A Social-Psychological Model of Leadership

Leadership theory need not be limited to the individual psychology of the leader or of the followers. Even Hogan and Kaiser, with their emphasis on the personality of the leader, note the systemic impact of good versus poor leadership. This article asserts that Psychologist Kurt Lewin's (1890/1947) social science and Psychiatrist Murray Bowen's (1913/1990) family systems theory both take a systemic approach to leadership that can be applied by almost anyone, despite their personality traits. Lewin's "democratic" style of leadership combines degrees of leading and freedom which his research demonstrated had a reliable impact on productivity and morale. Bowen's leadership model, as interpreted by Edwin Friedman (1932/1996), focuses on the leader's clarity and connection to the system, creating a healthy emotional system between leaders and followers. The author, his father before him, and colleagues have been blending these theories for decades and applying them to developing leaders at all organizational levels, from executives to the floor. The purpose of this article is to contribute to theory application and development by describing that blend and the theories behind it.