1. Philosophy of leadership (Excerpt from “Leadership: Four Styles” by W. C.
Howard)
Leadership is the process of communication (verbal & non-verbal) that involves
coaching, motivating/inspiring, directing/guiding, and supporting/counseling
others. This results in the timely production of predetermined organization goals.
Warren Bennis, a noted author and researcher, believed that all leaders of effective
groups have four characteristics in common. First, they provide direction and
meaning to the people they are leading. The leaders are responsible for keeping
team members aware of important stated goals and objectives. Second, they
generate trust. They act in an honest manner that creates an environment of trust.
Third, they prefer action and risk taking. They are willing to operate outside of the
safety circle of tradition. Fourth, they are communicators of hope. Using effective
communication skills, leaders encourage others to believe that the expected
behavior will result in successful realization of stated goal(s)….
…The unique ability to analyze diverse people, complex tasks, and a variety of
different cultures in the work environments is seldom mastered by average senior
leaders. Every person that the leader interacts with has a different personality,
perception of the world around him or her, abilities, attitudes, and skills.
Additionally, the task and the environment take on different connotations for each
person because of his/her individual differences. Type–A (Fact–Based) leaders are
comfortable with people, tasks and environments that require facts, logic, theories,
scientific applications analysis, quantitative, mathematical, and technical processes
to resolve…. The Type-B (Creativity-Based) leader prefers problem solving
techniques that involve artistic, flexible, imaginative, spontaneous, and holistic
responses. Type- C (Feelings) leadership styles make decisions about the people,
tasks, and environment, often ignoring research and facts that are contrary to
his/her decisions…. Type-D (Control/ Power Based) leaders want to use power and
control over people, tasks, and environment. They lack imagination and creativity….
They choose control, details, planning, sequencing, and strict organization to
respond to people, tasks, and the environment.
All decisions made by leaders can be traced to their perceptions/values, and
rationale/reasoning…. However, it takes tremendous insight to examine your
decisions with this kind of critical thinking. It often reveals perception and values
that you are uncomfortable addressing at any level. Conversely, the 3% of the
leaders who can comfortably use all four leadership styles are able to identify their
perceptions and rationale for each decision made. Most importantly, they have
developed the ability to assess the situation and apply the appropriate leadership
style.
