A comprehensive model of organizational leadership: the leadership action cycle

Abstract

This article seeks to provide a comprehensive model of leadership applicable to managers in the public sector. Although it is based on the leadership literature, the format is intended for practitioners and teachers; that is, although it uses a highly detailed specification of leadership elements, it purposely oversimplifies causal relationships. Leaders first assess their organization and the environment (8 elements are identified) as well as look at the constraints that they may face (4 elements). From this information they set goals including deciding on the level of focus and the degree of change emphasis. Leaders bring to the concrete leadership situation a number of traits (10 elements) and overarching skills such as communication capability (4 elements). The totality of leaders' actions are perceived as styles based on key factors such as decisional input, which are more or less appropriate based on the situation. Leaders may or may not have a broad range of styles at which they excel. Finally, the model identifies concrete management behaviors that leaders typically engage in-with more or less success based on their styles, traits, and skills. These behaviors are categorized as largely being task-oriented, people-oriented, or organization oriented (21 elements). Ultimately, leaders evaluate their organizations' and their own performance, and the cycle begins again. The model's strength is the detailed articulation of leadership elements (50 including goal setting and leader evaluation).