Leadership does not always depend on a leader’s direct actions. Characteristics of employees, their tasks, or their organization can sometimes perform leadership functions—or prevent a leader’s behavior from having its intended effect. This lesson explains the difference between substitutes and neutralizers and introduces the factors that can produce them.
All flashcards
What is a substitute for leadership?
A person, task, or organizational characteristic that makes some leader behavior less necessary.
What is a neutralizer of leadership?
A factor that limits a leader’s ability to use a behavior or achieve its intended effect.
What is focus of attention at work?
An employee’s cognitive orientation while at work: what they think about and how strongly.
What is servant leadership?
A people-centered approach in which a manager supports and develops the people being led.
Why should managers invite employee feedback?
Honest feedback can reveal employees’ support needs, build trust, and identify areas for improvement.
Quiz questions
What makes a characteristic a substitute for leadership?Answer: It makes some leader behavior less necessary by performing a related function.
Which situation illustrates a neutralizer of leadership?Answer: A computer-paced assembly line prevents a supervisor from changing the work pace.
How can employees’ focus of attention affect their reactions to a leader?Answer: Off-job focus may reduce reactions, while strong focus on the leader may increase the leader’s impact.
Which approach best reflects servant leadership by a new manager?Answer: Supporting employees’ success and development rather than emphasizing the manager’s status.
What helps employees give a manager useful, honest feedback?Answer: Confidence that they can speak without fear of retaliation.
Based on Principles of Management by David S. Bright, Anastasia H. Cortes, Eva Hartmann, K. Praveen Parboteeah, Jon L. Pierce, Monique Reece, Amit Shah, Siri Terjesen, Joseph Weiss, Margaret A. White, Donald G. Gardner, Jason Lambert et al. (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.