Leadership & Management Reading for Lesson 28: Stress and Leadership

Lesson 28 Reading Objectives Comprehend the effects that stress can have on the decision making process. Comprehend directive leadership and contrast how followers tend to view participative and directive leaders in crisis and non-crisis situations. Comprehend what inspires troops to have confidence in commanders in combat situations. Comprehend the relationship between transformational and transactional leaders in preparing for and during a crisis.

Lesson 28 Discussion Objectives Comprehend what inspires troops to have confidence in commanders in combat situations. Comprehend the relationship between transformational and transactional leaders in preparing for and during a crisis.

Stress Can Impact Decisions A leader who makes a decision under stress may fall back on intuitive reactions which satisfy his personal emotional needs—but, which ignore organizational or group goals.

Directive vs. Participative Leadership In a crisis: Directive leadership points the way to safety. The directive leader revises goals, defines objectives, and provides solutions. Followers want a directive leader With no crisis: Followers prefer a participative leader who allows much greater levels of feedback.

What Inspires Confidence in the Troops During Combat? The troops must believe in their leader. To bring this about the leader must: Be professionally competent. Under continuing stress, professional competence becomes paramount. Be credible to his troops. Be perceived as caring about his troops.

Transactional vs. Transformational Transformational leaders – Inspire. Transactional leaders – Manage, direct, provide structure. Preparing for crisis: Transformational leaders will often highlight the need for preparedness and early warning. Transactional leader can be very effective in implementing plans and responding once a system is in place.