Perspectives on Leadership: a Synthesis of Types and Theories

By Joachim Ifezuo Oforchukwu

The ?urpose of this book is to di??u?? the different aspects of leader?hi? trait? in detail .... Good leader? are develo?ed through a never ending ?ro?e?? of ?elf-?tudy, edu?ation, training, and ex?erien?e.
-From the Introduction
In this insightful book, Dr. Oforchukwu explores all dimensions of leadership traits. He presents a paradigm shift in leadership. Thi? ?hift requires th?t ?u??e??ful le?der? ?f the future will devel?? ? gre?ter degree ?f true le?der?hi? ?kills. The essential values of good leaders include integrity and honesty. Trust is an essential ingredient in Perspectives on Leadership. In this book, the author believes that leadership principles can be taught. This book would be used as a core textbook in Leadrship and Management Studies at Spiritan University Nneochi (SUN) as well as studies in Politics, Ethics, Business and Administration.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456757502

Joachim Ifezuo Oforchukwu

Dr. Oforchukwu was a member of the Faculty at the Spiritan International School of Theology, Enugu, Nigeria. He taught public policy as a doctoral assistant in the University of Akron, Ohio, USA. He founded the Nursery/Primary School, which is now a Secondary School, in St. Patrick’s Parish, Awo-Omamma, Imo State of Nigeria. He is the founder of Ezinne Philomena Scholarship Foundation, INC. The scholarship scheme is designed to raise money for children’s educational needs, school fees, books, and uniforms. Joachim Oforchukwu’s heart and soul are completely devoted to helping those with little or no chance for a decent life, those with nothing, those with no future, all of which can be changed through education. Joachim graduated from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA with a degree in Philosophy. He has Masters Degrees in Political Science and Educational Administration from the University of Akron, Ohio as well as a Master’s degree in Pastoral Theology. He earned a Doctorate in Practical Theology. He is currently on the State of New Jersey Psychiatric Advisory committee, Hammonton, in the United States of America. Dr. Oforchukwu is the author of many books including, “Towards A Just Nigerian Society” published in 1996, “Improving the Christian Marriage-Relationship in Our Society” published in 2000, a co-author of “Education Among Nigerian Youths: Can Our Educational System be Redeemed?”, published in 2002. The Implementation of Quota System and its Effects on School Dropout in the Federal Secondary Schools in the South East and South South Regions of Nigeria, published in 2006. His many articles have appeared in leading Journals including, the Spiritan International School of Theology Journal.

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2011, 2013 Joachim Ifezuo Oforchukwu. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 1/7/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4567-5749-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-5751-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-5750-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011905209

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The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

2011, 2013 by Joachim Ifezuo Oforchukwu

Published by Spiritan Publications

P. O. Box 1603, Onitsha Nigeria

Contents

Introduction

Foreword

Acknowledgement

Dedication

Chapter 1: Leadership Theories

Why study leadership?

What is leadership?

Techniques

Types of leadership

The laissez faire leadership style

The autocratic leadership style

The participative leadership style

Determining the best leadership style

The emergent leadership style

The transactional leadership style

The transformational leadership style

Can leadership be taught?

Summary

Questions

Chapter 2: Ethical Leadership

What is ethics?

Why is ethics important in leadership?

The roles of ethical leaders

Ethical leaders and their relationship with subordinates

Measurement of employees’ ethical attitudes

Measurement of leaders’ attitudes

Individual differences in employees’ ethical perspectives

Nature of the ethical dilemma

Ethical leaders and the practice of justice

Ethical Leaders and honesty in leadership styles

Summary

Questions

Chapter 3: Servant Leadership

What is servant leadership?

Characteristics of servant leadership

Credibility and leadership

The characteristic of trust

Trust In terms of concern

The characteristic of service

The servant leader as transformational leader

Servant leadership in education

Servant leadership in the church

Principles of servant-leadership for the church

Servant leadership in politics

Servant leadership in organization

Findings from workplace attitude studies

Summary

Questions

Chapter 4: Charismatic Leadership

Charismatic leadership in organizations

Classical approaches on charisma

Recent research on charisma

Charisma, communication and manipulation

Challenging the guardian role of ethics in understanding charismatic leadership

Summary

Questions

Chapter 5: Ideal Leadership

Introduction to ideal leadership

Leadership capital

Leadership conditions

Knowledge management

New challenges for leaders

Literature related to the knowledge leadership phenomenon

Elements of the Ideal leadership model

Professional leadership

Direction

Process

Coordination

Summary

Questions

General Questions

Epilogue

End Notes

References

Introduction

The purpose of this book is to discuss the different aspects of leadership traits in detail and their associated characteristics. The research mainlyfocuses on perspectives of leadership and its different aspects revolving around the same. The perspectives of Leadership received attention in the popular press, but little empirical research exists to support the theory or the anecdotal evidence used in the popular press material. The author of this book presents a model of perspectives of leadership based on the variables of vision, influence, credibility, trust, and service identified in the academic and popular press literature. Other researchers are encouraged to engage in the empirical research activities required to advance this stream of literature to its next phase of maturation.

The book also explains the leadership as practical ethics. Ethics and leadership are therefore best understood as a realist endeavor. Realists focus on power and interests as the key elements of human behavior. Good leaders are made, not born. If you have the desire and will power, you can become an effective leader. Good leaders develop through a never-ending process of self-study, education, training, and experience. This guide will help you through that process. To inspire your workers into higher levels of teamwork, there are certain things you must be, know, and do. These actions do not come naturally, but are acquired through continual work and study. Good leaders are continually working and studying to improve their leadership skills; they are NOT resting on their laurels. When a person is deciding if he/she respects you as a leader, he/she does not think about your attributes, rather, he/she observes what you do so that he/she can know who you really are. He/she uses this observation to tell if you are an honorable and trusted leader or a self-serving person who misuses authority to look good and get promoted. Self-serving leaders are not effective because their employees only obey them, not follow them. They succeed in many areas because they present a good image to their seniors at the expense of their workers. The basis of good leadership is honorable character and selfless service to your organization. In your employees’ eyes, your leadership is everything you do that affects the organization’s objectives and their well-being. Respected leaders concentrate on what they are [be] (such as beliefs and character), what they know (such as job, tasks, and human nature), and what they do (such as implementing, motivating, and providing direction).

This work is a core textbook in leadership, ethics, adminstration, politics, and management. This book is different from any other previously published book on leadership. It explores the different theories of leadership. To help students learn effectively, the book includes study questions and summaries at the end of each chapter.

Joachim Ifezuo Oforchukwu, C.S.Sp., Ph.D.

Spiritan University Nneochi,

(SUN)

Foreword

The hope and desperation felt today, to a great extent, are resultants of leadership. Leadership, as a human phenomenon, pervades all aspects of human living- spiritual, corporal, educational, recreational, economical, political, social, and cultural. It must be contended with, if co-operation is to occur between two or more people. This phenomenon is at the heart of both community and social organization. Suffice it to say; the quality of peace any society enjoys is an outcome of the quality of leadership it is given. Much of individual, corporate and national calamities are bitter benefits of ill-espoused and poorly dispensed leadership. Though it is philosophically or ideologically conceptual by its nature, leadership must be incarnated in the people to be effective. There can be no society without leadership.

In the book, Perspectives of Leadership undertakes the analyses of varied traits of leadership, from the theoretical framework to the empirical mode, as exemplified in the notion of perspectives of leadership, as the task. It is striking the way most of the qualities and characteristics espoused by various leadership definitions are discussed in very simple, easy-to-understand language, while offering approaches to obtaining these qualities and providing leadership. Dr. Oforchukwu demonstrates, contrary to some schools of thought, that leadership can be learned and, hence, be taught. The perfection of these qualities is found in the servant leader who, as it were, is the incarnation of ideal leader. Here, ideal leadership is one that operates on transformational values rather than on transactional values. It is a leadership that inspires vision, credibility, pioneering, modeling and the empowerment of others, and thrives on delegation and co-operation, while not neglecting supervision and responsibility. Leadership has the belief in the ability of people and by its style, has the capacity to produce more capable leaders, because people are empowered to be responsibly creative. Appropriate leadership is seen as dynamic, fluid, and systemic. Authority is exercised through motivation, trust and example.

Servant leadership is founded on sacrifice and service for the common good. It is not self-seeking. This understanding of leadership is important in today’s world, where competition has obscured leadership’s view to the point of crass authoritarianism and selfishness. It is important that future leaders learn what constitutes good leadership and apply themselves to delivering its’ most important aspects to the society. Like the outcome of every exploration, this work on perspectives of Leadership has extended the frontiers of enquiry on the subject of leadership. I strongly recommend this book to all institutions, universities and higher learning where leadership is explored and advanced.

Peter Agbonome, C.S.Sp

Provincial Superior/ Lecturer (Architecture Dept)

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

July, 2011.

Acknowledgement

A number of people offered ideas that helped to improve this book. Rev. Dr. Francis Ejimofor offered comments on the draft. He offered suggestions on the section on ethics. His suggestions were appreciated. Also, Rev. Lawrence Nwaneri made a valuable suggestion on the section on leadership. He asked me to include the different types of leadership. His suggestion is also appreciated.

In addition, Very Rev. Fr. Peter Agbonome, the Provincial Superior of Nigeria, South East Province, read the drafts, discussed the chapters, and suggested that the book be used as General Studies and Management in the SPIRITAN UNIVERSITY Nneochi,(SUN), Abia State, founded by the Holy Ghost Congregation. He noted that the book would help to train future leaders. This book would be used as a core textbook in Leadrship and Management Studies at SUN. My appreciation also goes to Rev. Fr. Prof. Malachy Nwabuisi, the Pioneer Rector of SUN. He read the drafts and approved the book as a core textbook in the SUN. I am also grateful to Ann Marie Pheroh and Linda Shirley for their encouragement, inspiration and support.

Professor Kathie Owens taught in, and later retired from, the University of Akron. It was during my graduate programs in the Educational Department at the University of Akron, that I came into contact with her. Our friendship developed into a great combination of minds thinking alike, when I invited her to Nigeria, where she spent her Sabbatical leave. She took on a tremendous amount of great work by not only proofreading the text, but editing this book as well, and I remain forever thankful and grateful for her outstanding dedication to this work. I am also grateful to Dr. Kathie Owens for helping to choose the tilte of this book.

Dr. Donna Blackford-Busson is a colleague of mine in the Doctoral Program in the Department of Public Administration at Akron University, Ohio, USA. We have shared many of diverse ideas in common. When I asked her to edit this book, she was delighted to take part in this most important project. I owe her a great debt of gratitude for her insightful contributions and her dedicated editing skills used in making this book stand for the important ideals it puts forth.

I am also grateful to the members of my family for their outstanding encouragement, prayers, support, and understanding.

I also remain grateful to the Diocese of Camden for providing me the atmosphere needed for scholarship. I am particularly grateful to the Bishop of Camden, Most Rev. Joseph Galante, D.D., J.C.D for his friendship, love and support. My appreciation also goes to Rev. Terry Odien, the Priest Personnel of the Diocese of Camden for his support and encouragement. Rev. Gerald Marable is fond of asking me about this book. I have discussed this book with him and he is eager to read the book because of his interest in leadership principles. Rev. Gerald, I am grateful for your constant push to get this book completed. I am also particularly grateful to Rev. Hugh Bradley whom I lived with for over five years at John the Twenty-Third Parish, Blue Anchor, for his love and understanding. He is a wizard in computer. Rev. Bradley, I am grateful for helping to resolve my computer problems.

It is important to note that any error found in this book is my own, and not a factor of the fine editing that was done by my colleagues.

Joachim Ifezuo Oforchukwu, C.S.Sp., Ph.D.

Spiritan University Nneochi,

(SUN)

August, 2011.

Dedication

This work is dedicated to my late parents, Nze Bartholomew and Ezinne Philomena Oforchukwu, who first taught me the principles of leadership.

Chapter 1: Leadership Theories

Leadership has been widely discussed and studied in many areas and with a varying focus; but it still remains as an elusive and hazy concept (Doh, 2003; Rosenbach, 2003). It has been a major ingredient of business school curricula and a popular topic of many best selling books. It has been the focal point of many academic research projects as well as of more than a dozen journals on the market. Many academicians and researchers have made significant contributions in the theories and practice of leadership. After years of extensive research, the subject of leadership has emerged as a legitimate discipline. Traditional leadership theories are most often behavioral based (Yukl, 1998). By observing leader behavior, organizational outcomes, employee performance, researchers usually first observe the conduct in the workplace, then try to explain it from a behavioral perspective (Yukl & Tracy, 1992).

Why study leadership?

Most people, regardless of their education, occupation, intelligence, political or religious beliefs recognize the importance of leadership. [1] We know from observation and from reading that organizations generally do not rise above the quality of their leaders. R. Daniel Watkins’ book, An Encyclopedia of Compelling Quotations, provides some brief but powerful statements about leadership. Napoleon Bonaparte said, A leader is a dealer in hope. Arnold H. Glassgow wisely observed: A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of credit. Walter Lippmann, the distinguished American journalist, wrote in a column dedicated to Franklin Delano Roosevelt: [2] "The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind