Leadership Education - 1 LEADERSHIP EDUCATION By Andrew P. Johnson, Ph.D. Minnesota State University, Mankato andrew.johnson@mnsu.edu www.OPDT-Johnson.com This is an excerpt from my book: Making Connections in Elementary and Middle School Social Studies (2010), published by SAGE Leadership, another interpersonal dimension of social studies, can be defined as an individual’s ability to lead a group toward a common goal. Studying leaders and leadership skills as part of your social studies class will enable your students to understand the dynamics involved in group interactions and will also serve to enhance their own ability to lead groups. There are two types of leadership: Leadership by power and leadership by influence. Leadership by power occurs when a person uses physical strength, military power, money, manipulation, influence, or coercion to obtain an outcome regardless of the group consensus. History and current events are filled with examples of these types of leaders. Their desires and visions take precedence over those whom they lead. They maintain control only as long as they have the most power. Leadership by influence occurs when a person operates within the consensus of a group to accomplish a shared goal. This is generally the most effective type of leadership to use within a democratic society. Individual Leadership Characteristics There is not one effective leadership style; rather, there are many styles that exist in various combinations on three continuums (see Figure 15.5). Different situations call for emphasis on different points of these continuums. For example, the style of leadership used in a military situation usually calls for more of an autocratic emphasis and would be much different than the style of leadership that would be effective in a school, business, or community group. Leadership styles that work in one setting may not work in another. Regardless of the particular style, an effective leader has some or all of the following characteristics: • is able to sense what needs to be done. • can communicate with people around him or her. • is able to direct people toward a common goal. • knows how to delegate responsibility. • is organized. • can finish a task. • can evaluate information and make decisions. • is able to evaluate the abilities of others and utilize their talents. • has effective critical thinking and problem solving skills. • knows his or her own strengths and weaknesses. © Andrew Johnson, Ph.D. Minnesota State University, Mankato www.OPDT-Johnson.com