Leadership: general framework
1. What is leadership ?
• Highly fragmented (research) field
• Many different perspectives and theories
• Lack of agreement in terms of defining leadership :
o « Leadership researchers have struggled for most of the last century to put together an
integrated, theoretically cohesive view of the nature of leadership. »
• « Leadership is a social influence process in which the leader seeks the (voluntary) participation
of subordinates in an effort to achieve the organisational mission and goals »
o Social Influence process between leaders & followers
o (Voluntary) participation of subordinates
o Different factors influence the leadership process e.g. :
▪ Personality and behaviour of the leader
▪ Perceptions and reactions of the followers
▪ Context in which the leader – follower relationship unfolds
• Currently completely different than 2 years ago → now more difficult to
manage workforce when working from home
• → Leadership is ‘created’ by the leader + the followers + the context
2. Leadership and/versus management
Management: tough
part of direction
people, focussing on
concrete/hard
elements.
Leadership: more soft
elements,
Strong leadership AND management
required for optimal effectiveness.
Leaders = challenge status quo and inspire
to achieve the vision. Managers to
formulate detailed plans (project, work) to
create efficient organisational structures &
to oversee, control, coordinate day-to-day
operations.
1
1. What is leadership ?
• Highly fragmented (research) field
• Many different perspectives and theories
• Lack of agreement in terms of defining leadership :
o « Leadership researchers have struggled for most of the last century to put together an
integrated, theoretically cohesive view of the nature of leadership. »
• « Leadership is a social influence process in which the leader seeks the (voluntary) participation
of subordinates in an effort to achieve the organisational mission and goals »
o Social Influence process between leaders & followers
o (Voluntary) participation of subordinates
o Different factors influence the leadership process e.g. :
▪ Personality and behaviour of the leader
▪ Perceptions and reactions of the followers
▪ Context in which the leader – follower relationship unfolds
• Currently completely different than 2 years ago → now more difficult to
manage workforce when working from home
• → Leadership is ‘created’ by the leader + the followers + the context
2. Leadership and/versus management
Management: tough
part of direction
people, focussing on
concrete/hard
elements.
Leadership: more soft
elements,
Strong leadership AND management
required for optimal effectiveness.
Leaders = challenge status quo and inspire
to achieve the vision. Managers to
formulate detailed plans (project, work) to
create efficient organisational structures &
to oversee, control, coordinate day-to-day
operations.
1
