Leadership Styles
Leadership styles are fluid, adapting to the situation at hand. In an APA-formatted response that incorporates at least 3 scholarly resources, respond to the following questions: 1. Compare and contrast the different leaderships styles. 2. Evaluate four different circumstances a community-based organization leader may encounter and which leaderships styles are most appropriate for each. 3. How do you think ethical decisions impact the leadership style? 4. How is leadership tied to power? Your response should be no less than 600 words.
Professor notes
Introduction: Ethics and leadership in community organizations
Last week, we spent time examining the connection of a community-based organization to its stakeholders, including its constituents. We discussed barriers organizations might face when trying to reach its stakeholders, and then also thought about diversity and its role in these organizations, both with outreach and with hiring and leadership. Now, for our final week of class, we are going to talk about leadership and ethical issues that organizations may face.
Leadership
Daniel Goleman (2000) identified six major leadership styles, and suggested that often, people can choose when to use each one, like a tool in a toolbox. While a personality trait may more comfortably lend itself to a particular leadership style, people can move between them when the need arises.
1. The coercive leader is effective in times of crisis. He or she will make commands and expect others to follow.
2. The authoritative leader lays out the overall goals, but gives others the chance to choose how to meet those goals.
3. The affiliative leader focuses on people first, often laying out praise and building harmony.
4. The democratic leader wants to give everyone a voice in decision-making.
5. The pacesetting leader sets high standards and models these standards.
6. The coaching leader focuses on personal development and less on organizational goals (Goleman, 2000).
Each of these styles is important with community-based organizations. Leadership must know how to recognize when to use the right style with the appropriate situation. Good leadership is integral with helping an organization reach its goals!
Ethics
Ethical living is based on a value system and on daily choices. Community-based organizations face unique ethical circumstances that are based on their organizational values. Often, these values are based on improving quality of life. However, the drive for economic security, membership, volunteers, and other organizational aspects may hinder ethical decision-making.
Rhode and Packel (2009) identified several concerns that are important to community-based organizations:
1. Causes of misconduct – these may include fraud, misallocation of resources, or a lack of accountability.
2. Compensation – there is a discrepency between the for-profit and non-profit sectors in terms of fair compensation.
3. Conflicts of interest – there may be pressure to give deferential treatment to a board member or other person of influence.
4. Publications and solicitations – organizations must focus on transparency of their use of funds.
5. Financial integrity – organizations need to consider the intents and sources of financial gifts.
6. Accountability and strategic management – there may be a lack of focus in how to spend funds responsibly (Rhode & Packel, 2009).
Working and leading in a community-based organization can be rewarding on many levels. Using the proper leadership style and acting ethically will help ensure that rewarding process! “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” —Jack Welch
References:
Goleman, D. (2000). Leadership that gets results. Harvard Business Review. 4487. Retrieved from http://elibrary.kiu.ac.ug:8080/jspui/bitstream/1/480/1/Leadership%20That%20Gets%20Results.pdf
Rhode, D. L. & Packel, A. K. (2009). Ethics and nonprofits. Stanford Social Innovation Review. Retrieved from http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/ethics_and_nonprofits
Resources
Required Text
McKnight, J. & McKnight Plummer, J. (2015). Community organizing: Theory and practice. Retrieved from https://redshelf.com Chapter 6: Building an Effective Leadership Team Chapter 13: Value Systems and Ethics
Recommended References
Hlupic, V. (2011). Community-based organizations boost engagement levels – and profits. Strategic HR Review, 10(3), 33-34.
Self Checks
