Approaches to Motivation and Leadership

Approaches to Motivation and Leadership

1. Democratic Leadership Style

   • Theory Y Understanding
     • Assumptions about Employeese
       • "The average person does not inherently dislike work" (86)
       • "People are self-motivated (87).
       • "People accept and seek responsibility" (87)
       • They want "autonomy, mastery, and purpose" (Pink)
     • Assumptions about Leader's role
       • To work with and empower employees
         • Giving "guidance" and allowing employees to be a vital part of process and empowering them in this way.
           • Work becomes meaningful.
             • More powerful motivation than financial reward (Pink)
         • To be "supportive" as employees are "self-directed" (91)
   • "Stronger work motivation and creativity" (91)

2. Laissez-Faire Leadership Style

   • Assumptions about Employees
     • "ignore workers and their work motivations" (92)
       • Displays a lack of concern for motivation, which "stiffles" it (92).
       • Result: "Without a sense of purpose and direction, group members have difficulty finding meaning in their work; they become unmotivated and disheartened...productivity goes down" (92).
   • Assumptions about Leader's role
     • Feel no need to provide support, guidance, goals, or directions.
     • "minimal influence" (92)

3. Authoritarian Leadership Style

   • Negative side of Authoritarian Leadership Style (Theory X)
     • Assupmtions about Employees
       • "People dislike work" (85)
       • "People need to be directed and controlled" (85)
       • "people want security, not responsibility" (85)
     • Assumptions about Leader's Role
       • These leaders "perceive" that their employees are "needing direction" (90).
       • Necessary to "motivate subordinates, because these workers have little self-motivation" (86)
   • Positive side of Authoritarian Leadership Style
     • Can "give direction and clarity to people's work...accomplish more in a shorter period" (90).
       • Useful in new situations when employees need a lot of direction, high stress situations, and other many necessary situations (90-91).
     • "very efficient and successful in motivating others to accomplish work (90).
   • Authoritarian leadership style is based on mostly on extrinsic motivators. While effective in the short term, does not motivate as strongly, nor have the same effect as intrinsic motivators (Pink).

4. References

   • Northouse, P. (2009). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.
   • [Video file]. (2009, July). In TEDTalk The Puzzle of Motivation. Retrieved October 11, 2016, from http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en