Good, professional relationships between leaders and subordinates may factor into an organization’s success. For example, as a hospital director for a high-risk, neonatal unit, you may find that encouraging positive, professional relationships with subordinates from diverse backgrounds is important in maintaining employee efficiency and effectiveness. Your subordinates may also recognize a similar value in your professional relationship in order to receive direction, goal achievement, and/or rewards. Your leadership and relationship with subordinates has the potential to foster an interesting exchange between leader and subordinates. In the field of public health, an emphasis on good, professional relationships may assist your leadership success across diverse landscapes of public health problems.
This week, you examine two leadership perspectives: Leader-Member Exchange Theory as well as Social Network Theory. Think about how both theories may apply to public health leadership. You also continue to complete your Scholar-Practitioner Project: Public Health Leadership Theory with creation of a visual representation of your theory.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Analyze similarities and differences between Leader-Member Exchange with Social Network Theory
- Apply Leader-Member Exchange Theory to personal leadership theories
- Apply Social Network Theory to personal leadership models
- Apply public health concepts and perspectives to create visual representations of public health leadership theories
Learning Resources
Required Readings
Nahavandi, A. (2014). The art and science of leadership (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
- Chapter 3, “The Foundations of Modern Leadership”
Document: Scholar-Practitioner Project Overview (Word document)
Discussion: Building a Nest for Success: Leader–Member Exchange Theory and Social Network Theory
A Chinese proverb states, “In a broken nest, there are few whole eggs” (World of Quotes, 2011).
Within an organization, a broken professional relationship fosters more broken professional relationships to in turn damage the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. For a leader, any “crack” or “break” in leadership may create future problems within the organization. With use of Leader-Member Exchange Theory and Social Network Theory, an effective leader may find that the creation of positive, professional relationships with subordinates is helpful in preventing breaks in relationships in order to guide an organization toward success.
For this Discussion, think about the similarities and differences between Leader-Exchange Theory and Social Network Theory. Consider how you might integrate each theory into your own personal, unified leadership theory. Think about how you might use this theory in a public health scenario.
Post a brief comparison (similarities and differences) between Leader-Member Exchange and Social Network Theory. Then, explain how you might integrate Leader-Member Exchange Theory and Social Network Theory into your personal, unified leadership theory. Finally, relate this personal, unified theory to a public health scenario with which you are familiar.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.
Expert Solution Preview
Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) Theory and Social Network Theory are two leadership perspectives that can be applied to public health leadership. LMX Theory focuses on the relationship between leaders and their subordinates, emphasizing the quality of the exchange and the trust and support that develops between them. Social Network Theory, on the other hand, examines the pattern of relationships and interactions between individuals within a network, highlighting the influence that this network has on the behavior and outcomes of its members.
Integrating these two theories into a personal, unified leadership theory can enhance public health leadership. One possible approach is to view LMX Theory as the foundation for building strong, positive relationships with subordinates, while Social Network Theory provides a broader perspective on the network of relationships within the organization and beyond.
In this personal, unified theory, the leader prioritizes building high-quality exchanges with subordinates, fostering trust, open communication, and mutual respect. This strengthens the leader-subordinate relationship and creates a foundation for collaboration, support, and sharing of knowledge and resources. The leader also recognizes the importance of the larger social network and actively works to cultivate relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, and community partners.
In a public health scenario, such as addressing a community health issue, this personal, unified leadership theory can guide the leader in effectively mobilizing resources and coordinating efforts. By leveraging the strong leader-subordinate relationships built through LMX Theory, the leader can motivate and empower subordinates to take ownership of their roles and responsibilities. Additionally, the leader can tap into the broader social network, utilizing connections and collaborations to engage diverse stakeholders and coordinate a comprehensive response.
Overall, integrating LMX Theory and Social Network Theory into a personal, unified leadership theory supports the development of positive relationships, effective communication, and collaboration within and beyond the organization. This approach is particularly relevant in the field of public health, where addressing complex health issues requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders and the engagement of diverse communities.
