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Lesson Plan Originally Created By: Bright Nichols-Stock

Leadership In Action

Part of Unit: Leadership Skills Development

Lesson Plan Overview / Details

Students will review the four main styles of leadership:  Autocratic, Democratic, Free-Rein (Hands-Off) and Self-Managed Teams.  They will investigate the advantages and disadvantages of each style, common characteristics of leaders and determine which type(s) are best suited for each individual students.

Required Time

One Block period
90 Minutes

Standards

California Career and Technical Education Standards

California Academic Content Standards (Reinforced)

Objectives and Goals

  • Describe common leadership characteristics.
  • Identify the four styles of leadership.
  • Illustrate individual leadership strengths and weaknesses.
  • Determine preferred individual leadership style(s).

Activities in this Lesson

  • What Leadership Style Am I? - Hooks / Set

    As students enter the classroom, refer them to the Smartboard.  Direct them to log onto a computer and access the web site on the Smartboard and let them know that they will be taking a simple, short leadership quiz.

    As students finish the quiz, have students document their leadership strengths and weaknesses.

    Ask students to open a new Google document and create a one-page, single-spaced document sharing their leadership strengths and weaknesses, instances where they have been in a leadership position, and ultimately, how they lead and if it was effective or not.

    Emphasize to students that this document will be used throughout this lesson and will be modified.  Be sure students share the document with the teacher.

    • Leadership Characteristic Quiz [ Go to Site ] Short, Simple on-line quiz
  • Characteristics of an Effective Leader - Group Work

     

    As students complete the Leadership Quiz, give each student a post-it note with a number and a characteristic common to leaders. 

    Have students group up according to number and write their understanding of the term as it pertains to leadership.  Students can use the Internet, text or other resources.

     

    Characteristics of an Effective Leader

    Businesses are always looking for strong leaders.  Effective leaders are one of the most important elements for a successful business.  Leaders come in many forms but the majority possess and practice certain characteristics:

    Determination

    Foresight

    Compassion

    Perseverance

    Devotion

    Innovation

    Courage

    Bravery

    Integrity

    Display the terms on the Smartboard and have each group share their responses for each term.  As students share, engage class in discussion about responses.

    After all groups have shared, play the Great Leaders Video on the Smartboard, pausing during each leadership characteristic and discussing past and current leaders that are recognized for strength with this leadership characteristic.

    Effective leaders generally have common characteristics but may practice different styles of leadership.   

     

  • Styles of Leadership - Lecture

     

    Begin PPT, showing the four main styles of leadership:

    Autocratic Leadership

    Democratic Leadership

    Free-Rein Leadership or Hands-off Leadership

    Self-Managed Teams


     
     

    • Leadership Styles PPT [ Download ] Powerpoint
  • Leadership Expert - Guest Speaker - Demo / Modeling

     

    Invite a leadership expert to attend class and share his/her knowledge and experience.  The guest speaker will provide real world information and scenarios for the students.

    I contact the guest speaker prior to their attendance to class and ask her to share:

    What is a leadership expert?

    What is the most common type of leadership style today? (reinforce leadership styles)

    Is everyone a leader? 

    What if I'm not a leader?

    The role of women and minorities in leadership.

    What do employers look for in a leader? 

    How did you become a leadership expert?

    What is your education and experience that lead you to this career?  What is the average salary for a job like yours?

    Q&A 

    ***NOTE:  If a Leadership Expert guest speaker is not available, you can use alternative Leadership videos.

    • Leadership....That Mysterious Talent [ Go to Site ] Leadership Video
    • Colin Powell's 13 Rules of Leadership [ Go to Site ] Leadership Video
    • Motivational Leadership Change Management Video [ Go to Site ] Leadership Change Video
    • Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action? [ Go to Site ] Leadership Video
  • Changing Leadership Styles - Check Understanding

    Students need to refer back to their initial Google document where they described their Leadership strengths and weaknesses, instances where they were a leader, how they lead and if it was effective or not.

    Using what they have learned about leadership styles in this lesson, have them modify their initial responses. 

    Students will share the instance(s) where they were leaders, what style(s) they used and how they might change the style(s) used after this lesson.

    This is the perfect time to revisit all the leadership styles and have meaningful discussion.

  • The Essence of Leadership - Closure

    After students have submitted their summary one page Goggle document, close the period by showing the video, "The Essence of Leadership."

My Preferred Style of Leadership

Assessment Types:
Writing Samples,

Have students open a new Google document and write a two-page response to the following:

Based on what you have learned in this lesson, what is/are your preferred style(s) of leadership and why?

Give a specific example of how you have or would use these leadership style(s) to provide the most effective leadership to your personnel.

Be sure students "share" their responses with you.  I put the responses on the Smartboard and have students verbally share and give time for discussion and closure as a class.

Grading is credit/no credit and worth 25 points.