250-word response 1 reference/intext citation
Due 11/29/2024
Wilkinson
Leadership can be defined as, “working with and through individuals and groups to accomplish organizational goals” (Peak & Giacomazzi, 2023). There are a multitude of different types of leadership styles and each one has its own set of risks and benefits. The text for this course notes different types of theories for these leadership styles. For example – trait theory, stay theory, situational leadership theory etc. The criminal justice system is an intricate system made up of several different parts that all work together to achieve a common goal. Therefore, a specific leadership style would work better than others would. The Trait Theory hypothesizes that those who have good, or admirable traits, have more success than leaders without said traits. However, this theory does not garner much support as it implies leadership is based on already established traits and it cannot be taught (Peak & Giacomazzi, 2023). On the other hand, the Situational Leadership Theory notes that “leaders are most effective when they are adaptable” (Peak & Giacomazzi, 2023). In my opinion, this theory feels most effective because it hypothesizes the, “best leadership style is situationally dependent based on the interaction of task behavior and relationship behavior” (Peak & Giacomazzi, 2023). In other words, a good leader with this theory would be able to adapt to ever changing situations in society and lead effectively. In regards to police departments, this seems especially important due to the fact that this type of career is one of public service. It relies heavily on the thoughts and actions of the people. Therefore, one must be able to listen and adapt to the situations around them in order to effectively lead. This is not to say, however, that character traits are not important in this aspect. One could argue the ability to adapt is one of those most important character traits. Additionally, this theory relies heavily on the relationship between the leader and the group members, in this case the employees. It’s also important to note the characteristics of said group members. For example, does the group work better together or is it more efficient working on independent tasks and collaborating periodically. In regards to a police department, productivity may be better achieved with group collaboration and discussion about what goals need to be met. Overall, there are many different types of ways to display leadership and they are all effective in separate ways. The key idea is to find one that works best for the company and department overall, which could take some trial and error.
