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Abstract
Organizational leadership is functioning in an environment of unprecedented turbulence and change, and technology, education, business, and political sectors all must understand leadership theories, styles, and visioning. How leadership in organizations is conceptualized has important implications for theory, style, visioning, and research (Bolman & Deal, 2003). Much of the leadership research has been influenced by the implicit assumption that effective leadership can be explained in terms of dyadic influence by a heroic leader. A leader who exemplifies influence, theories of change, the change system, how to manage the process, and one who gains the respect of other people is considered one who will contribute and strengthen the field of organizational leadership. Theories guide what people actually will do, styles guide new direction, change, re-focusing, and new energy. Lastly, visioning is addressing the basic assumptions, about what is important for the organization, how it relates to the environment, and how people should be treated, and a picture of a desirable future (Yukl, 2002). The leadership is responsible for setting the vision of an organization.
A theory is an explanation based on thought, observation, and reasoning. It is the principles or methods of a science or art rather than its practice. According to Argyris and Schon (1996), there are two distinguished types of theories. Espoused theories are accounts individuals provide whenever they try to describe, explain, or predict their behavior. Theoriesin-use guide what people actually do. A theory-in-use is an implicit program or set of rules that specifies how to behave. There are several leadership theories which enhance organizational development such as the great man theory, trait theory, behavioral theory, role theory, strategic contingencies theory, social exchange theory, contingency theory, cognitive resource theory, the Fiedler's least preferred co-worker theory, the leader-member exchange (LMX) theory, and lastly the path-goal of leadership theory (Fiedler, 1964).
Introduction
Leadership involves a position of responsibility for setting the vision of an organization. Leadership puts into place a process whereby the vision can be achieved, and involves the responsibility for motivating and inspiring others in the pursuit of great goals (Billick & Peterson, 2001). In addition, leadership is in the process of influencing others to understand and deal with the theories of change and management, change in systems, how to...