Abstract

Within an organization, the role of leadership is essential for any team, when it comes to ensuring success, there are three key traits that every leader should possess. The traits of integrity, decisiveness, as well as enthusiasm is achievable for any leader that is willing to put their followers first, such as those of affiliative management style as well as those who practice adaptive leadership. Successful and effective leaders who are able to develop these traits in addition to adapting different leadership and management styles, are shown to be more effective in influencing others within their team in order to become more successful.

The Importance of Leader Values, Traits, and Context

Being an impactful leader is more than just having a title within the workplace. A leader must be a person who possesses certain and specific traits that can contribute to their leadership in the workplace to become more effective. The concept of becoming a great leader can be daunting towards some, however an idea needs to be kept in mind while in this transformational state: leaders are not born, they are molded. The experiences that an individual experiences in their journey to become a leader can alter them for the better and create a stronger and more confident self (Bennis & Thomas, 2002).

Important traits that all leaders should strive to possess during their transformative journey are those of integrity, decisiveness, as well as enthusiasm. In order to use traits collectively, one must have an understanding as to what they are individually. The trait of integrity consists of having a drive to get something completed as well as having the desire to lead; the trait of decisiveness consists of having the ability to face day to day challenges with the approach that each goal will be achieved; and finally, the trait of enthusiasm allows leaders with high energy to strive for their goals and never quit (Emere, et. al., 2019).

PSY FPX 6720 Assessment 1 The Importance of Leader Values, Traits, and Context

At my previous place of employment, I was a staff member at a local movie theater, where the general manager met all the criteria of what it meant to be an effective leader. For example when this manager was in the workplace he always made it a priority to ensure that all guests had a good experience when in the theater, this meaning all the theaters were clean for the next wave of people as well as the staff having a positive working experience. Therefore, when it came time to set up for the next movie set and the staff was falling behind on the cleaning, this manager would pick up a broom and dustpan and assist his followers. This practice not only showed his integrity as well as decisiveness of upholding the standards he put on the employees, but also himself. In addition, this behavior showed his enthusiasm to ensure everyone had a good experience while in the theater. In addition, these practices that this leader had, had strengthened the relationships he had with his followers.

When looking at a workplace, the role that has the most impact on the rest of the team is the leadership or, more precisely, the leader. Despite the ever evolving meaning of effective leadership changing over time, traits such as integrity, decisiveness, and enthusiasm have been shown to be key elements when it comes to being a successful and effective leader (Hunt & Fedynich, 2019). Studies have shown that when leadership can show these traits, it allows for their followers to put more of their trust as well as instills confidence that their leaders can complete the task at hand, since great leadership can contribute greatly to a business (Putra & Cho, 2019). The importance of this is to signify that traits that leaders bring to the table not only affect them, but it also affects their team and their business.

Choices that Reflect a Leader’s Values

Leaders have a major impact when it comes to motivating their employees and team. Despite the numerous leadership styles that are being adapted by many, one style that seems to be the most effective in regards to utilizing the traits of enthusiasm, decisiveness, as well as integrity, to ensure positivity is that of the Affiliative Management Style. The Affiliative Management Style is the practice of ensuring your followers, or team, are working within a united and harmonious working environment (Pinelli, et. al., 2018).

The importance of this is to show that when leadership and team members can work together in synchronization with their expectations for the other, it creates a more joyful working environment. Despite how well the choices of the leader may be, the role of a good follower is also at play. An individual that makes criteria of a good follower is someone who is willing to have the courage and confidence to respectfully discuss with your leader if you believe you’re not going in the right direction (Chaleff, 2009). The importance of having good followers within your team, is to ensure that there is a mutual trust and understanding of the accomplishments that need to be made between both sides.

PSY FPX 6720 Assessment 1 The Importance of Leader Values, Traits, and Context

In the video “Leadership Lessons Learned at Starbucks,” Howard Behar tells a story about how his followers, who once were excited for his promotion, over time had started to lose faith in his abilities to represent them. Once Howard began to alter his personality, in order to fit some unspoken standard, while he was in meetings. This shift of his traits had begun to diminish the relationships that Howard had shared with his followers. The leadership traits and skills that Howard showcased that made his followers trust his effectiveness, was how passionate their leader was and how willing he was to express his opinions and ideas to others.

The leader, Howard in this situation, took followership into account because he realized he was not in the position to be the quiet man at the conference table, he was there to assist and be the voice of his followers. This situation showcased how a leader can be more effective when they take the time to listen to the concerns of their followers. Studies have shown that when Affiliative leaders lose the ability to drive motivation within their team, as well as themselves, it results in workers starting to feel as if their work has become unrecognizable and their moral and job satisfaction begins to drop (Preston, et. al., 2015). The importance of these values-based leadership and ethical leadership in the context of this case study is that if the trust between leadership and followers are strained, employee performance can be affected negatively.

The Importance of Adaptive Leadership in the Workplace

The ability to be adaptive should be a skill that all leadership should develop in order to have an effective career. Adaptive leadership shares major similarities with the Affiliative Management Style, where both approaches are follower-centered that primarily focuses on the relationships between the leaders and their followers (Nelson & Squires, 2017). Leaders who display traits such as integrity, decisiveness, and enthusiasm can assist leadership with connecting to their followers. Adaptive leaders who are able to adopt the affiliative management style, provides an alternative approach that focuses on collaborative solutions between both the management side as well as the follower side. Studies have shown that leaders who can adapt multiple different leadership tactics unto their repertory, have better relationships with their followers (Nelson & Squires, 2017).

In my previous place of employment, where I was working at a movie theater, the management would recognize employees who had very high performance and sales by giving them a “shout out”. This shout out would consist of the management announcing their achievements to the rest of the staff

and offering to compensate for one of their lunches during the week. By rewarding followers with this method, adaptive and affiliative leaders showed their followers that their contributions are valued and helps the success of the rest of the team as well as the company (Heifetz, et. al., 2009).

The importance of how leadership choices and how they reflect a leader’s values is that a leader’s actions impact all of what is around them. Therefore, when a leader effectively recognizes their followers, it allows for a greater sense of employee morale as well as job satisfaction. Studies have shown that when adaptive leadership can effectively reach followers on different levels, it leads to higher retention, increased job motivation, and a more collaborative workplace (Randall & Coakley, 2007).

Conclusion

The role of management leadership is essential for any organizational team, in addition to being one of the most important positions. Effective leaders who are able to adapt different leadership and management styles are shown to be more effective in influencing others within their team in order to become more successful. However, the management skills are not something that individuals inherently know, real and effective leaders are molded through their experiences. Being able to connect with one’s team takes strong traits, such as: enthusiasm, decisiveness, as well as integrity. Having these traits will ensure that leaders and followers can effectively co-exist, because without mutual co-existence, neither would exist.

References

Bennis, W. G., & Thomas, R. J. (2002). The crucibles of leadership. Harvard Business Review, 80(9), 39–45.

Chaleff, I. (2009). The courageous follower: Standing up to & for our leaders. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Emere, C. E., Aigbavboa, C. O., & Thwala, W. D. (2019). Critical Traits for Effective Leadership Style in the South African Construction Industry. Creative Construction Conference. 19(37). https://doi.org/10.3311/CCC2019-037.

Heifetz, R. A., Heifetz, R., Grashow, A., & Linsky, M. (2009). The practice of adaptive leadership: Tools and tactics for changing your organization and the world. Harvard Business Press.

Hunt, T., & Fedynich, L. (2019). Leadership: Past, Present, and Future: An Evolution of an Idea. Journal of Arts & Humanities. 8(2), 20-26. https://dx/doi.org/1018533/journal.v8i21582.

Nelson, T., & Squires, V. (2017). Addressing Complex Challenges through Adaptive Leadership: A Promising Approach to Collaborative Problem Solving. Journal of Leadership Education, 16(4).

Preston, G., Moon, J., Simon, R., Allen, S., & Kossi, E. (2015). The Relevance of Emotional Intelligence in Project Leadership. Journal of IT and Economic Development. 6(1), 16-40.

Pinelli, N., R., Sease, J. M., Nola, K., Kyle J. K., Heldenbrand, S. D., Penzak, S. R., & Ginsburg, D. B. (2018). The Importance of Authentic Leadership to all Generations Represented within Academic Pharmacy. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 82(6). 637-640. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe6694

Putra, E. D., & Cho, S. (2019). Characteristics of small business leadership from employees’ perspective: A qualitative study. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 78, 36-46.

Randall, L. M., & Coakley, L. A. (2007). Applying adaptive leadership to successful change initiatives in academia. Leadership & Organization Development Journal.

PSY FPX 6720 Assessment 1 The Importance of Leader Values, Traits, and Context