Textbook Paper #1
The Leadership Challenge
Margarite Bruce
EDUC 741
Liberty University
Overview and Summary
James Kouzes and Barry Posner, authors of The Leadership Challenge (fifth edition) (2012), found that when leaders are at their personal best there are five fundamental habits that they all share. These practices are listed below.
* Model the Way
* Inspire a Shared Vision
* Challenge the Process
* Enable Others to Act
* Encourage the Heart
Model the Way – According to Kouzes and Posner (2012), leaders establish principles concerning the way people should be treated and the way goals should be pursued. They establish criterions of distinction and then set an example for others to follow. Since drastic changes can often overpower average people and suffocate accomplishment, leaders set short-term objectives so that people can accomplish small triumphs as they work toward the long-term goals.
Inspire a Shared Vision - Leaders fervently have faith in their personal ability to make a difference in their organization (Kouzes & Posner, 2012). They see the future clearly and their positive quiet confidence causes others to also believe and work toward the vision with mutual enthusiasm.
Challenges the Process
- Leaders never accept the usual or the norms. They are eager to challenge the status quo in search of more productive ways to achieve the goals of organization. Leaders are not afraid to take risks. They are keenly aware of the possibility of failure and disappointment but see both as opportunities to learn from mistakes (Kouzes & Posner, 2012).
Enable Others to Act – As noted by Kouzes & Posner (2012), leaders encourage teamwork and they establish strong-willed and passionate groups. Strong leaders are never threatened by team members. They willingly and actively include the entire group in critical decision making. Leaders comprehend that reciprocated admiration is absolutely necessary...