an immediate source of satisfaction or as a means of future satisfaction.
In 1973, Victor Vroom
and Phillip Yetton developed a leader-participation model that related leadership behavior and
participation to decision making. Recognizing that task structures have varying demands for routine and nonroutine
activities, these researchers argued that leader behavior must adjust to reflect the task structure. This model provides a
set of rules to determine the form and amount of participative decision making that is desirable in different situations.
The attribution theory of leadership proposes that leadership is merely an attribution that people make about other
individuals. A theme that carries through this theory is the perception that effective leaders are generally considered
consistent or unwavering in their decisions. For example, this theory explains why Ronald Reagan was perceived as an
effective leader. He was thought to be fully committed, steadfast, and consistent in the decisions he made and the goals
he set. Evidence indicates that a heroic leader is perceived as someone who takes up a difficult or unpopular cause and,
through determination and persistence, ultimately succeeds.
The charismatic
leadership theory says that followers make attributions of heroic or extraordinary leadership abilities when
they observe certain behaviors. Studies on charismatic leadership have been directed at identifying those behaviors that
differentiate charismatic leaders from their noncharismatic counterparts. Several authors and researchers have attempted
to identify personal characteristics of the charismatic leader. Some characteristics are: extremely high confidence,
dominance, and strong convictions. While a minority of researchers think that charisma can’t be learned, most experts
believe that individuals can be trained to exhibit charismatic behaviors and can thus enjoy the benefits that come with
being labeled “a charismatic leader.”
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Transformational leaders are leaders who provide individualized consideration and intellectual stimulation, and who
possess charisma
. This type of leader inspires followers to transcend their own self-interests for the good of the
organization, and who is capable of having a profound and extraordinary effect on his or her followers. They also pay
attention to the concerns and developmental needs of individual followers; they change followers’ awareness of issues by
helping them look at old problems in new ways; and they are able to excite, arouse, and inspire followers to put out extra
effort to achieve group goals.
An important trend that has developed over the last few decades is for managers to embrace empowerment
. Managers
are being advised that effective leaders share power and responsibility with their employees. The empowering leader’s
role is to show trust, provide vision, remove performance-blocking barriers, offer encouragement, motivate, and coach
employees.

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