Article Review

Article Reviewed: Posner, B. Z., & Kouzes, J. M. (2012). The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations. Jossey-Bass. https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/faculty_books/182/

            Posner and Kouzes’s article, The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organization, is an article that evaluates the qualities and practices of Exemplary Leadership.  Reading through the introduction and the title of the article, it is easy to note that the article will describe some of the skills and qualities that an exemplary leader should possess. According to the authors, there are five  practices of exemplary leadership  that leaders should consider for them to be perceived as exemplary leaders. These practices include, modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act and encourage the heart (Posner & Kouzes, 2012). Moreover, the authors indicate that for individuals to willingly follow a leader, the leader must be honest, forward-looking, inspiring and competent. These four characteristics are intimately connected with the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership.

Analysis

According to the authors, the first practice of Exemplary Leadership is modeling the way. To model the way refers to the most fundamental approach in which a leader attains and maintains credibility by doing what they promised to do  (Posner & Kouzes, 2012). Exemplary leaders set an example through daily actions that demonstrate that they are deeply committed to their beliefs. The authors indicate that best leaders are distinguished by relentless effort, steadfastness, competence, and attention to detail. The second practice of exemplary leadership is to inspire a shared vision. According to the article, a leader must envision the future by imagining and believing in an exciting, highly attractive future for the company  (Posner & Kouzes, 2012). Moreover, the authors emphasize that a leader must be confined so that they can make that extraordinary future come true. According to the authors, an exemplary leader is exceptionally good at imagining a future that does not exist.

Posner and Kouzes’s article indicates that the third practice of exemplary leadership is challenging the process. According to the article, most leadership challenges include a change in the status quo. Thus all leaders must challenge the current process  (Posner & Kouzes, 2012). The Fourth practice is enabling others to act.  According  to the authors, success necessitates a team of effort. It requires team collaboration and individual accountability. The fourth practice is encouraging the heart. The article indicates that this refers to genuine acts of caring to boost the spirits and morale of the individuals in the team  (Posner & Kouzes, 2012). The authors emphasize that when a leader implements the Five Practices of Exemplary leadership, they become honest, forward looking, inspiring and competent.

Research Question

The article’s research question is; what are the qualities and practices of an exemplary leader. The article assesses fundamental leadership  practices and skills based on this question. It centers on the roles of leader and significant skills that an exemplary leader should possess.

How the study was conducted

Study was conducted through interviews and offering questionnaires. The questionnaires were spread throughout the world asking the qualities of an exemplary leader. The interviews included listening to clients and people on the frontline.

Study’s Research design

The research used quantitative research design. This design was intended to identify what people consider or feel about exemplary leadership. Quantitative design incorporated large sample sizes, focusing on the quantity of response.

Material Used in Study

The authors mostly used questionnaires. Questionnaires are research tools consisting of a series of questions for the aim of gathering information from respondents. They are often described as written interviews and can be conducted face-to-face, by computer, telephone or post.

Procedure of conducting research

The questionnaires were given to more than 75,000 people across the world asking what aspects and qualities in a leader are considered inspiring and exemplary.

Dependent and Independent Variables

The study’s dependent variables are the leader’s practices and qualities. The independent variables are the roles played by the leaders to be perceived as exemplary leaders. According to the article, leaders must consider the five practices of exemplary leadership and what constitutes an exemplary leader.

Data Analysis

The authors used the feedback from the 75,000 people throughout the world to identify the practices of an exemplary leader.

 Study results

After reviewing the feedback from the questionnaires, the authors identified that exemplary leaders should consider all the five practices of exemplary leadership, which include, modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act and encourage the heart.

Implication

 The authors indicate that for individuals to willingly follow a leader, the leader must be honest, forward-looking, inspiring and competent. These four characteristics are intimately connected with the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership.

Conclusion

Information presented in the articles is useful in various aspects due to different reasons. For instance, if an organization has an exemplary leadership, there will be optimal effectiveness. In these modern times, individuals and organizations necessitate leaders who lead by example to cope with new challenges and transform to achieve a competitive advantage. Therefore, the article’s information is useful since it provides all the practices, qualities and roles relating to exemplary leadership.