This chapter begins with a very long quote from Ellen Berscheid. The quote is from an article in American Psychologist. The main summery of the long quote is that behavior influences the context of relationships more than most people expect. This view is shared by many people, many people are interested in these views because relationships are central to our social lives. How do you think that relationships are affected by the different behaviors that people bring to relationships?
Chapter 9 also focuses on 2 leadership views. These topics are, Leader-Follower Relationships: Postpositive view & Rationality in Leadership: Constructionist Views.
In the Leader-Follower Relationships: Postpositive view, the key points are that followers are vital for this process to work. It is an interpersonal process where leaders provide resources in order to help the group with goal achievement. In this process leaders also encourage loyalty and trust.
Rationality in Leadership: Constructionist Views, this view uses a different theory of knowledge, social constructionism, to consider the meaning of leadership relationships. This view uses approaches that are qualitative and inductive. The lens that this view is seen through is more social and cultural instead of a psychological approaches that are commonly used in leadership studies. Relational leader scholars in this view shift attention from a single dyad as a point of interest to structures of relationships.
What view do you prefer to follow? What view do you feel would be more successful? Have you ever seen either of these views in action?
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Behaviors are extremely important to relationships and assist in actually forming the relationship itself. Some behaviors create forced relationships out of fear, sympathetic relationships out of guilt, or even mutual relationships. For example, some people or business companies might be out of a job if they decide not to work with another company. This will bring out a positive behavior from the poor company to keep the rich company on their side. The company in power can often times abuse the relationship and demand too much. Someone who steals will have a negative relationship with the boss, but someone who works overtime is more likely to have a positive relationship with the boss.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to follow the Leader-Follower view because I would feel more valued as a follower if the process would not work without me. I have a hard time forming relationships if I do not have that person's trust and loyalty which is another reason why I prefer this view. I feel that having trust and loyalty would allow people to work better together and would prevent a lot of conflict.
Everyone is different which is why I think both views would be successful depending on the person. I prefer the Leader-Follower Relationship, but someone else probably prefers the Rationality in Leadership. But I am a person who works better when I have formed trusting relationships.
I feel that many professors and students have a Leader-Follower relationship. They trust you will do your homework and do your part to be prepared for class. If you do that they will more likely be successful and help the group achieve their goal of learning. But both the teacher and the student have to do their parts to make this relationship successful.
I prefer a more of a Leader-Follower postpostive view. This view seems to involve the leader developing trust and loyalty of their followers. I believe this is very important as if I did not trust my leaders, I would be less inclined to work hard or care for them. Personally in my life I look to be a trustful leader who stands up for what they believe in and try to look for the best in people to gain their loyalty.
ReplyDeleteYes there are circumstances in which the Rationality in Leadership makes sense and is preferred by people and even me sometimes. It is important that leaders have these qualities but this is not the only thing that makes a great leader. They need to be trusted as well.
I think behavior affects relationships. Look at nonverbal communication for example, this affects our behavior and our responses to that behavior. Sometimes nonverbal communication affects us and we dont even reconize the effect. Also some peoples behavior is just affected by their personality traits.
ReplyDeleteI would use the leader follower relationships. Like I state in almost every blog response our followers are a huge part in being a leader. Without them what would their be to lead. You need to have a positive relationship with your followers in order to be a good leader. I think this type occurs on a regular basis. Think of any past job you have had. Didnt the way your leader treated you affect your work or your need to do a good job. If you have a good leader I feel that you will be more positive in your work as well as more successful.
I definitely agree that behavior affects relationships. As you mentioned behaviors are essential to our social lives and we tend to be attracted to people who behave in the same way in which we would behave, or even believe in the same things that we believe in. Although it does not have to always be the same exact we tend to approach people who we find to be rewarding.
ReplyDeleteI would be more comfortable using the Leader Follower relationships. I think that most people work better when they are trusted by the other group members or even the organizations they are working for. Trust and loyalty are two vital values that are essential in any positive relationships and with these two important strengths it will result in higher productivity and more honesty and trust.
Relationships are affected by the different behaviors that people bring. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Someone can say they will change or do something as much as they want, but until it happens it doesnt mean anything.
ReplyDeleteFrom both a leader and a follower standpoint, I would prefer to follow the Leader-Follower Postpositive view. This view seems to have the most positive outcome for both leader and follower, follower especially. When you feel needed, you are more likely to work hard. It also encourages loyalty and trust, two important leadership characteristics. Another aspect that I like is that it focuses on the group's goal achievement, not just an individual.
I have seen this view in action at my internship in the Marketing Department at St. Vincent Hospital. We have one main boss (leader) who we work with and report back to. Each employee has their own separate job, but we work together on some of the same projects. For example, in May there is a benefit that the Marketing Dept is coordinating. This projects would never be completed without the followers. The leader provided resources such as contacts/phone numbers and other information so that the followers could complete their tasks. We respect our boss, and she respects us.
I feel that the one must be weary of following the Constructionist view, mainly because it is focused on qualitative approaches. Whenever qualitative analysis is involved, there is an increase in the error potential.
ReplyDeleteOn the idea of Leader-Follower Postpositive view, I believe that this is one of the most sound theories around. Having leaders attempt to gain followers trust/confidence as shown in the Leader-Follower view, is an extremely important component to the idea of leadership. I see examples of Leader-Follower relationships every day, especially being in a college atmosphere where professors are the leaders, and the students are the followers.
I would prefer to follow the Leader-Follower view. I think it is important for the follower to have a leader to look up to for support and trust. Without the leader being there providing important resources, followers will have a hard time reaching their goal.
ReplyDeleteI think that a Leader-Follower view will be more successful because there is guidance. The leader and follower are working together as a team. Also, I agree with Clay that with the Constructionist view involving qualitative approaches, it many be hard for some to follow along.
I have seen both views in action. With what I have witnessed the Leader-Follower view has been more successful.
I agree that our relationships are affected by the different behaviors that people bring to the relationship. If you think about when you have been in a bad mood and everyone feeds off that negative energy, things either don't get done or people are just not happy to be involved. This can even occur with our best friends and family members.
ReplyDeleteI think I would prefer the Leader-Follower view. There is no group for a leader to lead without its followers. These interactions are seen in everyday actions. Like Clay stated we see then through Professor/student relationships, we also see them through the captain of a team or the coach. Therefore, I think Leader-Follower is the more successful of the two as well.
Relationships are definitely affected by different behaviors and behaviors are essential to how a relationship turns out. Good relationships or bad, are all affected by the behavior of the individual. Obviously bad behaviors = bad relationship, and good behaviors = good relationship. In addition, I think that this can be vis versa as well. Like Jessica said, if you have a forced good behavior you could still have a bad relationship. But yes, I agree with the text that relationships are central to our social lives.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the Leader-Follower Postpositive view if I were choosing as a follower. I believe there is more of a role here for the follower. However, if I were choosing to lead, I would choose Rationality in Leadership, Constructionist Views because it allows to provide quality results in more of a social and cultural way. I prefer more of a hands on understanding theory versus a psychological type theory. I think both are equally successful, it would just depend how using each. Like I said, if I were following, I would personally feel more successful in the Leader-Follower Postpositive view, if I were leading, I would feel more successful in the Rationality in Leadership, Constructionist View.
I do see the Leader - Follower Postpositive view at my current job. I have two people I report to, so I am technically the follower. However, I am a critical employee in the marketing department, and without me, or someone to replace me, we would not succeed. In that case, being a follower is vital for the process to work. In addition, my managers have trust in me.
I think relationships are affected by our behavior. Like Alex said if there is good behavior then it most likely be a good relationship and if there is bad behavior then most likely a poor relationship. Also like Nikki said, I have been around a friend who has a negative attitude and it brings the whole group down. No one wants to do anything if there is negative energy around.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the Leader- Follower Postpostitive view. It is a lot easier to be motivated to work for a leader who trust you and shows loyalty. I have been on several teams where coaches trust players to make the decisions, this creates a culture of trust. When there is a culture of trust each person feels the need to do their job to help benefit the whole team.
Relationships can be very much effected by the behaviors brought into them. I believe the behaviors are actions, and when certain actions are done by individuals in a relationship then they definitely impact the direction of that relationship. I also believe some behaviors can either make or break a relationship.
ReplyDeleteI think that either method can be effective, but I can see the leader-follower method having a lasting impression. That approach would also provide visible result if they accomplish a set goal. I also think the Rationality in Leadership style can create great relationship for the people involved, but would seem more effective if the already has a relationship and would be comfortable with trying something new. Each could work well given the situation.
Behaviors are a key component in relationships. How you behave can cause high levels of attraction or, let's be honest, high levels of "I cannot stand that person!" Behaviors need to fit together. They don't have to be the same or mirror each other, but they do need to compliment each other without causing conflict.
ReplyDeleteOf the two views, I favor the Rationality in Leadership. Culture and behaviors cannot really be extracted from one another because behavior is so shaped by culture, and deviant behavior even shapes culture. Rationality in Leadership could even encompass Leader-Follower views because behavior shaped by culture is going to directly impact followership.
I both agree and disagree with the Leader-Follower Relationships: Postpositive view. I think it is important for leaders to have followers and I thing the relationship between the two is very important in most circumstances in leadership. There are a lot of situations where a leader is dependent on having followers, as well as when it is important to examine the relationship between the two to determine how to improve. However, I also believe that there can be leaders with absolutely no followers, at least at the time of their actions. I also believe that there can be leaders who do not even know their followers, there fore there is hardly any relationship between the two of them.
ReplyDeleteI believe behavior that one brings to a relationship will ultimately be the deciding factor in whether the relationship succeeds or fails. Yes, one behavior can be changed through time but coming into a relationship with poor behavior will be troublesome for the relationship and will be hard for the relationship to succeed and prosper. Being in teams my entire life makes me believe that the leader-follower relationship is the one that I prefer the best. In any team, the teammates or the followers are the most important people. No one man or person can accomplish what a team can accomplish together as a whole. I feel this theory would be the most successful because having valued follower will ultimately increase productivity. As I mentioned above, being in sports, the followers or the teammates are the most valued. Without them the team can accomplish nothing.
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