COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
EXPLORING 21st CENTURY SKILLS and ISSUES
Name: _____________________________________________________________________________
Are You CEO Material?
The Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) is responsible for the corporation's entire operations. CEOs need excellent leadership skills to guide their corporate team of officers and employees to success. Volumes have been written about leadership styles and skills. A famous 1939 study by psychologist Kurt Lewin, identified three predominant leadership styles: authoritative , democratic , and laissez-fair .
Authoritarian leaders are also called autocratic leaders . These leaders are very clear about what they PRODUCT PREVIEW expect of their team members. They provide explicit directions about how a task is to be done. Authoritarian leaders rarely seek input from the rest of the team, preferring to make decisions independently. The study found that teams with an authoritarian leader often suffer from a lack of motivation. Those with a democratic leadership style believe in providing plenty of guidance to team members. They seek out and value their teams’ opinions. The study showed that this leadership style is effective because team members who are involved in the process feel valued. That increases motivation and productivity. Under this style of leadership, the leader retains the final say on all decisions. A laissez-fair leadership style is also called delegative leadership . This leader leaves decision-making to a group process. This style can result in confusion, resentment, and bickering among team members because roles and responsibilities are ill-defined. The study found that teams need guidance from a leader. Since 1939, many more studies have been undertaken to identify the traits of successful leaders, especially CEOs. Below are some of key traits. Do you have what it takes to lead a corporation? On a scale of 1-5 (5 being “Call me Chief!” and 1 being “I can’t even spell CEO” ) are you CEO material? Check your CEO potential on page ___. 1. I believe a corporation isn’t just a business; it’s a culture . 5 4 3 2 1 2. I am an excellent communicator. I am able to get my message across and convince people of my viewpoint. 5 4 3 2 1
Lesson 12 | Business Blast 236
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