Leadership Theories: Toward a Relational Model

Introduction Within the context of my Ph.D. dissertation, I am interested in (1) the impact of superiors' management skills and subordinates' working skills on the building of their (hierarchical) relationship and (2) the impact this hierarchical relationship has upon the mental health of workers (i.e. both superiors and subordinates). Research to date has revealed the potentially negative consequences that hierarchical relationships can have on mental health; thus, for example, Brun, Biron, Martel & Ivers (2003) found that poor relations with the supervisor constitutes a significant risk factor for mental health. Leiter and Maslach (2004) report similar findings, that is to say, that the quality of social interactions at work is a major risk factor for mental health. A significant and rather copious body of literature has recently been published concerning our understanding of what constitutes a " good " leader, research which attempts to explore the leader's influence upon subordinates' behavior. As I explore this literature within the context of my own dissertation, I will show that, despite the significant contributions to our understanding of leadership, the very notion of " leadership " is proving to be difficult to define, as researchers are still having trouble arriving at a clear consensus. Nonetheless, the great majority of researchers agree that leadership is a social influenced process (Furnham, 2005). For example, Yulk defines leadership as influence processes 1 affecting the interpretation of events for followers, the choice of objectives for the group or organization, the organization of work activities to accomplish the objectives, the motivation of followers to achieve the objectives, the maintenance of cooperative relationships and teamwork, and the enlistment of support and cooperation from people outside the group or organization (1994, p. 5). In short, influence, group and goal are the main concepts in leadership theory (Parry & Bryman, 2006). The aim of my dissertation, therefore, is to examine how existing research on leadership can contribute to a greater understanding of the influence that hierarchical relationships have on mental health. Thus, in this first exam, the general objective is to explore how leadership theories are oriented toward these relationships. More precisely, my first exam will attempt to answer the following question: Which theories allow a greater understanding of the relationship between a superior and a subordinate and how the concept of relationship is theorized? In the second exam, I will explain (1) the connection between interpersonal relationship aspects (e.g. emotion, …