Leadership Styles

I have learned that there are many different leadership styles which are effective and how to specifically use them in certain terms of Environmental project. The first leadership style that we used is called the “Be the Change” approach. This common leadership style is most effective for anyone who is trying to lead by example. Another leadership style is called the “Small Group Advocacy “approach. This takes direct action to achieve specific objectives. Small group leadership can be like joining Greenpeace or other nonprofit organizations. They range from peaceful activism to aggressive “monkey wrenching.” Monkey wrenching is a radical approach that can lead to non-violent yet effective environmental advocacy. This type of ecotage represents an extreme viewpoint of a small group advocacy an approach to environmental leadership. Another effective approach I learned is called “never doubt.” The type of small group leadership composed of citizens that truly believe they can create a change in the world. Northouse explains the leadership grid as being effective when there's a high concern for people and a high concern for results. The leadership grid is composed of impoverished management, Country Club, middle of the road, team management, and authority compliance. The impoverished management leadership has minimum effort to achieve minimum results in a system work for. This is the least effective type of leadership and is known for failure before it even starts. The country club management a type of gathering of like-minded individuals however concern for results are low which leads it to being a social event rather than an impact on the environment. “Middle of the Road Leadership” is a balance between maintaining morale and getting the job done. This means that there is enough sacrifice for the group to maintain a mediocre social stance and attaining a mediocre goal. One of the least effective leadership styles is “Authority Compliance.” Authority compliance is the direct approach toward efficiently focusing on the end result. The human element or social stand in this type of leadership is very minimal. It may not attract many supporters do to it lack of social incentive. One of my favorite leaderships is called “Team Management.” It focuses on work accomplishment through independent yet committed purpose-driven team. People are highly valued as well as highly valuing the end result. This type of leadership gets the job done the most effectively. A political party that believed in a Cause is more likely to succeed in accomplishing their goals.

To further investigate the different types of leadership parties we can look at the four main groups. Each group have the same goal in mind however they are divided into municipal / regional planning, political activism, administrative planning, and multi-stakeholder or round table. Municipal/regional planning is a leadership approach that is governed by the ordinances and town plan. They are formal meetings that may last for hours. The political activism approach in leadership focuses on citizen against governmental decision. These activist Gather in a group and perform a protest in order create change. Administrative planning is a leadership approach which uses professional and agencies which decide what is best for land use according to scientific evidence. Forest management plans are usually ones that decide how to professionally go about changing the environment. Last link a multi-stakeholder approach to land use is governed by a planning board and identified experts as well as public input. The formal board still controls the final decisions however they take public opinion into consideration. Therefore, they have a higher rate of success in order to create environmental change. One-way see a significant difference is by looking at traditional planning vs. community-based planning. The traditional base planning approach creates an organized yet mundane and tedious effort in order to make decisions on land use and environmental laws. The community based approach focus on neighborly and community-based decision involving people directly.

The community-based approach faces many challenges however it is a highly successful approach because it involves people that live on that land and in that bioregion directly. One example of a traditional space planning approach would be a federal agency or committee discussing a watershed. A community-based approach would be local people or an outside group supporting the local people in making decision for the environment. Both styles are democratic, yet result in different concepts. The most effective type of leader is a transformational leader in my opinion. They painted Clear Vision of desired future. They act as social Architects enabling to create new meaning of a similar concept. They create trust by being transparent and steadfast to the public they mobilize their own strengths effectively they also to continuous learning and provide models and what they would like to see. They motivate others and inspire others and expect and reward high standards. Transformational leaders are critical to community-based approaches. May not manage staff directly but they offer inspiration and vision for those that helped transform the vision of others regarding the environment. Nelson Mandela is an example of a transformational leader. He led a peaceful non-violent campaign against discrimination. He inspired others to look into themselves through self-actualization for the greater good rather than their own self-interest. Nelson Mandela was a political activists that led by example and practice what he preached. He had the ability to involve multi-stakeholders and was involved in municipal planning. Although he was just one voice he also had an organization of his own by being the change he wanted to see in the world. Therefore leadership in group is more effective in leadership as an individual.

In regards to climate change the most effective type of leadership would be a Team management approach governed by an individual “Be the Change,” leader. Mandela was meant to be a chief of his tribe, but instead went to school to study law. Then he participated in boycotts against his own University which lead him to being kicked out. He continued to lead by example, a group of followers, and continued to teach all over the world. However his peaceful protests quickly turned violent and “monkey wrenching” was involved, and lead to his arrest. During this time, more and more publicity was being made over the racism in South Africa, and finally Mandela was released with an ever growing impact in the world. Whether a change is needed for racial equality or our basic Securities on this Planet, a mix of leadership skills is necessary to make an impact on Climate Change. I believe that all of the leadership approaches are very important in order to get attention from the public. There is a time and a place for certain leadership skills. One person, such as Mandela, was able to envelop all of the leadership styles and clearly get his message across. He died a legend with his message continuing to be passed on. Sometimes it takes a person brave enough and educated enough delete a pack of people over a long period of time. That type of leader is born a leader with acreage and deep passion for a change. They are willing to step outside the traditional role of a leader and do everything possible for a greater good. That is why I believe leadership skills and approaches are important certain times in certain places in order to make a great change.