Phases of the helping process in social work pdf

Running head: LEADERSHIP THEORIES 1

Leadership Theories Learner’s Name Capella University Fundamentals of Leadership Leadership Theories June, 2018

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LEADERSHIP THEORIES 2

A leader is instrumental in the development and success of an organization. An effective leader must be familiar with various leadership theories to be able to develop strategies for people management. Several theories attempt to explain what constitutes an ideal leader. This paper explores three theories of leadership and the methods of application, as well as how leadership theories can be used to develop interpersonal skills that build trust. Additionally, real- life examples will be provided to illustrate the topic.

Situational Leadership

Hersey and Blanchard, who developed the situational leadership model in 1979, suggested that there is no right or wrong leadership style and that every situation demands a response. A leader must choose a style according to the needs of a situation, which are based on his or her followers’ willingness and ability to complete a task (as cited in Wright, 2017). Application of the

Depending on the degree of support warranted, a leader can influence his or her followers in four styles: telling, selling, participating, and delegating. The telling leader instructs and directs followers who are incapable of and unwilling to complete a task. A follower who is willing, but incapable, of completing a task can be approached with the selling style; the leader “sells” the idea to the follower and may set objectives to help him or her. A participating leader supports followers who are willing and capable but need encouragement to complete a task (Wright, 2017). According to Schermerhorn and Bachrach, the delegating approach can be used for a follower who is willing and able to complete the task. The leader’s involvement is limited to delegating tasks and being responsible for the encouragement of his or her team (as cited in

Copyright ©2018 Capella University. Copy and distribution of this document are prohibited.

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Comment [A1]: I like your introduction to this assessment.

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Comment [A2]: Consider breaking this section into two separate sections, one for influencing followers, and one for interpersonal skills that build trust

Leadership Theories