Needs v Wants Theory of Leadership



Posted: Thursday, December 16, 2010

by Thomas Howland

With the Needs Theory of Leadership the organization leader is normally a person of integrity--a moral person with values and charisma. In fact, our entire education system is geared towards teaching these principals and how to develop them. Think of it this way. If you were on the board of directors would you want a dishonest person in charge of your bank? No rational person would have given a yes answer to that question. Thus, leadership is defined by what's needed in the corporate, or business community.

Sometimes we need to have exceptional people in control, for example during times of great need the leader is the person who has an answer. Churchill, offered resolve in the face of impossible odds and certain defeat. He would not give in. He would not give up. John F. Kennedy, inspired the nation by challenging NASA to put a man on the moon. Steve Jobs, led the original Mackintosh team, and later resurrected Apple when it was written off as irrelevant.

According to the Wants Theory of Leadership a manager or supervisor is still the person with legitimate authority over subordinates. A leader, on the other hand, has no authority other than what followers willingly give up. Leadership is not the result of positive qualities, morals, or values. The corporate environment, for example, requires honesty and integrity from leaders so educators tell us these are the qualities of a good leader. The truth is that being a leader has nothing to do with being a good person.

A leader usually has some quality or attribute the followers admire and respect, thus it's the followers who determine what's important in a leader. One important example of this principal is voters choosing elected officials. Colleges teach that in a work environment it's important to lead by example. We want our leaders to have a strong sense of purpose, show concern for others, be self confident, stable, and demonstrate integrity. However, among thieves a highly skilled thief can be a leader. They might be a callous, cruel, and a corrupt person, all attributes of a bad leader; but among thieves they're respected and admired thus other thieves look to them for leadership.

Charles Manson was a respected leader by his followers. Jim Jones was able to convince hundreds of followers to commit suicide. Hitler led an entire nation in the wrong direction. He murdered millions of people, yet he is generally thought of as possessing excellent leadership skills. He was charismatic. He was able to sense what the crowds wanted, and then tell them what they wanted to hear. He could energize his audience. But, Hitler was rigid, intemperate, callous, and cruel.

The Wants Theory of Leadership states that leadership is not the result of positive qualities, morals, or values. Remove the positives and negatives attached to leadership and we come up with a different answer of what makes a leader. So what makes a good leader? That depends on what the followers want.
Name: Thomas Christopher Howland, (Chris)

Birthdate: November 19,1955

Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration with Major Concentration in Management 2009, Magna Cum Laude

Occupation: Public Utilities. Currently holds a Texas Class "A" Water, and Class "B" Wastewater Certificate.

Chris is an amateur writer. Writing is something the author learned to appreciate in college, and has continued as a hobby. Mr. Howland has been employed in the Public Utility field for twenty three years. He uses his experience in the field to write about topics that may be of interest to others.

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