The Four Frameworks Approach In The Four Frameworks Of Leadership

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Michael Frazier 4-10-14 Four Frameworks of Leadership-Unit 3 In the Four Framework Approach, Bolman and Deal (1991) explain that the characteristics of a leader are understood through recognition of certain behaviors that comprise four leadership frameworks: Structural, Human Resource, Political, or Symbolic. These four frameworks are understood by good leaders. However, according to the authors, each framework of leadership should be employed based upon the circumstances the leader finds himself in. Depending on the leadership situation, the leader will apply the principles of one of the four frameworks to maximize his leadership strategy. The Structural Framework is employed by the leader who considers himself an architect of social structures. Through careful analysis of social environment design and structure he will find ways to maximize the ability of the group. In a structural framework of leadership individuals adapt to their surroundings by maximizing their special or unique abilities through a collaborative effort with others in their level of hierarchy. The Human Resource Framework of leadership allows the leader to assume the role of supportive mentor. This supportive leader advocates for the group to discover solutions to particular problems on their own, using their talents, in a sense this type of leadership allows for increased empowerment of the group to get a job done. Political Framework leadership skills require personality traits common to politician styled archetypes. For example, this type of leadership strategy requires an assessment of the power distribution of various groups, furthermore this knowledge allows the leader to properly broker meetings between various grou... ... middle of paper ... ...mely the people that make the organization. Furthermore, the groups must be organized into members of the same hierarchy and they must devote their group mental efforts to solving a problem that is unique to the organization. Leaders who subscribe to this frame of leadership should be wary of individuals in the groups straying away from the group goals to pursue individual goals-as this is the greatest contributor to inefficiency in this particular type of frame. Although some scholars feel that this structural frame is over utilized by those who teach others pursuing higher degrees of learning, it can be very effective when used to corral a group of people into a focused unified way of thought for the purposes of solving a complex problem. Reframing Organizations by Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal 5th Edition, Josey, Bass Publishers, Hoboken, NJ, 07030.

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