LEADERSHIP THEORY

2 CONSIDERATIONS

• A Framework for Analyzing Contemporary Leadership Theories
• Five Prominent Leadership Theories Analyzed

FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYZING

• Leader to Follower Continuum
• Leadership As Process Of Influence and Change
• Framework of the Christian Worldview

1) Leader to Follower Continuum

• Northouse = leadership complex process
• researched for centuries, across cultures w/ innumerable def's & theories
• early focus on leader, power, authority, position
• later focus on group & team
• tend to fall on a continuum from 1) leader-centric to 2) leader-follower relationship to 3) group-team centric approaches.

2) Leadership Process of Influence & Change

• Northouse = “process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal”

2) Leadership Process of Influence & Change

• Bass = “Leaders are agents of change...[modifying] the motivation or competencies of others...[and] directing [their[ attention to goals and the paths to achieve them”

2) Leadership Process of Influence & Change

• Dockery = “Leadership is the art and practice of exerting an influence on the behavior and beliefs of others. Leaders shape and influence people, institutions, and events. Leaders and leadership are determined not by the number of followers but by the changes effected over time for the good of God’s world.”

3) Framework of The Christian Worldview

• Leadership Not Value Neutral Powlison's Taxonomy
• Powlison's Taxonomy Creation
• Interpreting Through The Christian Worldview

3) Framework of The Christian Worldview

• LEADERSHIP IS NOT VALUE NEUTRAL
• Behind every theory are basic questions about life & behind those philosophical answers is a worldview
• Worldviews inform the values and then practices of a leader
• essential then to interpret leadership through Christian worldview before adopting various leadership theories.

3) Framework of The Christian Worldview

• POWLISON'S TAXONOMY
• Begin With The Bible
• Pleuddemann = leadership practice is based on general leadership principles, informed first by a theological understanding
• Debunk The False
• Glean The Good = bringing our “[leadership theory] into submission to Jesus"

3) Framework of The Christian Worldview

• THE CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW
• Creation = leadership is first a matter of relationship to God, then the world as man stewards his role and God’s resources.
• 1) Leadership is under ultimate authority
• 2) an extension of imaging God in world.
• 3) for the good of others & the glory of God

3) Framework of The Christian Worldview

• THE CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW
• Fall = leadership must be assessed in light of the fall
• 1) Leadership now matter of seeking to be our own ultimate authority
• 2) Leaders now seek to get out of a position & people what only God can provide
• 3) Relational dynamics are dysfunctional

3) Framework of The Christian Worldview

• THE CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW
• Redemption = Reorientation of all of life
• 1) Redemption requires submitting to the rightful king
• 2) Redemption redirects our misdirected worship

3) Framework of The Christian Worldview

• THE CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW
• Restoration = Redirection of purpose
• From self-glorification to God-glorification
• From self-interest to best interest of others.
• from personal kingdom advancement, to God’s kingdom advancement
• from further brokenness towards mission of restoration, good of others, and the glory of God

5 Prominent Leadership Theories Analyzed

• Trait Theory
• Skills Theory
• Style Theory
• Situational Leadership
• Team Leadership

1) Trait Theory (LF)

• great man > trait theory > focused on key “abilities, traits, and characteristics” in great leaders
• 1) intelligence, 2) self-confidence, 3) determination, 4) integrity, 5) sociability
• traits subjective > personality > EI
• S = depth, breadth, assessment
• W = subjective
• CW = helpful but not final

2) Skills Theory (LF)

• skills, abilities, & competencies that can be learned
• 3 = technical, people, and conceptual skills and competencies
• S = accessible to all, conducive to teaching
• W = breadth so large it can easily be lost
• CW = simply learned, yet leadership is discussed as a gift

3) Styles Theory (LF)

• style theory emphasizes the behavior of leader
• 2 = task & relational/ authority-compliance vs country club management
• S = sig shift in research/ assessment
• W = no style universal/ no one style produces same results
• CW = all of life overflows from the heart/ Humility can be evident in both

4) Situational (LF-R)

• leader adaptability/ "diff sits demand diff leadership"
• 4 = 1) Directing, 2) Coaching, 3) Supporting, 4) Delegating
• S = widely accepted/ assessment/ applicable/ prescriptive/ flexibility
• W = little research/ group/ bias
• CW = self-assess before subordinate/ relationship & contextualization

5) Team (G-T)

• emphasizes value of each participant & group approaches to problem solving
• directive verse participative
• S = applicable in real world/ accounts for leader & follower/ trends w/ culture
• W = doesn't prescribe all skills necessary
• CW = offers middle way/ shepherd