LDR 802 Module 1 DQ 1
Leadership is defined in many ways. For some leadership is a construct within which to situate oneself on the basis of a title or a set of behaviors or skills. Others view leadership as a calling of sorts contending that some are literally “born leaders.” Considering the readings so far, your own personal and professional experience, and your observations of others, what is your picture of leadership? How does your picture differentiate between leadership and management? How is this picture of leadership textured by your identity and worldview?
Based upon the readings, my own personal and professional experience, and my observations of others, my picture of leadership consists of a combination of skills, personality and a transformational process (Northouse, 2016). My picture differentiates between leadership and management in that, the relationship between leaders and followers is dependent upon one another and that the leader is in equal power to the followers (Northouse, 2016). They both need one another to exist and the leaders purpose is not to control the followers, but to inspire, challenge and encourage the followers to reach beyond their current boundaries and aspire to change, redirect or redefine their objectives and ideologies in an effort to achieve a common goal. The manager, in contrast to the leader, has not aspired to their position of headship through their skills, personality, or transformational process. The manager has been appointed and exists to keep order, discipline, and maintain the status quo (Northouse, 2016). One could argue that the manager is also a leader, albeit, a transactional leader where by the relationship between this managerial leader and their followers is based upon coercion, communal connections, and reprimand (Berger, 2013). Therefore, given this picture of leadership, my worldview and identity is textured to believe that most managers are not true leaders. True leaders are authentic; focusing on inspiring change through the use of both interpersonal and intrapersonal perspectives (Berger, 2013), while working with their followers to achieve a common identified goal.
Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications
Berger, J. B. (2014). Leadership: A concise conceptual overview (Paper 18) . Amherst, MA: Center for International Education Faculty Publications