Caleb Lund
Last week in class we discussed the Process Theory of leadership, also known as the Reciprocal Theory. The Process Theory of leadership is based around the Social Change Model of Leadership, Relational Leadership Model, Transformational Leadership and the Servant Leadership Theory. In class we spent a great time evaluating both models of this style in leadership. This leadership theory has been around since the nineteen seventies and continues to be used to the present day.
As we start to look through the Social Change Model of leadership we can infer that leadership, in this since, is a process by which individuals and groups work toward the common goal of improving the quality of life for all. They intend to do this by developing and promoting seven basic values. These seven values include:
Individual
-Consciousness of Self: This is where the individual is aware of the values, emotions, attitudes, and beliefs that drive them to action.
-Congruence: The concept of thinking, feeling, and behaving with consistency, genuineness, honesty and authenticity.
-Commitment: Said to be the drive of leaders, linking them to values and respect from others.
Group
-Collaboration: This is the primary means of empowering others through trust.
-Common Purpose: Is to work with shared aims and values.
-Controversy with Civility: This sheds life on differences in viewpoints and the importance of accepting them civilly.
Community
-Citizenship: This is the description of the self respectively connected with the environment and community. Involves individual rights and responsibilities.
This is an inclusive view to leadership, rather than a process. This form of leadership promotes values of equity, social justice, self-knowledge, personal empowerment, citizenship and service. These are all aspects that relate to my everyday life, as I volunteer or engage in helping others around me.
The next model of leadership discussed was the Relational Leadership Model, which involves a process. This process illustrates the purpose as being the center, with concepts of inclusion, empowerment and ethics to surround this purpose. A good way to sum this up is with the following statement, “A relational and ethical process of people together attempting to accomplish positive change.” Overviews of the five concepts within this model of leadership are:
1. Inclusive- a sense of we, diverse points
2. Empowering- of others through personal interactions
3. Ethical- makes moral decisions
4. Purposeful- establish a shared vision, commitment
5. Process- the way the group establishes itself.
Along with these principals are the following three dimensions:
· Knowing: Having knowledge and understanding of the principal. (Education, Information, Experience)
· Being: Having attitudes and beliefs related to the principal. (Who you are, Aspiration)
· Doing: Acting in accordance with the principal. (Skills, Action, Techniques)
I feel that I can apply this model of leadership, based on the above dimensions, to my everyday school based career. My main focus, goal or principal is to succeed in school and do well.
Each of the theories we have interpreted in class thus far can evoke pros and cons in any given situation where leadership is being implemented or applied. As we can gather from previous blog posts, it is determined on the effort and ability the leader uses to engage these methods of leadership. There is no set guide to leadership, just many helpful choices to draw and learn from.
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