NCJ Number
103001
Date Published
1986
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This second of nine independent study lessons on police supervision examines leadership roles and styles, considers the connection between leadership and motivation, and identifies techniques to stimulate motivation.
Abstract
Leadership is that quality that enables a person to achieve accomplishments through subordinates by virtue of their willingness, rather than by force. Effective leadership requires experience and study. It also requires such attributes as loyalty, character, decisiveness, self-control, perseverance, and tact. Other leadership qualities include courage, faith, truthfulness, honor, enthusiasm, good judgment, and earnestness. Leadership styles fall into three major approaches: authoritarian, laissez-faire, and democratic. In the long run, the democratic approach will best contribute to the development of one's subordinates. The good leader knows himself and his job, uses knowledge of others, knows staff needs, keeps staff informed, is loyal and fair, has a sense of responsibility, is courageous and shares hardship, communicates, and takes responsibility. According to Maslow's theory of motivation, which sets a hierarchy of needs, employees motivate themselves by striving to achieve their own needs. Some techniques for meeting staff higher needs (social, esteem, self-actualization) include evaluation, projected incentives, and rewards. Such techniques can stimulate employees to set personal goals that also further organizational goals. Progress checks and a comprehensive examination are provided. For other lessons in this series, see NCJ 103000 and NCJ 103002-103008.