Category: Unit 4

Emotional Intelligence

According to Northouse (2017), emotional intelligence is the interplay between our emotions and cognitive processes, meaning an individual’s ability to understand emotions (Northouse, 2017: p. 28). Since humans are emotional creatures, it is crucial for a leader to express emotions, and use emotions in thinking, leading, and acting. Leaders must manage not only their own emotions but also other’s emotions, which becomes interconnected with the psychodynamic approach.

The Psychodynamics Approach

Psychodynamics can be related to emotional intelligence because both are trying to understand emotions that drive behaviour. The psychodynamics approach intends to gain insights into followers that an individual is leading so that the leader understands what unconscious thoughts are compelling an individual to act in a certain way and to assist in further self-development. Furthermore, it can be insightful to understand the psychological makeup of followers to determine how the leader can motivate and serve the followers more effectively. Psychodynamics self-awareness is useful because it is empowering for a leader to be aware of their own psychological makeup and what unconscious thought processes may be driving behaviour, values, emotions, decisions, and motives (Northouse, 2017: p. 203). In my experience, sometimes employers require interviewees to take personality tests to determine whether they would be a good fit for the organization. For example, while applying for a marketing job, I was required to take the KOLBE personality test. I have also sought self-awareness by taking the Myers Briggs personality test to further understand what sorts of characteristics drive my behaviour. This self-awareness allows me to play to my strengths and become aware of my faults.

Servant Leadership

Awareness is also an important factor in servant leadership as it is important for a leader to be aware of how he or she can better serve followers (Spears, 2000). In this sphere, it is followers-oriented. Servant leadership means that the hierarchical pyramid in inverted, meaning that the leader puts the interests of followers ahead of self-interest motives (Kuzmenko, Montagno, Muncie, & Smith, 2004: p. 80). The leader focuses on self-development and empowerment of followers (Kuzmenko, 2004: p.81).

Southwest is a success story of an airline company that effectively embodies servant leadership by making employees their top priority. In an interview with Colleen Barrett, she explains the company’s servant leadership philosophy: management believes that if employees feel valued and important, they will go out of their way to create an extraordinary experience for passengers and then success will be sure to follow (KnowledgeAtWharton, 2008). Customers that have an enjoyable flight are likely to share their positive experience with others and become repeat customers themselves. Colleen believes in treating all employees equally, regardless of a title or level of seniority in the company (KnowledgeAtWharton, 2008).

Servant leadership has elements of transformational leadership, whereby the leader seeks to change people by assessing followers’ needs, emotions, values, and ethics (Northouse, 2017: 163). Similar to Southwest’s philosophy, transformational leadership seeks to treat followers as equal human beings. If a leader can embody these four characteristics of transformational leadership, he or she will likely earn the right to Maxwell’s 4^th level of effective leadership, meaning the leader has gained loyalty from followers (Leadership, 2015). The followers credit their leader for what he or she has done for them. In order to get to the 5^th level of leadership, followers need to respect who the leader is and what they stand for. This requires the leader to have strong sense of self-awareness. Maxwell argues that if the leader can do the first 4 levels of leadership effectively, then followers will give the leader the 5^th level. Transformational leadership connects with people, produces results for the organization, and harnesses the ability to grow and train followers. However, only being self-aware is not enough, a servant leader must be aware of the followers’ interest and furthermore, prioritize their interest. Only then, will followers go above and beyond what is required of them.

Christina

 

References

KnowledgeAtWharton. (2008, July 09). Southwest Airlines’ Colleen Barrett on ‘Servant Leadership’. Retrieved October 21, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TgR95vnM0

Maxwell, J. (2015, Aug 30). John Maxwell 5 Levels of Leadership Full Video. Retrieved October 21, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe6XacmIZms

Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: theory and practice (Eighth ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Searle, T.P. and Barbuto, J.E. (2011). Servant Leadership, Hope, and Organizational Virtuousness: A Framework Exploring Positive Micro and Macro Behaviors and Performance Impact. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies 18(1), 107-117. [Library Link; sign-in required](https://ezproxy.student.twu.ca/login?url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1548051810383863)

Smith, B.N., Montagno, R.V. and Kuzmenko, T.N. (2004). Transformational and servant leadership: Content and contextual comparisons. Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies 10(4), 80-92. [Library Link; sign-in required](https://ezproxy.student.twu.ca/login?url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/107179190401000406)

Upon reading this text about transformational leadership, Abraham Lincoln came to mind as a former leader that exhibited transformational leadership. Lincoln came to presidency in 1860 before the outbreak the American Civil War. Amidst the moral and constitution turmoil, Lincoln was able to lead America out of the War and played a pivotal role in abolishing slavery and strengthening the American government (History.com Editors, 2018). Through this time of heightened uncertainty, Abraham Lincoln demonstrated all four transformational leadership factors including, idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, and individualized consideration (Northouse, 2017: p.169). Transformational leadership entails changing people by assessing followers’ needs, emotions, values, and ethics, and treating them as human beings (Northouse, 2017: 163).

Lincoln demonstrated idealized influence because he was able to connect with the country at an emotional level in a way that very few leaders can do. He raised the level of mortality across the nation by calling each and every citizen to stand with him for a higher purpose. He provided a vision for America stating, “Standing as I do with my hand upon this staff, and under the folds of the American flag, I ask you to stand by me as long as I stand by it” (“Abraham Lincoln Quotes,” n.d.). In addition, Lincoln had a strong moral and ethical code that citizens respected and wished to emulate (Northouse, 2017: p. 169).

In addition, Lincoln had inspiration motivation because he was able to raise the nation’s level of consciousness about the importance of uniting towards a shared vision. He inspired the nation to transcend their own self-interest and value every human being (regardless of skin colour), and ultimately “address higher-level needs” (Northouse, 2017: 168). He conveyed this by stating, “My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth” (“Abraham Lincoln Quotes,” n.d.). In order to lead the country in this time, Lincoln had to develop followers to reach their full potential. Evidently, he had to have a strong moral foundation to effectively call others to action and to think of something greater than themselves (Northouse, 2017: 169).

Lincoln used intellectual stimulation by challenging America’s beliefs and values with regards to slavery (Northouse, 2017: p.171). Lastly, Lincoln used individualized consideration by creating a supportive climate and acted as a coach to help citizens of the nation become “fully actualized” (Northouse, 2017: p. 171). He frequently empowered them in his speeches, eloquently articulating that the power is with the people. He once said, “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts” (“Abraham Lincoln Quotes,” n.d.).

Was there an experience in your life where your values, beliefs, and self-interests were challenged by a transformation leader?

Christina

References

Abraham Lincoln Quotes. (n.d.) In Brainy Quote. Retrieved on October 16, 2018, from https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/abraham_lincoln

History.com Editors. (2018, Sept 2). Abraham Lincoln. HISTORY. Retrieved on October 16, 2018, from https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/abraham-lincoln

Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: theory and practice (Eighth ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.