Levels of leadership model
Introduction
The Levels of leadership model is extensively used in order to enhance the levels of leadership presence, knowledge and other attributes. The model looks to provide a summary of the activities that a leader must undertake in order to provide leadership to the group or organization. It also aims to help leaders in their technical and psychological development. This model refers to three key levels namely public leadership, private leadership and personal leadership.
Public leadership
Any activities or behaviors of the leaders which help in influencing two or more people at the same time can be termed as public leadership. Public leadership involves setting clear expectations and creating a motivating vision for the future of the group or organization. This will ensure that all members focus on the same goal. Public leadership also includes developing positive peer pressure towards shared, high performance standards and building an environment that imbibes trust and team spirit. Another aspect of public leadership is driving collective action that leads to success and positive results.
Private Leadership
Private leadership pertains to a leader managing individuals on a one-to-one basis. Developing a feeling of group unity may be one of the key leadership aspects, but one must remember that groups comprise of individuals who have different psychologies, confidence levels and experience. Certain individuals may find private leadership uncomfortable due to the powerful conversations involved. Some leaders may also avoid private leadership behaviors as they tend to reduce their efficiency. Private leadership may reinforce a behavior trend where leaders and group members tend to avoid each other fearing what would occur during a one-to-one encounter.
Personal leadership
Personal leadership refers to the growth of the leader in technical, psychological and moral terms. It also takes into account the impact of this growth on the leadership presence, skill and behavior of the leader. There are three key elements that define personal leadership. These include technical knowledge and skills, portraying the right attitude towards others and having complete control over your mind.
Leadership Presence
One of the key characteristics of the Levels of leadership model is the significance and growth of a leadership presence. Leadership presence is not something restricted to knowledge, skills and behavior. It also involves being resilient both mentally and morally and depends on the inner qualities of the leader.
Shared Leadership
The Levels of leadership model sees leadership as something that is not just about the role of a leader, but how all group members should exert leadership occasionally in order to ensure more success.
Conclusion
The Levels of leadership model picks up on the strong points of older leadership models and also addresses their weaknesses, thereby creating a theory of leadership that is accurate as well as effective.