Application to Self (1)

In the Yukl summary about behavior theories, the author introduces six different leadership behaviors including, Task-oriented, Relations-oriented, Participative leadership, Change-oriented leadership, Transformation leadership, and Boundary-spanning. Each behavioral model seems important for a leader; however, at the end of the day, a leader who care about his or her people and can get tasks done effectively is most compelling to me. I highly value relation-oriented behaviors because I believe that if the leader cannot take care of his or her own employees, there is no way the leader can take good care of customers. Although I have belief that realations-oriented behaviors are essential for a leader, a leader have to get job done, otherwise the leader cannot gain respect from others. The leader ends up being a "Care Bear".

The Level 5 Leadership in "Good to Great", the highest level, Executive, seems like focusing more personal characteristics. In the book, Collins talks about how Abraham Lincoln did not let his ego get in his way or the person in this level should be modest and willful, humble and fearless. I feel like this theory is similar to the Great Man theory or Traits theory which says leaders need to have "right stuff". I would love to believe that leadership skills are learnable. Behavioral theory gives hope that even if I was not born to be a leader, I can learn and gain those qualifications to be a leader by understanding the theory which is it is based on what I do, not who I am.

I consider myself as a relation-oriented, and things I need to work on is to be more task-oriented especially planning. To improve myself from "Care Bear" to "Leader", I need to practice to gather important information, planning, organizing, clarifying, and monitoring how it goes. As a practice, I can apply this leadership behavior to setting my future goals. Right now, I am not sure which way I will go after graduation. By using specific behaviors, I can lead myself to the place where I want to go.