LEADERSHIP, COMMITMENT & COOPERATIVE WORKING

Today, The Fosters & The Grandma have been reading about leadership, commitment and cooperative working.

Leadership encompasses the ability of an individual, group or organization to lead, influence or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. The word leadership often gets viewed as a contested term. Specialist literature debates various viewpoints on the concept, sometimes contrasting Eastern and Western approaches to leadership, and also (within the West) North American versus European approaches.

U.S. academic environments define leadership as a process of social influence in which a person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common and ethical task.

Basically, leadership can be defined as an influential power-relationship in which the power of one party (the leader) promotes movement/change in others (the followers).

Some have challenged the more traditional managerial views of leadership, which portray leadership as something possessed or owned by one individual due to their role or authority, and instead advocate the complex nature of leadership which is found at all levels of institutions, both within formal and informal roles.

Studies of leadership have produced theories involving traits, situational interaction, function, behavior, power, vision and values, charisma, and intelligence, among others.

 More information: Mind Tools

The search for the characteristics or traits of leaders has continued for centuries. 

Philosophical writings from Plato's Republic[ to Plutarch's Lives have explored the question What qualities distinguish an individual as a leader? Underlying this search was the early recognition of the importance of leadership and the assumption that leadership is rooted in the characteristics that certain individuals possess. This idea that leadership is based on individual attributes is known as the trait theory of leadership.

Many personality characteristics were found to be reliably associated with leadership emergence. The list includes assertiveness, authenticity, Big Five personality factors, birth order, character strengths, dominance, emotional intelligence, gender identity, intelligence, narcissism, self-efficacy for leadership, self-monitoring and social motivation.

Other areas of study in relation to how and why leaders emerge include narcissistic traits, absentee leaders, and participation. While there are many personality traits that be considered in determining why a leader emerges it is important to not look at these in isolation. Today's sophisticated research methods look at personality characteristics in combination to determine patterns of leadership emergence.

More information: The Balance Money

These Group Leaderships or Leadership Teams have specific characteristics:

-There must be an awareness of unity on the part of all its members.

-There must be interpersonal relationship. Members must have a chance to contribute, and learn from and work with others.

-The members must have the ability to act together toward a common goal.

Ten characteristics of well-functioning teams:

-Purpose. Members proudly share a sense of why the team exists and are invested in accomplishing its mission and goals.

-Priorities. Members know what needs to be done next, by whom, and by when to achieve team goals.

-Roles. Members know their roles in getting tasks done and when to allow a more skillful member to do a certain task.

-Decisions. Authority and decision-making lines are clearly understood.

-Conflict. Conflict is dealt with openly and is considered important to decision-making and personal growth.

-Personal traits. Members feel their unique personalities are appreciated and well utilized.

-Norms. Group norms for working together are set and seen as standards for every one in the groups.

-Effectiveness. Members find team meetings efficient and productive and look forward to this time together.

-Success. Members know clearly when the team has met with success and share in this equally and proudly.

-Training. Opportunities for feedback and updating skills are provided and taken advantage of by team members.

More information: Emeritus

I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep;
I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.

Alexander the Great