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LEADERSHIP
STYLES
Each person has a leadership style that they feel comfortable with. What
students must realize is that there are different styles of leadership that are
required for different situations. All students like to believe that they are
democratic leaders because that is the style that fits in with dealing with
their peer group. What they must understand is that they may have to switch to
a different style of leadership to get the job accomplished.
-
STYLE:
AUTOCRATIC
CHARACTERISTICS
- Tells others what to do
- Limits discussion on ideas and new ways of doing things
- Group does not experience feeling of teamwork
WHEN
EFFECTIVE
- Time is limited
- Individuals/Group lack skill and knowledge
- Group does not know each other
WHEN
INEFFECTIVE
- Developing a strong sense of team is the goal
- Some degree of skill/knowledge is in members
- Group wants an element of spontaneity in their work
-
STYLE:
DEMOCRATIC
CHARACTERISTICS
- Involves group members in planning and carrying out activities
- Asks before tells
- Promotes the sense of teamwork
WHEN
EFFECTIVE
- Time is available
- Group is motivated and/or a sense of team exists
- Some degree of skill or knowledge among members of group
WHEN
INEFFECTIVE
- Group is unmotivated
- No skill/knowledge is in members
- High degree of conflict present
-
STYLE:
LAISSEZ-FAIRE
CHARACTERISTICS
- Gives little or no direction to group/individuals
- Opinion is offered only when requested
- A person does not seem to be in charge
WHEN
EFFECTIVE
- High degree of skill and motivation
- Sense of team exists
- Routine is familiar to participants
WHEN
INEFFECTIVE
- Low sense of team/interdependence
- Low degree of skill/knowledge is in members
- Group expects to be
told what to do
WHO
IS THE BOSS?
-
-
You have just been appointed as the "person in charge'' of the following
situations.
Identify the type of leadership style that would work best in each situation
and briefly outline what you would do while using that style of leadership.
- You find yourself in a group in a class that has to write and put
together a dramatic presentation that will be filmed on video. There are people
of all types of abilities in the group and most seem pretty keen on doing the
project.
- You are a camp counsellor assigned with a group of rookie campers. You
will be competing against other cabins in a scavenger hunt held in half an
hour. The other cabins have older and more experienced kids, but your group
would like to show them up.
- The boss is away in the hospital but everyone has done the job before
and they like working at their jobs and tend to socialize after work as a
group. A major crisis occurs that involves everyone, but you can't call the
boss.
- You find yourself in a group doing an assignment that nobody wants to
do, including yourself. Unfortunately, this assignment will decide whether you
and only a few others pass the course.
- A committee is planning the annual Christmas party for employees and
their families. Last year was one of the better parties and all of the people
who are working this year had a job on last year's committee.
- You have thirty minutes left to decorate your house for your best
friend's surprise birthday party. Other friends have started decorating, but
they keep asking you what to do.
This page is from the book CASAA Student Activity Sourcebook. You can purchase this book from our resource library.
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