Behavioural Theories
Blake and Moulton’s managerial grid
suggests that leadership behaviours fall into two categories. The amount of
concern that is placed on the production, for example focusing on hitting
targets and the concern for people such as the need for approval and being
liked, (Blake and Mouton, 1982).
The country club section of this grid
can be seen to resemble elements of the type of leader Flik appears to be. For
example Flik appears extremely focused on pleasing Princess Atta and the
colony, so much so that he bring back circus bugs who pretend to be warrior
bugs in attempt to create a sense of relief and safety for the others. However,
individuals who display country club leadership styles often have a lack of
direction and control. This is demonstrated in Flik’s inability to accurately
complete his task in making a harvesting machine.
The Authoritarian-Obedience section
can be seen in leadership styles such as that of Hopper. He sees the ants as a
means of having food in order to survive, and his only concern is to ensure he
has his food. When the ants try to raise their issue of not having any food
left he does not acknowledge their reason and simply supresses it with the
threat of violence.
The Team Management section can be
applied to both Princess Atta and the Queen as they instil and encourage the
rest of colony in the beginning to carry on collecting the food as it is
tradition, and all will be ok. However, it is noted that with these leaders
their behaviour can change, although generally one may be placed at a certain
part of the grid, situations that occur can cause this behaviour to change and
show fear and uncertainty.
Tannenbaum and Schmidt’s Continuum of behaviour presents 7 stages which refer to the process of decision making.
Trait Theories
‘Leadership’ – ‘The ability to influence a group toward the achievement of goals’ (Robbins, 2001).
Tannenbaum and Schmidt’s Continuum of behaviour presents 7 stages which refer to the process of decision making.
Stage 2, can be seen in Flicks
leadership style, where he sells his idea to Princess Atta and the rest of the
colony in order to gain their approval. For example on his return to the colony
with his ‘warrior’ bugs, they perform a show in order to demonstrate and
impress the Queen and her colony.
Princess Atta shows a sign of the fifth
stage, whereby the problem is explained to the group, ideas are then put
forward and then a decision is made. For example the issue of what will happen
to them when the grass hoppers return to find there is not enough food. Flick
suggests that he will venture out into the outside world in order to find other
bugs to help the ants defend themselves against the grasshoppers. Although the
Queens argues this idea would be ‘suicidal’ Princess Atta comes to the
conclusion to let him go but only on the grounds that it will make things
easier on the colony in recollecting the seeds for the grasshoppers, not
because she believes his idea will actually work.
The finale of this film can be linked
to the 6th stage where Flick stands up to Hopper ‘Ants
are not meant to serve grasshoppers!’ consequently the ants and circus
bugs join up in order to not only protect their leaders but protect themselves
and unanimously join together to charge and scare off the grasshoppers. This
act was not as a result of an order from a leader but made jointly by everyone
involved.
‘Leadership’ – ‘The ability to influence a group toward the achievement of goals’ (Robbins, 2001).
Leadership can be shown in various styles and possess
various qualities that illuminate ‘leadership’.
Trait theories are highly used within the managerial scene. Traits that
can adapt, appeal and influence other members of a team in a formal and
informal way are effective. Trait
theories are ‘Theories that sought
personality, social, physical, or intellectual traits that differentiated
leaders from non-leaders’ (Robbins, 2001). Managers can use this to detect
whether candidates will be suitable for managerial and leadership roles.
However, these types of characteristics have been criticised
as to whether they can actually be considered as ‘Leadership qualities’ as to
essential qualities. Many leaders such
as Margaret Thatcher, Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobs (Founder of Apple), Richard
Branson (Virgin Group CEO) have been classed to have these traits.
Additionally, further traits such as enthusiasm, courageousness and charisma
also form good leadership, (Robbins, 2001). This begs the question if there are
more traits characteristics than noted. It has also been argued that some of
these elements may be considered more gender based in respects to what sex
holds which, or whether leaders of both genders can possess all these
characteristics.
'A leader is a dealer in hope’ – Napoleon Bonaparte
‘He who has never learner to obey cannot be a good commander’ -Aristotle
‘Go to the people. Learn from then. Live with them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. The best of leaders when the job is done, when the task is accomplished, the people will say we have done it ourselves.’ - Lao Tzu
