Critique on Leadership: A Communication Perspective

Critique on Leadership: A Communication Perspective

Summary

“Effective leadership is the product of the creation and delivery of inspiring and compelling messages.” (Hackman & Johnson, 2009, p. 336). This book is a comprehensive review of historical insights, current theories and recent research on leadership theories and leadership issues, with an emphasis upon how effective leaders communicate.

Leadership: A Communication Perspective is based on the current and somewhat American idea that leadership can be learned and anyone can be a leader. Leadership is viewed as an interaction between leaders and followers, in which shared goals are discovered.

Humans are unique in their use of symbols. As leaders, this ability to create symbols and use them to inspire, direct, and transform others is at the heart of true leadership. In every organization, leaders communicate directions, goals and rules. Leaders also manipulate meaning. Through storytelling, celebrations, and mission statements, leaders interact with followers to create a group culture. Through symbolic manipulation, leaders change the way followers view themselves and their world. Effective leaders can transform their follower’s schemas or ways of interpreting life and assigning meaning.

While trait, situational, functional, relational and charismatic leadership were all included in this comprehensive review of leadership theories, transformational leadership received the greatest attention. Transformational leadership goes beyond the achievement of organizational goals. It seeks to empower followers so that they become leaders, and inspiring leaders to make them moral leaders of change. As such, leaders empower through creativity, interaction with ...

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...ent-oriented leadership “emphasizing excellence and demonstrating confidence in a follower’s abilities” (2009, p. 83). As in Hersey and Blanchard’s Situation Leadership Theory, the teacher will base her guidance on student readiness, in regards to the student’s relationship to the teacher, and their understanding and competence with the desired behavior.

For administrators in a Christian school, this book will be invaluable due to its advice on techniques regarding public speaking, working within groups, and creating a culture of inspiration and achievement. These are all areas of great importance that impact the job of administrating at a Christian school.

Hackman and Johnson’s comprehensive review of leadership is excellent as a textbook and reference book. It will continue to be used by leaders in education, business and other organizations.