Psychology

Web Resources

-Dr. Robert J. Martinez, University of the Incarnate Word

 

Multimedia Resources

-Dr. Robert J. Martinez, University of the Incarnate Word

 

Activities

Activity 1.  Give examples of famous leaders who were or are destructive (e.g., supportive-disloyal, tyrannical, or derailed). What leader behaviors demonstrate how you classified these leaders?

Activity 2.  Find profiles of two or three successful female leaders. What do these women credit as the reasons for their success? How are their male counterparts different?

Activity 3.  Draw your social network as a leader, current or past. What relationships are particularly useful to you and why? What relationships would help you be more effective?

Activity 4.  In cognitive resources leadership theory, a high-stress situation has an impact on how leaders perform. As a group, consider other situations that might impact the relationship between a leader’s intelligence and experience and his or her followers’ performance. What might moderate the relationship? What might mediate the relationship?

Activity 5.  Have you ever had a leadership position? How would you go about training someone to take over that position for you? In your groups, discuss your leadership positions and how you would train someone to do those jobs. Discuss the differences among your positions.

-Dr. Robert J. Martinez, University of the Incarnate Word

 

Suggested Assignments

Assignment 1.  Most Important Trait

If you had to choose one trait, which would you say is the most important trait for successful leadership and why? 

Assignment 2.  Leaders

Have you encountered any leaders who you consider good or successful but who are lacking in any of the traits, skills, or behaviors discussed in the book? If so, which one(s) were lacking, and how do you think the leader made up for his or her weaknesses?

Assignment 3.  Followers and Situational Factors

Why are followers and situational factors important for leaders to understand?

Assignment 4.  Leader Profile

Think of a leader who you admire. Look up the details of his or her life and career. What issues did he or she encounter regarding followers and situational factors? How did that leader react to these issues? How did his or her leadership develop over time? What theories best fit the actions of the leader you chose? 

Assignment 5.  Outstanding Leader

Is there anyone you have known or worked for whom you would consider an outstanding leader? Why do you think they are outstanding, rather than just a regular leader? 

-Dr. Robert J. Martinez, University of the Incarnate Word

 

Discussion Questions

Chapter 1: Introduction

Question: What is the definition of leadership that will be used in this book?

Chapter 2: Trait Approach

Question: What are the three different types of traits that are important for successful leadership? Give an example of each. 

Chapter 5: Situational Approach

Question: What is the basic argument of the situational approach?

Chapter 6: Path-Goal Theory

Question: Path-goal theory describes four different leadership styles. List and describe each of the four types.

Chapter 7: Leader–Member Exchange Theory

Question: Describe leader-member exchange theory What are its strengths and weaknesses? 

Chapter 8: Transformational Leadership

Question: Compare and contrast a transactional leader versus a transformational leader.

Chapter 9: Authentic Leadership

Question: Why is self-regulation important for authentic leadership?

Chapter 10: Servant Leadership

Question: Where do you believe leadership practices are present in acts of community service? How are leadership and service intertwined? Explain with examples.

Chapter 13: Leadership Ethics

Question: What personality traits are related to destructive leadership?

Chapter 14: Team Leadership

Question: Have you ever been on a team where a leader was ineffective and hurt team performance? How did he or she hurt team performance? 

Chapter 15: Gender and Leadership

Question: How do men and women differ in leadership positions?

Chapter 16: Culture and Leadership

Question: What influence do cultural values have on cross-cultural leadership?

-Dr. Robert J. Martinez, University of the Incarnate Word

 

Sample Syllabus

Psychology of Leadership Psych Syllabus.pdf

-Dr. Robert J. Martinez, University of the Incarnate Word

 

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge  the following individual for granting us permission to post the content on this page.

Robert J. Martinez, PhD
Adjunct Faculty Member, Psychology Department
University of the Incarnate Word