Getting LOST in Leadership
A review of behavior theories and leadership styles.
The Managerial Grid. Credit: Ponting, S.
In our reading on hierarchical taxonomy of leadership behavior, the author introduced us to “two general, broadly-defined behavior categories that are best described as relations-oriented behavior and task-oriented behavior” (Yukl, 2002). He listed some task-oriented behaviors to be planning, clarifying and monitoring, and relation-oriented behaviors as supporting, developing, and recognizing. This was very similar to Ohio State University’s 1940 Leaders Behavior Descriptive Questionnaire which listed initiating, organizing, clarifying, and information gathering for task-oriented behavior, and encouraging, observing, listening, and coaching/mentoring for people-oriented behavior (Ponting, 2023). When we consider these behavior categories as a spectrum, we can find leaders displaying any combination of them. This provides us with the Managerial Grid depicting four combinations: Country Club (high people-oriented behavior, low task-oriented behavior), Impoverished (low people-oriented, low task-oriented), Leader (high people-oriented, high task-oriented), and the authoritarian (low people-oriented, high task-oriented).
As a quick recap of Theory XY in our class, we were reminded that Theory X “assumes that employees dislike work, lack ambition, avoid responsibility and must be directed and coerced to perform” and Theory Y “assumes that employees like work, seek responsibility, are capable of making decisions, and exercise self direction and self-control when committed to a goal.” (Ponting, 2023). Simply listing out the opinions of a Theory X manager creates an image of a micro-managing, distrusting boss; one whom I feel would fall under the authoritarian leadership style. I’ve worked for a boss like this and noticed many people left the company, even though they believed in its mission. They left because of this boss’ behaviors and negative assumptions of them, regardless of the number of times they tried to exemplify their desire to work, learn and grown within the company. It was unfortunate to see this happen to a company with such a good-natured goal, but they had the wrong “who” in the seat. On the other hand, working for a manager who displays Theory Y beliefs can be incredibly rewarding and uplifting. An employees has the opportunity to thrive under this these leaders. Theory Y managers seem like they would fall under the Leader realm of the Managerial Grid.
Applying our new understandings.
A fun part of this week’s assignment was to analyze an episode or two to identify some of the various behavior-based leadership styles we’ve recently learned about. Though I’d spent the greater part of the ‘00’s avoiding this show and watching my friend plan evermore elaborate rituals around their Wednesday night guilty pleasure, after watching just two episodes, I hate to admit…I stayed in bed all day and watched five more! While this is a good show, as expected by its original following, watching with the purpose of analyzing the characters leadership styles brought much more to the experience. I’ve enjoyed the single-character background episodes the show is diving into, and yes, I’ve even cried a bit at one of them. In just these seven episodes, I’ve seen a couple of characters already show a great amount of depth in their personality and even questioning their abilities to lead.
This show may very well be my new self-care day go-to. So, let’s dive into to what I’ve seen so far.
Hugo “Hurley” Reyes
Hurley appears to be a supporting character, but I also feel he is a leader. I believe that Hurley is in the country club area on the Management Grid. I don't think he sees himself as a leader, but I believe that he took some actions that qualify him as such. In episode one, he took instruction from a different style leader who was best fit for that situation. Hurley also took the initiative to pass out meals to everyone. He also gave the pregnant girl a second meal, realizing the special circumstances at hand. This could be seen as an executive decision, and could have been questioned by another passenger. Additionally, he stood up for Sayid, an Iraqi passenger, when he was being unfairly accused of terrorism. Throughout the first several episodes, there were several scenes where other passengers stood back and watched, but Hurley stepped up for what was right and to try and calm everyone down. His desire to take care of everyone and ensure they are all being treated fairly leads me to believe Hurley is a country club style leader.
Sayid Jarrah
I believe Sayid is a task-oriented leader because he looks to identify what needs to be done and how best to accomplish it. When he realizes that it is very unlikely they will be rescued, he immediately worked to change the mission from rescue to survival. He broke groups into teams based on various related tasks that needed to be accomplished in order to work towards this new mission. He works well with the other apparent leaders as they seem to be taking on different departments of the overall mission. It’s not until Jack made a unilateral decision that we see the two of them begin to bump heads. Even then, Sayid moves forward in a respectful manner, but made it clear that he was not in agreement and would share his opinion with others. Actually, it was due to this action which has confused me a bit, to wonder if he is a Sound leader, but he may just have some similar behaviors. Overall, I think Sayid displays the task-oriented leadership style.
Jin-Soo Kwon
When we first see Jin-Soo, he is speaking to his wife, taking a strong protective position. As the first few episodes go by, we see that he is working to provide them with food, water and shelter. He even states “that’s what a husband does”. While these things come from a protective place, we also see him go give his wife orders to cover up and behave certain ways. All-in-all, I believe Jin-Soo to be an authoritarian/directive leader, at least within the micro-unit of his marriage. His wife is scared of him but follows him out of fear. This is confirmed in later episodes.
John Locke
Oh boy did that character take me on a whirlwind! “Is he the prisoner?”, “Is he a child molester?”, “Is he just deranged??” OH, MY GOODNESS what a backstory!!! I cried. I cried SO hard for that man and now I’m his biggest cheerleader. “Get your walkabout, Locke!!!” All of that emotion aside, I think I see a good deal of paternal leadership in him. The way he helped Michael with his son, as opposed to playing the hero directly was the first thing that caught me off guard about him. He suddenly seemed like he could have been their misunderstood neighbor who was just looking out for the family down the street. Then, the way he helped Charlie with his situation was also a very paternal method. He gave Charlie the opportunity to make his own decisions and build himself up, much like a good manager might allow promising employee to step up into a new role. I believe the passengers will do well with someone like Locke there to help teach them. Also, on that note, Hurley was also taking some time to teach Charlie a new skill. However, I don’t believe it was done in a paternal leadership style.
Jack Shepard
In the first episode, Jack began as the authoritarian leadership style. With him being a doctor and the situation being a medical emergency, Jack was literally the authority on the matter at hand. He got some of the passengers focused and gave out orders to begin helping those who could be helped. In this situation, an authoritarian style leadership was exactly what was needed. However, as the urgency passed, this style was no longer best suited. Jack being a surgeon, I am curious if he will remain with more of a directive leadership style or not. The fact that he appears to be the lead in the show, makes me think he will likely become the well-balanced, overall leader, but I’m not sure. As an example, Jack determined that a certain space would be a good long-term shelter and made the unilateral decision that the passengers would relocate. This caused the first division among them. While his intentions are to care for them all, Sayid’s more democratic method may prove to be better suited for the long-term, but I guess I’ll just have to “tune in next week”.
James “Sawyer” Ford
Sawyer would be a great example of the impoverished section of the Management Grid. So far, all we’ve seen in his actions is his desire for self-preservation. He does all that he can to ensure his survival and disregards the group’s survival. He only helps with a plan when it serves his interest.
Kate Austin
One quick note about Kate: I think, though she is a main character, she is not a leader. She seems more like a lieutenant general to Jack or Sayid, depending on the situation. Of course, as a woman, I’m a bit disappointed to be reporting back that the only main female character doesn’t appear to be a leader. I hope that I’m proven incorrect in class, but given that her backstory has her avoiding making solid connections or digging roots, I’m not too sure that this will happen.
References
Yukl, G. (2002). A Hierarchical Taxonomy of Leadership Behavior: Integrating a Half Century of Behavior Research. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies.
Ponting, S. (2023). Behavior Based Theory.