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Principles of Disaster Management Lesson 7: Management Leadership Styles and Methods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Abstract

This lesson explores the use of different management leadership styles and methods that are applied to disaster management situations. Leadership and command are differentiated. Mechanisms that can be used to influence others developed include: 1) coercion; 2) reward; 3) position; 4) knowledge; and 5) admiration. Factors that affect leadership include: 1) individual characteristics; 2) competence; 3) experience; 4) self-confidence; 5) judgment; 6) decision-making; and 8) style. Experience and understanding the task are important factors for leadership. Four styles of leadership are developed: 1) directive; 2) supportive; 3) participative; and 4) achievement oriented. Application of each of these styles is discussed. The styles are discussed further as they relate to the various stages of a disaster. The effects of interpersonal relationships and the effects of the environment are stressed. Lastly, leadership does not just happen because a person is appointed as a manager – it must be earned.

Type
Fred C. Cuny Memorial Continuing Education Series
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2000

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References

Footnotes

1. Pelz, DC: Influence: A Key to Effective Leadership in the First-Line Supervisor Personnel 1952, pp 201221Google Scholar

Rosner, M, et al: Worker Participation and Influence Ín Five Countries, Industrial Relations. 1973, pp 200212.Google Scholar

2. To help improve decision making and confidence for inexperienced disaster managers, many organizations are now developing simulations and other training exercises to expose managers to key decisions they may have to face in emergencies.

3. Blake, RR, Mouton, JS: Using the managerial grid to ensure MBO. Organizational Dynamics 1974; (Spring):5062.Google Scholar

4. Ibid

5. Vroom, V, Yetton, P: Leadership and Decision Making, University of Pittsburgh Press: Pittsburgh, 1973.Google Scholar It should be recognized that much of the validation of this model and some refinements have been initiated by Arthur Jago.