is considered a traditional leadership theory and is an expansion of one of the first theories of leadership, the great man theory. The Great Man Theory is the belief that leaders are born and cannot be created or learned. The trait theory focuses on the idea that certain people are more naturally gifted as leaders than others. These individuals exhibit particular personality qualities and features of behavior, which allows them to be effective leaders in a number of circumstances because of these qualities (Simplilearn, 2023) . There are several attributes of a leader that utilize the trait theory that will directly improve the empowerment and emotional intelligence of others. Some of these attributes are the ability to inspire others, high motivation, adaptability, perseverance, intelligence, and problem- solving skills (Cornell & Drew, 2023) . Teams are empowered to creatively bring ideas to the forefront. Emotional intelligence involves understanding and managing one's own emotions, as well as recognizing and influencing the emotions of others (Landry, 2019) . Individuals who sit in a role of power or influence within the organization may lack open-mindedness and bypass qualified candidates for potential leadership areas because they are narrowed down to a select set of qualities when looking for leaders. This could potentially hurt the organization when it comes to ensuring the right leader is in place. As organizations are constantly faced with change, this requires that leaders are able to adapt to the constant change. If leaders are picked on specific skill sets but now the market requires a new vision, direction, and skill set to meet the new demands this leader may no longer fit the needs of the organization.

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4 Theory of Transformation In 1973, James V. Downton started the concept of Transformational leadership which was then further developed by James Burns in 1978 (Ugochukwu, 2023) . Their concept centered on encouraging team members to follow a strong vision and personality. If individuals choose to follow, they will be encouraged to adjust their expectations, values, and morals to reach a higher level of motivation (Ugochukwu, 2023) . In 1994, Bass and Avolio further developed the concept by categorizing five transformational styles. These categories were idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration, and idealized attributes (Culter, 2014) . These categories allowed for ways to measure and rank the success of transformational leadership. Leaders who utilize transformational leadership set the tone for their organizations and for their employees. These leaders exhibit self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management (Landry, 2019) . Transformational leaders are proactive in their work, give interaction a high priority, are receptive to new concepts, take chances and make difficult choices, and strive to promote the development of their employees (Simplilearn, 2023) . By establishing a positive work culture, leaders can leverage emotional intelligence to motivate employees to achieve their full potential. This results in an engaged workforce that is empowered to transform and help shape the organization's future (Umass Global, 2023) . Leaders utilizing transformational leadership will see their teams develop a sense of confidence in their abilities and motivation to continue reaching further goals. Theory of Situations The Theory of Situations focuses on a leader's ability to adapt to any given situation. This theory is made up of several models such as the least preferred co-worker model, the path-goal

5 model, Hersey Blanchard’s model, and Tannenbaum and Schmidt leadership continuum. The least preferred co-worker model works on the principle that task-oriented leaders view their co- workers more negatively, and relationship-orientated leaders tend to score their peers higher (Culter, 2014) . The path-goal model emphasizes the importance of leaders adapting their behavior to the challenges and opportunities of each situation. The Tannenbaum and Schmidt leadership continuum focuses on leadership behavior that exists on a continuum from autocratic to involving followers in decision-making. The Hersey Blanchard model is the most common model in this theory and explores the relationship between leader and follower. According to this theory, the most effective leaders are those who are able to adapt their style to the situation and look at cues such as the type of task, the nature of the group, and other factors that might contribute to getting the job done (Cherry, 2023) . This theory suggests four main leadership styles: telling, selling, participating, and delegating need to be adopted based on the level of maturity of the employee (Culter, 2014) . Additionally, they identified four levels of maturity: M1, M2, M3, and M4. M1 identifies that members lack the knowledge, skills, and willingness to complete a task. Group members in M2 are willing and enthusiastic but still lack the ability needed. M3 group members have the skills and capability to complete the task but are not willing to take responsibility. Lastly, members in M4 are highly skilled and willing to complete the tasks (Cherry, 2023) . Situational Leadership proposes that effective leadership depends on both supportive and directive behaviors. When directing behavior, specific instructions are given to control the group. Supporting behaviors, on the other hand, involve encouraging, listening, and providing feedback and recognition (Cherry, 2023) . Effective leaders tailor their behavior to match each employee's skill level for a given task, directly impacting group emotional intelligence and empowerment.

6 Organizations are faced with continuous change as society and the market around them rapidly change. Therefore, any individual in a role of power or influence needs to have the flexibility to adapt to any given situation. It is essential that they are quickly able to problem solve and adapt to the needs of each given task. Theories Critique Strengths and Weaknesses of Trait Theory The trait theory has a long history and extensive research to support its validity on the idea that great leaders have naturally given leadership abilities. This method offers a systematic approach to identifying the qualities that make a leader effective. Although traits are usually stable, behavior can vary based on the situation. This theory acknowledges the situational influences on behavior. A limitation of the trait theory is that it assumes that leadership qualities are inherent, stable characteristics that leaders are born with (Culter, 2014) . This approach suggests that the required qualities cannot be acquired solely through training or experience and leaders will be selected based on their qualities and the requirements of the position. This can result in an individual being passed over because they are deemed as not having the characteristics needed. Leaders need to consider that as a leader gain more experience their knowledge and personal characteristics will also enhance (Culter, 2014) . Strengths and Weaknesses of the Theory of Transformation The transformational leadership theory has several strengths. Leaders focus on motivating and inspiring their employees. Leaders define a clear vision and goal for their teams and then lead by example. Maintaining this behavior helps to uphold workplace integrity. Encouraging professional development requires focusing on building individual relationships

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7 with employees. Developing strong relationships with employees creates loyalty and leads to higher productivity and lower turnover. Transformational leadership has some weaknesses that could be problematic for organizations. The first noticeable weakness is that they focus less on short-term objectives and prioritize long-term objectives. It is important that leaders have a balanced focus on both of these strategies. It is important that leaders promote employee motivation and development, but this also can increase the potential for employee burnout if employees are not able to achieve a healthy work-life balance. Lastly, transformational leadership requires constant communication. Continuous communication is a necessary skill for all leaders, but it can be difficult to maintain especially once leaders begin to juggle more than one project. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Theory of Situations Situational leadership is one of the most well-known leadership styles utilized for training leaders. This leadership recognizes that there may not be just one leadership style needed to address various situations. This forces leaders to confront diversity instead of being afraid to try various techniques needed to address situations. Lastly, this style puts the focus on the needs of your employees. This helps leaders build their attentive and empathetic skills. Situational leadership is complex in several areas and requires a lot from the leadership team. They must have in-depth knowledge of how to read and judge other people’s emotions and needs. Leaders are required to assess their teams and place them into categories of maturity. This can be challenging for leaders to make an accurate assessment. Another criticism is that both path–goal and Hersey–Blanchard approaches suggest that a leader should adopt a style according to the defined characteristics of the workplace or their followers: once the situation is defined and understood, then use the recommended style (Culter, 2014) . Lastly, the need to constantly

8 change your leadership can create confusion among your team. In order to make sure that confusion doesn’t occur it will require that there is constant communication and outline of the expectations for each given task needed. Theories Application Trait Theory The trait theory focuses on the idea that there are some individuals that have natural born gifts that make them excel at leadership. Robert Wihtelin is an exemplary leader that exhibited this leadership style. As a former corporate employee, Rob brought a lot of knowledge and experience to his leadership team. He was highly motivated to increase the sales of this brand- new store and was given all brand-new managers for each department. It was his goal for each manager to see the individual part that they play in an overall strategy. He took the time to meet with each manager and talk out various strategies that they could try. He would revisit with each manager at month's end and find what worked and what didn’t. They would make changes based upon the shopping trends of customers and he was quick to help problem-solve when trends were different than what was planned. One trait that Rob displayed that does not align with the trait theory is that he often needed to make a final decision. This required him to review all of the data and make decisions that would not align with the group's thoughts. Situational Theory Queen Elizabeth II's reign lasted 70 years and during this time she watched the world radically change. She was witness to crisis wars, new technologies, and social progress (Porcini, 2022) . In order to be successful during her tenure she needed to utilize a situational leadership style. She built a firm and steady vision and executed it with originality, consistency, and resilience. She allowed her leadership style to be flexible and adaptable, with a unique sensitivity

9 and capacity to feel at times (Porcini, 2022) . She was known for being curious and taking the time to listen to others. The foundation of her leadership style didn’t change, she just evolved the codes and the platforms, with extreme sensitivity and the capacity to listen (Porcini, 2022) . Although Queen Elizabeth seeks to create relationship connections and wants input from others regarding necessary changes, she ultimately has a strong sense of duty and responsibility. Her role within the monarch is complex and requires her to play a diplomatic role. Transformational Leadership Oprah Winfrey is known as one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry. She has built a media empire and is also a prominent philanthropist and advocate for various causes such as education, women's rights, and the underprivileged (Nallalingham, 2023) . She is known for leading with empathy and her ability to connect with her audience and guests on a much deeper emotional level. She is not afraid to fail and uses the failure as a learning opportunity. She encourages others to be true to themselves and to not be afraid to show who they really are. As one of the most influential people Oprah utilizes her fame to endorse a variety of different products. This can be contradictory as people will purchase these products even if they may not be the best product in that category.

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10 References Cherry, K. (2023, March 10). Situational Leadership Theory . Retrieved from Very Well Mind: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-situational-theory-of-leadership- 2795321#:~:text=An%20example%20of%20situational%20leadership%20would%20be %20a%20leader%20adapting,and%20capable%20of%20working%20independently. Cornell, D., & Drew, C. (2023, September 7). 11 Trait Theory Of Leadership Examples . Retrieved from Helpful Professor: https://helpfulprofessor.com/trait-theory-of-leadership- examples/ Culter, A. (2014). Leadership Psychology: How the Best Leaders Inspire Their People. London: Kogan Page Limited. Landry, L. (2019, April 03). Why Emotional Intelligence is Important in Leadership . Retrieved from Harvard Business Review: https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/emotional-intelligence- in-leadership Mind Tools Content Team. (2023). What is Leadership? Retrieved from MindTools: https://www.mindtools.com/a2fjsj1/what-is-leadership Nallalingham, L. (2023, April 18). The Power of Authenticity: Lessons from Oprah Winfrey's Leadership . Retrieved from LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power- authenticity-lessons-from-oprah-winfreys-lee-nallalingham Porcini, M. (2022, September 15). Queen Elizabeth II’s Leadership Lessons . Retrieved from Indeed: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/queen-elizabeth-iis-leadership-lessons-mauro- porcini

11 Simplilearn. (2023, October 5). 10 Leadership Theories to Master for Managerial Success in 2023 . Retrieved from Simplilearn: https://www.simplilearn.com/top-leadership-theories- every-manager-should-know-article Ugochukwu, C. (2023, July 10). Transformational Leadership Style: How To Inspire And Motivate . Retrieved from Simply Psychology: https://www.simplypsychology.org/what- is-transformational-leadership.html Umass Global. (2023). What is transformational leadership? Understanding the impact of inspirational guidance . Retrieved from Umass Global: Accessed on October 6, 2023; https://www.umassglobal.edu/news-and-events/blog/what-is-transformational-leadership

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