Psychodynamic leadership theory. The Major Leadership Theories 2022-10-19
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Psychodynamic leadership theory is a approach to understanding and analyzing leadership that draws on the principles and concepts of psychoanalysis, particularly as developed by Sigmund Freud and his followers. According to this theory, leaders are not simply individuals who hold a position of authority and make decisions, but rather complex and dynamic individuals who are influenced by unconscious desires, motivations, and conflicts.
One of the key ideas of psychodynamic leadership theory is that leaders are driven by unconscious needs and desires, which can shape their behavior and decision-making in significant ways. For example, a leader who is motivated by a need for power and control may make decisions that are driven by this need, rather than by the best interests of the organization or the people they are leading. Similarly, a leader who is driven by a fear of failure or a need for approval may make decisions that are influenced by these unconscious motivations, rather than by objective criteria.
Another important aspect of psychodynamic leadership theory is the role of the leader's ego, or self, in their behavior and decision-making. According to this theory, the ego is the part of the psyche that mediates between the demands of the outside world and the unconscious desires of the individual. In the context of leadership, the ego is responsible for helping the leader navigate the complex and often conflicting demands of their role, and for making decisions that are in line with the goals and values of the organization.
A key implication of psychodynamic leadership theory is that leaders are not simply rational, logical decision-makers, but rather are influenced by a range of unconscious factors that can shape their behavior and decision-making. This means that understanding the unconscious motivations and conflicts of leaders can be crucial for understanding their behavior and for helping them to make more effective decisions.
One way to apply psychodynamic leadership theory in practice is through the use of leadership coaching or therapy, which can help leaders to become more self-aware and to better understand and manage their unconscious desires and motivations. This can involve techniques such as dream analysis, free association, and other techniques that are commonly used in psychoanalysis.
Overall, psychodynamic leadership theory offers a rich and nuanced understanding of leadership that takes into account the complex and dynamic nature of human behavior. By considering the unconscious desires and motivations of leaders, this theory can help us to better understand and predict their behavior, and to identify and address any unconscious conflicts or needs that may be impacting their decision-making.
Psychodynamic Approach To Leadership
So, if you understand and embrace this attitude, you will understand what value they can bring to you and the team that you are leading. Knowing your past traumas and how you coped could be a factor in helping another whose gone through trauma. Los Angeles, CA: Sage. This style is appropriate when the follower has an ambiguous job. Path-Goal Theory assumes that leaders are flexible and that they can change their style, as situations require.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Transformational Leadership. An achievement-oriented leader sets challenging goals for followers, expects them to perform at their highest level and shows confidence in their ability to meet this expectation. It indicates that subordinates affect leaders and their behaviours as much as leaders and their behaviours affect subordinates. What makes the leader they way he is? One of the best things you can do as a leader is to make sure your employees feel heard and respected. Additionally, the leader must understand himself to know how to approach these differences in each follower.
But this weakness does not take away the merits of the theory. The psychodynamic approach is most similar to my leadership style because of its focus on personality. Kets de Vries 2006b designed the Leadership Archetype Questionnaire to allow individuals to identify their dominant leadership behaviors and identify what steps should be taken to create a well-rounded team The Clinical Paradigm Analysis 363 Words 2 Pages Chapter 12 outlined the psychodynamic approach to leadership, which focuses on the subtleties and undercurrents of human thoughts and behaviors Northouse, 2016. Even in the two extreme styles of leadership, some degree of freedom is enjoyed by subordinates, howsoever little it may be at the extreme left corner and managers exercise some authority at the extreme right corner of the leadership continuum. The Path-Goal Theory: Path-Goal Theory of Evans and House identify achievement-oriented, directive, participative and supportive leadership styles. The psychodynamic approach has to do with the relationship between the leader and the follower, but also the individual personality characteristics of the leader and the follower separately. This is considered with an assumption that the personalities of individuals are deep rooted in individuals and very little can be done to change them Northhouse, 2007.
This student tends to lean to use the situation approach and the supportive role. Behaviour can be learned and changed, but many traits, on the other hand, are relatively fixed. It is the outcome of various factors. This passionate organization helps them change their lives—and realize their full potential. I think once a person understands who they are, what strengths and weaknesses they possess and how those traits effect those around them, it can be very beneficial.
The potential influence of past experiences however is yet one of the four basic premises described by Northouse 2016, p. Through this we can make sense of leaders deeper wishes and fantasies, and show how these fantasies influence behaviors in the organizational world. Instead, being able to tap into your subconscious mind and think about a trauma that happened to you and how you felt and reacted upon the situation. Depending on the situation as reflected by these three forces, leaders adopt a style varying between these two extremes. In most cases, an analysis will review areas like work environment, operations, growth, and personnel. Top 11 Theories of Leadership Theories of Leadership — Freudian and Interactional Theories of Leadership i Freudian Theories of Leadership : Sigmund Freud has tried to explain the phenomenon of leadership by psychoanalytic concepts. Kaila Sweeney PSYCH 485 January 30, 2022 The Psychodynamic Approach to Leadership Throughout my college career, the majority of my classes have mentioned the concept of leadership.
Frequent interaction between the leader and subordinates also helps to build up mutual faith and confidence. Leaders allow employees to participate in the decision-making processes and develop their creative skills to grow into potential managers. Annual Review of Psychology, 60 1 , 421-449. Much of the work was based on clinical observation of the treatment of individuals with serious mental issues. These ego states include; Critical Parent, Nurturing Parent, Adult, Free Child, and Adaptive Child. The people are prepared to follow only the leader who is capable of fulfilling their aspirations. For this system to work efficiently, the leader must be cognizant of this fact.
The model presented by Fiedler has many significant implications to managers. When the leader is able to suggest the members of the organisation, he brings tremendous success to his job. Leadership Styles: Depending on these three factors, the theory developed a leadership continuum with task-oriented, autocratic leadership style at one end of the continuum and employee-oriented democratic style at the other end. The individual who can help the group better in achieving the group goal can command the confidence of other group members and prove as an effective leader. The children were given the job of mask making and other similar tasks. Situation forces a decision.
Psychodynamic approach to leadership northouse Free Essays
Even if we just discussed how followership worked, we would be increasing its importance in the leadership equation. What are strengths of the Psychodynamic Approach? Parents function as first leaders within the family. Autocratic 1 — Problem is solved using information already available. Research is still continuing for that set of universal leadership traits that will assure success. But he should not forget that management is a behavioural science and it changes with the dictate of time, situation and human behaviour. To understand the rational, irrational and emotional decisions individuals make. The responses to this approach are not conscious but appear deeply rooted to emotions.
This leads to an important aspect of leadership that emphasizes past experiences, the unconsciousness, emotions, self-understanding and personality types as well as the relationship between the leaders and colleagues and the emotional transaction and communication between and among people Zalzenik, 2008. Let me know in the comments below or suggest other tools that you have used which are also being explored as possible additions to the current repertoire under the psychodynamic approach! In participative theories, however, the leader retains the right to allow the input of others. In a grid 81 possible combinations are found to rate the leadership qualities of an individual. Human behavior is based on human experiences, relationships, and perceptions. Participation in decision making enables subordinates to satisfy their social needs. Following the basic assumption of this approach, these early experiences of leadership form an unconscious basis for future behavior as leader and follower. A good situational leader is one who can quickly change leadership styles as the situation changes.
Some benefits of Laissez Faire style of leadership are: a Has a positive effect on job satisfaction and morale of subordinates. These are: A Leader-Member Relations: This aspect of work situation describes relationship between leader and the members. This type of leadership approach can cause retention and stress, among other feelings. I remember to this day I am INTJ, Introversion, Intuition, Thinking, and Judging. It has been maintained by the treatises that these traits can either be inherited or can be developed with the help of training and experience or can both be inherited and acquired. Autocratic Style of Leadership: An autocratic leader is one who takes all decisions himself without consulting with the subordinates.
