1. Introduction to Leadership
COMM-111
Chapter 3
Liesl D. Hutchins-Eberhardt

2. Chapter 3 - Traits, Situational, and Functional Leadership
Understanding and Explaining Leadership (pp )
Four Primary Approaches
Traits
Situational
Functional
Transformational
Currently no single approach provides a universal explanation
Traits Approach (pp )
What characteristics do leaders share?
Stodgill concludes both traits and the situation influence leadership
Leaders are made, they are not born

3. The Situational Approach (pp. 66-78)
Fiedler’s Contingency Model of Leadership (pp )
Least Preferred Coworker (LPC) Scale
The effectiveness of a leader in a given situation is influenced by:
Position Power
Task Structure
Leader-Member Relations
Path-Goal Theory (pp )
Ability to motivate followers
Directive Leadership
Supportive Leadership
Participative Leadership
Achievement-Oriented Leadership

4. The Situational Approach (cont.)
Hersey and Blanchard’s Situational Leadership Theory (pp )
Follower maturity consists of two major components that can be plotted on a continuum
Job Maturity (Skills)
Psychological Maturity (Willingness)
These two components make up four combinations (levels) of follower readiness
R1 - Low skills and willingness
R2 - Low skills but is willing
R3 - High skills but not willing
R4 - High skills and willingness

5. The Situational Approach (cont.)
Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) Theory (pp )
Explores how leaders develop relationships with followers to accomplish goals
Two different types of relational role exchanges between leaders and followers
In-Group - Assistants and Advisors - High Trust
Out-Group - All Others - Low Trust
LMX Theory Evolved Over Four Stages
Stage 1 - Validation of Differentiation
Stage 2 - Leader-Member Exchange
Stage 3 - Leadership Making
Stage 4 - Team Building Competence Network

6. The Functional Approach to Leadership (pp. 79-82)
Benne and Sheats classified three types of functional or behavioral roles in groups
Task-Related Roles
Initiator, Information/Opinion Seeker, Information/Opinion Giver, Elaborator, Orienter/Coordinator, Energizer
Group Building and Maintenance Roles
Encourager, Harmonizer/Compromiser, Gatekeeper, Standard Setter
Individual Roles
Aggressor, Blocker, Recognition-Seeker, Player, Dominator