Transcript Chapter 10 Providing Leadership in Groups

Chapter 10
Providing Leadership in Groups
Defining leadership
 The use of positive interpersonal
influence to help a group attain a goal
 Leadership is both a process and
property
 Many members can provide leadership
 Communication is key
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Caveats of Leadership
1.
If others don’t respond to your leadership
attempts, you are not the leader
2.
Being appointed head, chair, or leader will
not guarantee that you will influence others
3.
Leadership and power are not synonymous
4.
A leader cannot do everything for a group
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Members’ Expectations
of Leaders
1.
2.
3.
4.
To encourage participation of all
members
To keep the group organized
•
•
Talk about procedures
Facilitate and summarize discussion
Develop and maintain harmony by
managing conflicts
Play the role of critical advisor
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Repertoire of
Leadership Behaviors

Procedural behaviors

Analytical or task behaviors

Social or relational behaviors
• Coordinate group activities
• Help the group function
• Assess and evaluate group discussions
• Help members cooperate
• Address relational development
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Becoming a Leader

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Appointed by someone external to the
group
Elected by group members
Emerges over time
• Members assess who is leader-worthy
• Communication style is key
• Group may support a leader’s emergence OR
• Group allows a leader to emerge because
they are passive
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Leadership
Communication Competency


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Task competencies
•
Facilitate group deliberations and discussions
Relational competencies
•
•
•
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Interaction management
Expressiveness
Other-orientation
Relaxation
Technical competencies
•
Not necessarily an expert
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Gender Diversity and Leadership


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Females more likely to lead in
relationally-oriented groups
Males more likely to lead when groups
are task-oriented
Once leader role is established, male
and female leaders differ only slightly
• Both men and women can be effective
leaders
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Situational Leadership® Model

Four styles based on:
• Amount of task direction a leader gives
• Amount of relational support a leader provides
• Readiness level of members in performing
group tasks

Each style can be effective if leader
selects a style relative to the task and
relational contingencies of the group
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Telling Leadership Style

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High task, low relationship
Best with unable and unwilling members
Leader’s roles
• Help the group get started
• Clarify its purpose
• Define its goals
• Keep it on track
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Selling Leadership Style



High task, high relationship
Best with willing but unable members
Leader’s roles
• Act as a role model
• Ask questions and encourages responses
• Help develop alternatives
• Advocate for possible solutions
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Participating Leadership Style



High task, low relationship
Best with able but unwilling members
Leader’s roles
•
•
•
•
Enhance group commitment
Encourage involvement of all
Synthesize for group
Facilitate problem solving
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Delegating Leadership Style



Low task, low relationship
Best with willing and able members
Leader’s roles
• Attends to group members’ needs
• Listens
• Show interest
• Take notes
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Choosing a Leadership Style

Effective leader chooses style by diagnosing
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Leader adapts style to group
Consider how much
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• Complexity and newness of task
• Assessing readiness level of members
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Structure the group requires for effective discussion
Relational communication group members require
Leader should be flexible to change style as
group matures
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Transformational Leadership

Expressive person whose communication
• Persuades
• Influences
• Mobilizes others

Builds a vision with which others can identify
• Communicates a sense of urgency and utility

Does not rely on position of power or rewards
more 
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Characteristics of
Transformational Leaders

Charismatic
• Have confidence in their communication
• Conviction in their beliefs and ideals
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Communicate high expectations

Intellectually stimulating
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Give special attention to each member
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Enhancing Leadership Ability
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Are you knowledgeable about leadership
issues?
Can you perform a variety of leadership
behaviors and functions?
What kind of impression do you make as
a leader?
Can you balance task and relational
concerns of the group?
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