Chapter 12 - Leadership - Part 1

Leadership is best defined as ________.

• the ability to merely project one's abilities in the lack of actual accomplishments

• the ability to reduce the dependence of team members on each other

• the ability to induce the team members to focus on individual goals rather than collective goals

• the ability to influence a group toward the achievement of a vision or set of goals

• the ability to use factors like training and experience to reduce dependence on formal leadership

Which of the following statements regarding leadership is true?

• Which of the following statements regarding leadership is true?

• Which of the following statements regarding leadership is true?

• Formal appointment is essential in creating leaders.

• All leaders are hierarchically superior to followers.

• Nonsanctioned leadership is as important as formal influence.

Which of the following is a desirable feature of leadership?

• one-directional influence from the leader to the follower

• coercive power and authority

• lack of freedom

• coexistence of leaders and managers

• passivity of followers

Trait theories of leadership focus on ________.

• the special relationship that leaders establish with a small group of their followers

• the personal qualities and characteristics that differentiate leaders from nonleaders

• the way the leader makes decisions

• the extent to which followers are willing and able to accomplish a specific task

• the match between the leader's style and the degree to which the situation gives the leader control

Which of the following Big Five personality traits has been identified as the most important trait in effective leaders?

• conscientiousness

• openness

• extraversion

• agreeableness

• emotional stability

Emotional intelligence (EI) is critical to effective leadership because one of its core components is ________, which reflects the consideration that leaders must be able to express.

• conscientiousness

• empathy

• optimism

• introversion

• perfectionism

Trait theories most accurately predict ________.

• distinguishing features of an effective leader

• differences between an effective and an ineffective leader

• success of a leader

• roles to be played by the leader

• emergence of a leader

Tim Wrench was leading the client services division of AmWeb for seven years when he was asked to move to another region where the company was setting up its office. Before moving, Tim was asked to help in finding a successor for him from his team. Tim's most obvious choice was Judy Judge, and the management accepted his choice as Judy was a popular person across the company. Judy was known for her vivacious nature, was often seen speaking to employees from various divisions, and was always excited to take up a new opportunity. Once she became a leader, she continued to give employees freedom and flexibility even if it resulted in deficiencies on the work front like missed deadlines or low quality. Judy's initial weeks as a leader were full of confusion among her team members, but many felt that the situation would come under control. When things did not improve in the next two months and many complaints poured in from clients, the management realized that Judy was not the best candidate to lead the team. Which of the following, if true, would best explain this outcome?

• Judy was a high-performing employee and enjoyed good relationships with everyone on the team.

• Everyone felt Judy was given insufficient time to prove her worth as a leader.

• Research has shown that traits can predict the emergence of a leader, but not his or her efficiency as a leader.

• The client complaints were a common thing encountered by the company.

• Judy demonstrated low levels of consideration and high levels of task-orientation.

According to the Big Five personality model, emotional stability is the most important trait of effective leaders.

• True

• False

Trait theories of leadership most accurately predict the emergence and appearance of leadership.

• True

• False