Question

Compare two leadership theories. Provide an overview of each and discuss the strengths and weakness in relation to nursing practice.

Answer 1

Ans) Two leadership theories:

- Behavioural Theories (1940's - 1950's):
In reaction to the trait leadership theory, the behavioural theories are offering a new perspective, one that focuses on the behaviours of the leaders as opposed to their mental, physical or social characteristics. Thus, with the evolutions in psychometrics, notably the factor analysis, researchers were able to measure the cause an effects relationship of specific human behaviours from leaders. From this point forward anyone with the right conditioning could have access to the once before elite club of naturally gifted leaders. In other words, leaders are made not born.

The behavioural theories first divided leaders in two categories. Those that were concerned with the tasks and those concerned with the people. Throughout the literature these are referred to as different names, but the essence are identical.

One strength of the behaviourist approach is that it uses scientific methods of research. This is a strength because the experiments are objective, measurable and observable.

Weakness is that the theories are too deterministic as behaviourists believe that our behaviour is determined only by environmental effects such as classical conditioning and operant conditioning which is a disadvantage as behaviour can be indeterministic.

- Contingency Theories (1960's):

The Contingency Leadership theory argues that there is no single way of leading and that every leadership style should be based on certain situations, which signifies that there are certain people who perform at the maximum level in certain places; but at minimal performance when taken out of their element.

To a certain extent contingency leadership theories are an extension of the trait theory, in the sense that human traits are related to the situation in which the leaders exercise their leadership. It is generally accepted within the contingency theories that leader are more likely to express their leadership when they feel that their followers will be responsive.

Strength is that it focuses on leadership style's & demand which would be useful when developing that leader and their profile. Although there are many strengths of contingency theory, there are also so weakness and criticisms.

Weakness is that the theory doesn't explain what to do with a leader is put in a situation that they do fit with.