The History of IDEAL Freshmen Leadership Team
IDEAL was built and formed from the idea that leadership can be learned and, consequently, taught- a premise supported by the vast majority of present-day leadership scholars (Komives). Starting as a “living thesis” written by Anthony Turner, the concept of IDEAL became important in two ways. The first is to benefit the people within the organization, as they develop their leadership potential greatly, and the second is academically. The goal is to link these two important aspects of leadership and academics to form a strong collegiate student-leader.
The Six Leadership Theories by Susan R. Komives
To do this, Anthony Turner focuses on the six main leadership theories presented by Susan R. Komives and her co-authors within the book Exploring Leadership: For College Students Who Want to Make a Difference. These six main theories present paradigms and a roadmap for viewing “successful” leadership. The six theories are “Great Man Theory”, “Trait Theory”, “Behavioral Theory”, “Situational Contingency Theory”, “Influence Theory”, and “Reciprocal Theory” (Komives 36-37). To begin summarizing these theories, there is an assumption that leaders are born, not made, stating that there are only a few “Great Men” who could be great leaders. As these “Great Men” are born with “Traits” that allow them to have the skills of a leader, these skills are not developed. Some of these traits include persuasion or charisma in order to “influence” followers to lead and complete tasks. The next idea is that successful leaders all display common “behaviors,” showing that there is only “one best way” to lead. To follow this idea is the concept that leaders should vary both their behaviors and methods based on the “situation” they are in and that leaders arise from the situation at hand. Which leads into the last of the six theories, which focuses on empowering individuals with the “recognition” that those not in a formal leadership position still have valuable contributions to make. Anthony Turner believed concepts within these six theories in both support and opposing views.
What Anthony Turner believes of the Six Theories
Anthony Turner believed and supported the idea that leadership is meant to engage leaders and followers. Influencing followers consists of being a leader full of exceptional qualities that make individuals want to follow, not be charmed or persuaded in specific ways. Along with the idea that the followers, although not in a formal leadership position, were just as valuable as a successful leader. This idea leads to his strong belief in servant leadership, serving for the sake of serving. Next, being a leader, while it comes more easily to others, is not something that you are necessarily born with but instead is something that can be developed, taught, and learned. These are the strong ideas that support the mission that IDEAL strives to accomplish and teach within the program today.