DB9: Leadership Interviews

Charting Information

People have strong opinions and assumptions about leadership which are not always consistent with theory and research. Explore these intuitive leadership theories by interviewing one man and one woman. [Roommates, friends, co-workers or relatives are perfectly appropriate interviewees.] Ask them the following questions, and any others you think are important to add. Record their answers in writing.

• What is leadership?
• Can you name 2 or 3 people who you feel were or are great leaders?
• Is leadership an inborn talent, or a learned skill?
• Are leaders' powerful people who can impose their will on others?
• Do people like to work in groups that have leaders or groups that are leaderless?
• Who makes a better leader: A woman or a man and why?
• Have you ever been in a group where the leader failed to carry out his or her duties properly?
• Have you ever been in a group led by a skilled leader?