Authentic Leadership Vs Adaptive Leadership

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Authentic Leadership is a complex process that is tough to describe, there are three main definitions along with two approaches to this leadership style. The first definition describes a focus on the leader and their internal processes, the second is relational and created by leaders and followers together, and the last describes the unfixed nurturing of a leader or the constant development of a leader (Northouse, 2016, p.196). The two approaches concerned with this approach are practical and theoretical, in this philosophy, a theoretical approach is emphasized in this philosophy. The practical approach discusses essential qualities and characteristics whereas the theoretical approach is based on the behavior of leaders; which can be more validly …show more content…

Change is inevitable and follower-based leadership can help to alleviate transitional stresses that may occur. Challenges in this leadership style are adaptive, technical, and a combination of the two. Technical challenges can only be solved by experts, adaptive challenges can be solved with leader encouragement and are not easy to identify, both challenges can be solved with leaders and followers working together (Northouse, 2016, pp.261-263). Adaptive leadership should inspire mobilization, motivation, and organization in followers (Northouse, 2016, p.258). Adaptive and technical challenges combined and adaptive challenges alone can be remedied with leader behaviors, like regulating distress and protecting leadership voices below, that encourage followers to continue to strive for their best and essentially the good of the organization also. Adaptive Leadership has two focal strengths relevant to this philosophy and validate its inclusion in this analysis. First, this style, unlike other theories, is follower-centered and leaders provide the tools necessary for followers to grow and as a result, the whole organization grows (Northouse, 2016, p.275). Lastly, Adaptive Leadership provides instructional behaviors anyone can learn that can facilitate positive, adaptive change (Northouse, 2016, …show more content…

The Authentic Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ) has helped to suggest that Authentic Leadership leads to increased organizational citizenship and individual satisfaction (Northouse, 2016, p.218). Another measurement survey is the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) suggests that charisma and motivation have the most positive effects and that individualized consideration and intellectual stimulation are the next important factors (Northouse, 2016, pp.187-188). Both surveys were completed, along with others, to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses held in each style, results are the drivers of this philosophy; included in Gap Analysis