Staff Leadership — Important Questions

Future leadership potential does not develop as followers remain uninformed and afraid.

Step 1: Autocratic leadership centralises all decision-making power with the leader, leaving no room for subordinates to exercise judgement or initiative. Step 2: Option A (delay in decisions) is a disadvantage of Democratic/Participative leadership, not autocratic. Step 3: Option C (too much freedom) is associated with Laissez-Faire, not autocratic style. Step 4: Option D partially describes Laissez-Faire advantages and is incorrect for autocratic style. Step 5: The correct answer is Option B — because followers are kept uninformed, insecure, and dependent on the leader, they never develop le

Leadership is a process of inter-personal influence

Step 1: The definition by Koontz and O'Donnell specifically uses the words 'interpersonal influence' and 'communication' to describe leadership. Step 2: 'Situational' leadership refers to adapting style based on the situation — this definition does not mention situations. Step 3: 'Presupposes followers' refers to the existence of people who accept the leader — not directly stated here. Step 4: 'Community of interests' refers to shared goals between leader and followers — while a goal is mentioned, the emphasis is on influence. Step 5: The core of this definition is that a leader works by influ

It achieves maximum concern for both production and people through trust, commitment, and mutual respect.

Step 1: In Blake and Mouton's grid, (9,9) means the leader scores 9 on concern for production AND 9 on concern for people — the maximum on both dimensions. Step 2: Option A describes (9,1) Task Management — high production, low people concern. Step 3: Option B describes (1,9) Country Club — high people concern but low production. Step 4: Option D resembles Laissez-Faire or Free-Rein leadership, not Team Management. Step 5: Team Management (9,9) achieves work accomplishment through committed people, interdependence, and a common stake in organisational goals — built on trust and mutual respect.

Livingston

Step 1: Multiple writers have defined leadership, each emphasising different aspects. Step 2: George R. Terry defined it as 'the ability of influencing people to strive willingly for mutual objectives.' Step 3: Koontz and O'Donnell defined it as 'the ability to exert interpersonal influence by means of communication towards the achievement of a goal.' Step 4: Hodge and Johnson defined it as 'the ability to shape the attitude and behaviour of others whether in formal or informal situations.' Step 5: Livingston specifically used the phrase 'awaken in others the desire to follow a common objectiv