Diversity

1. Define leadership and followership. Distinguish between formal leadership and informal leadership.

Leadership is the process of guiding and directing the behavior of people in a work environment, and followership is the process of being guided and directed by a leader in work environment (Nelson & Quick, 2013). Formal leadership is sanctioned authority of a formal position, and other members to the organization accord informal leadership to an individual (Nelson & Quick, 2013).

2. Discuss transformational and charismatic leadership. Would you expect these styles of leadership to exist in all cultures? Differ across cultures?

Transformational leaders set directions for the organization, align people with directions through empowerment, and motivate organizational followers to action (Nelson & Quick, 2013). Charisma is a form of interpersonal attraction and is an attribute found in some leaders. This trait allows leaders to be persuasive based on trust and acceptance (Nelson & Quick, 2013). Charismatic leaders tend to be self-confident. Transformational and charismatic leaders may exist in all cultures; however, the types of behaviors exhibited by these leaders may differ across cultures (Nelson & Quick, 2013).

3. Describe the differences between autocratic and democratic work environments. How do they differ from a laissez-faire workplace?

Autocratic and democratic are usually easy for students to differentiate. Autocratic leaders are typically forceful personalities who are rigid in enforcing rules (Nelson & Quick, 2013). Democratic leaders appreciate collaboration and interact frequently with followers. Laissez-faire leaders abdicate responsibility, and their indifference forces others into ambiguous situations (Nelson & Quick, 2013).

4. Define initiating structure and consideration as leader behaviors.

Initiating structure is a task-oriented approach that focuses on rules, responsibilities, and policies (Nelson & Quick,...