Beliefs About Leadership John E. Jones, Ph.D. This instrument focuses on many beliefs that have been held about leadership across time and cultures. Respondents rate the extent to which they agree with 84 statements that describe various points of view about this important topic. The statements were taken from quotations by famous people, from major theoretical models, and commonly held opinions. The content is, then, cross-cultural in nature. Why Have an Organized Belief System About Leadership?Getting clear on one’s dominant beliefs (and disbeliefs) about this subject is important because our systematic ways of thinking about it underlie our behavior and our attitudes toward leaders. Having a working definition of leadership can guide assessment, it can focus developmental efforts, it can account for differences, it can sharpen our thinking, it can guide us in making choices about appropriate behavior, and it can help us to address the critical questions, “So what?” and “Now what?” Any definition of leadership should take into account the desirable traits of leaders, their skills and competencies, and their behavioral practices. Ideally, one’s definition should explain differences in the results that various “types” of leaders obtain through their people. Additionally, it is useful to make distinctions between management and leadership. A Survey of HRD ExpertsThe Beliefs About Leadership instrument formed the basis of group discussions at a colloquy organized by John Jones and Robin Reid. All persons invited to attend received a copy of the instrument, and many who could not participate supplied responses. A total of 52 highly experienced human-resource-development and organization-development practitioners completed the survey. The colloquy conveners selected these professionals because of personal knowledge that they are “forward thinkers” and are actively involved in facilitating change in individual leaders and human systems. These experts were in close agreement on the following Beliefs About Leadership items. The list is in rank order, from highest average. 36. Leadership is independent of gender. 2. Leaders model commitment. 4. Leaders generate voluntary commitment to shared values. 66. Leaders face the challenge of resistance to change. 51. To lead, one must “walk the talk.” 45. Leaders facilitate the empowerment of others. 76. Leaders take personal risks, showing courage. 56. Leaders attract and energize followers. 26. Leaders provide a clear sense of direction. The respondents were much more varied in their bottom ten averages. Here are the beliefs, from tenth lowest to the very lowest: 67. Leaders show unqualified acceptance toward the people who follow them. 19. Leadership means getting along with people. 41. Leadership comes from the personality traits of the leader, not from methods and techniques. 18. If the leader tires, then all become tired. 68. Leaders talk little. 33. The leader works in the open, and the manager works in the covert. 11. Charlatanism is to some degree indispensable to leadership. 1. Leaders are born, not made. 15. The weakness of the many makes the leader possible. 37. There is one best way to lead others. Using the InstrumentThe first step in using any instrument in training and development is to “sell” it to participants. This means giving them a reason, or hoped-for outcome, in order to motivate them to take the assessment seriously. The inventory takes about thirty minutes to administer. Note that on the form respondents are instructed to remain quiet until all have finished rating the beliefs.
Beliefs About Leadership John E. Jones, Ph.D., & William L. Bearley, Ed.D. Organizational Universe Systems Instructions. This is a survey of your beliefs, and there are no "correct" answers. Your honest opinions regarding various points of view about the subject of leadership are what apply here. Read each of the following 84 statements carefully. Use the scale below to indicate your beliefs. Write a number in the space in front of each item. 5 - Agree strongly _____ 1. Leaders are born, not made. _____ 2. Leaders model commitment. _____ 3. Leaders are servants, not heroes. _____ 4. Leaders generate voluntary commitment to shared values. _____ 5. Leadership and inspiration are inseparable. _____ 6. By focusing on vision, the leader operates on the emotional and spiritual resources of the organization. _____ 7. Leaders focus on the "big picture." _____ 8. There are no World manage—only World leaders. _____ 9. The speed of the leader determines the rate of the pack. _____ 10. Leaders influence through vision. _____ 11. Charlatanism to some degree is indispensable to leadership. _____ 12. When we think we lead, we are most led. _____ 13. Leadership requires moral character. _____ 14. Whoever has not learned how to obey cannot be a good commander. _____ 15. The weakness of the many makes the leader possible. _____ 16. The test of a leader is that he/she leaves behind the will and the conviction to carry on. _____ 17. The leader is a dealer in hope. _____ 18. If the leader tires, then all become tired. _____ 19. Leadership means getting along with people. _____ 20. Leadership requires persuasive ability. _____ 21. Leadership gives people a sense of confidence. _____ 22. The essential function of leadership is the manipulation of culture. _____ 23. Effective leadership grows with communication in depth. _____ 24. Leadership, like naked power wielding, is inseparable from followers' needs and goals. _____ 25. Leadership requires the ability to touch others' feelings. _____ 26. Leaders provide a clear sense of direction. _____ 27. The leader is primarily an expert in the promotion and protection of values. _____ 28. Managers prefer working with people; leaders stir emotion. _____ 29. Leadership raises people's personalities beyond normal limitations. _____ 30. To be a leader you have to be at one with the people you lead. _____ 31. Leaders manage themselves and lead others. _____ 32. The measure of a leader is not in the number of servants but the number served. _____ 33. The leader works in the open, and the manager works in the covert. _____ 34. Leadership is independent of democracy. _____ 35. Leaders value the development of others. _____ 36. Leadership is independent of gender. _____ 37. There is one best way to lead others. _____ 38. Leaders capitalize on the aspirations of others. _____ 39. Leadership means making things simple. _____ 40. Leaders shape the future. _____ 41. Leadership comes from the personality traits of the leader, not from methods and techniques. _____ 42. Leadership means, "doing the right thing." _____ 43. There are no Labor managers—only Labor leaders. _____ 44. Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. _____ 45. Leaders facilitate the empowerment of others. _____ 46. To lead, one must follow. _____ 47. A leader leads, and a boss drives. _____ 48. Leadership is ineffable; it defies accurate analysis. _____ 49. Leaders invite differences of opinion. _____ 50. Leadership is "following out front." _____ 51. To lead one must "walk the talk." _____ 52. Leaders see "problems" as opportunities. _____ 53. Leaders must adapt their approach to each individual. _____ 54. People don't want to be managed; they want to be led. _____ 55. Leaders help people in ways in which they come not to need him/her. _____ 56. Leaders attract and energize followers. _____ 57. Leadership implies teamwork. _____ 58. Leadership pulls rather than pushes. _____ 59. Leaders create opportunities for participation. _____ 60. Leaders know that they can accomplish their aims through people. _____ 61. Leaders display distinctive styles of behaving in relation to their followers. _____ 62. Plants and dollars can be managed, but the people expect leadership. _____ 63. Leadership means clearing the way for others. _____ 64. Leaders open themselves to criticism. _____ 65. A true leader is not interested in getting his/her own way but in making the way for others. _____ 66. Leaders face the challenge of resistance to change. _____ 67. Leaders show unqualified acceptance toward the people who follow them. _____ 68. Leaders talk little. _____ 69. Leading is a responsibility. _____ 70. Without followers, there are no leaders. _____ 71. Leaders are more persistent than others. _____ 72. Leaders ask followers to share the risks associated with his/her goals. _____ 73. Great leaders inspire their followers to high levels of achievement by showing how their work contributes to worthwhile ends. _____ 74. There are no Community managers—only Community leaders. _____ 75. Leaders empower themselves to get results through others. _____ 76. Leaders take personal risks, showing courage. _____ 77. You can't manage a horse to drink. _____ 78. A true leader is always led. _____ 79. Leaders form a consciousness of shared values. _____ 80. Leaders bring out the best in their people. _____ 81. Leaders engage in continuous self-improvement. _____ 82. There are no political managers—only political leaders. _____ 83. Leadership focuses more on transformation than improvement. _____ 84. Leadership is more an art than a science. Please wait quietly while others complete their ratings. After everyone has completed the inventory, the facilitator will lead the group in an analysis of the results Beliefs About Leadership De-Briefing WorksheetPart One. Individual WorkComplete the following sentences alone, before the group-discussion period. 1. Leaders should . . . 2. Leaders should never . . . 3. What I believe most about leadership is that . . . 4. Basically, leadership is . . . Part Two. Group DiscussionAddress the four questions above, one at a time. Hear from everyone, even if it is by show of hands. Listen for common themes in what people say. Build on the ideas and opinions of others, and attempt to develop consensus within the group on each question. Consensus means substantial agreement without serious disagreement. From HR Handbook: Volume I, Elaine Biech and Dr. John E. Jones, Eds. Amherst, MA: HRD Press, 1996. |
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