The author has defined leadership as “a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal” (Northouse, 2016, p. 6). Clearly, there are four components contained in the definition.
The first one is the process. I could not agree more with Northouse defining leadership as a process. Leadership is working at least for a period and requires responses from both leaders and followers. It is not enough for leadership being effective for just a moment or a minute. In addition, I think the process contributes to the outcome pursued by leaders and followers. Although the outcome may turn out to be completely different, the endeavour contained in the process matters the most. And the endeavour actually means the all the reactions caused by leadership. Moreover, I believe the energy flow is implied in the process. The energy flow does not only mean extrinsic communication, also means sharing the intrinsic feeling, need, aspiration, and so on. Leadership allows the energy of each individual to be seen and accepted by the other ones. In another word, the leaders and followers could perceive and exchange their energy smoothly in the process.
The second one is the influence. Besides all the points illustrated by the author in the textbook, I would like to add that this component is mostly talking about a linear, one-way event. Influence emphasizes the effects that the leaders have on the followers.
The third one is the group context. I think the importance of the group context to the leadership is like that of the soil to the flower. The group context is where the leadership takes place.
The last component is the goal attainment. I like the word “mutual” in the textbook. It shows that both leaders and followers in the group are sharing the something in common, which means all of them would working together to achieve the common goal. Having a mutual purpose is the best way to motivate everyone and to encourage them to show their best performance during the process. Also, it is worth mentioning that the goal attainment is resonated with the process.
At last, I would like to share my understanding of power. The author has thoroughly explained the types and effects of the power. As far as I am concerned, there are two more aspects that should be noticed. First, we need to admit the existence of power and accept it. The power implied in the leadership can be intimidating to both leaders and followers. Therefore, facing it is far more important than intentionally ignoring or avoiding it. Second, it is crucial to be aware of the attitude towards the power. To be more specific, the leaders have to wield the power in a right way, and the followers could be influenced willingly. This is the reasonable and logical way to make the best use of the power.
My question: Above all the five components, which one would you value the most?
Reference
Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage publications.
https://create.twu.ca/ldrs500/unit-1/unit-1-learning-activities/
Response to Layla’s question posted on Unit 1, Learning Activity 3.
Of all the components described, the one I value the most is influence. Based on my experiences, in the absence of influence, all others would eventually lose relevance. It takes influence to exert power, make the process work and inspire the team positively towards achieving goals.