What is Leadership?

What is the Air Forces definition of leadership? Leadership is the art and science of influencing and directing people to accomplish the assigned mission.

The Art and Science

Why is leadership an art? Leadership is an art because it requires imagination and creative skill. Why is leadership a science? Leadership is a science because it is an academic subject requiring careful study, observation, and experimentation.

Of Influencing and Directing People

How does a leader influence and direct people? get them to do something. A leader works with people to affect them or to

To Accomplish the Assigned Mission.

Explain: The mission is the reason why the team exists. Accomplishing the mission is the most important responsibility of a leader.

Other Definitions of Leaders and Leadership

Is there a universally agreed upon definition for leadership? List the three components to a definition of leadership: No. The leader, the followers, and the goal.

Assumptions about Leadership in America

What is culture? Culture is the attitudes, customs, and values of a civilization. Does culture influence how we approach leadership? Yes. List the five assumptions about leadership in America: 1.) leadership doesnt require high rank 2.) Leaders are made, not born 3.) Leaders are accountable 4.) Leaders are not bullies 5.) Leadership must be moral

Roles of the Leader

Leader as Visionary
Why do leaders need to be visionaries? Visionary leaders paint an inspiring future picture for the whole team. Without a visionary leader, a team doesnt focus on the future, and therefore goes nowhere. Who was Billy Mitchell? Billy Mitchell was general who had a vision that the airplane should have a greater importance in the American Military, and he wanted an air force that was separate from the army and the navy. Even after he destroyed a German battleship, his ideas were still shunned. After WWII, General Mitchells ideas were recognized, and he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Leader as Motivator
Why do leaders need to be motivators? A skillful leader understands how to issue a challenge and motivate team members in many different forms. List some forms of motivation: privileges. cheering, money, praise, a prestigious position, awards, special

Who is John F. Kennedy? Kennedy was an American President who motivated the United States to successfully put a man on the moon by using competition as a motivator.

Leader as Communicator
Why must a leader be an effective communicator? A leader will want to take an idea in his mind and deposit it in the minds of others. Leaders vary their messages in order to reach their audience. Who is Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader who used his communication skills in his I Have a Dream speech to change the way African Americans were treated. List the six ways to becoming a better speaker: 1.) Know your material 2.) Practice 3.) Relax 4.) Visualize yourself 5.) Dont apologize 6.) Evaluate yourself

Leader as Expert
Why must a leader be an expert? credibility and win respect. Possessing expert knowledge helps a leader establish their

Who is Jimmy Doolittle? Doolittle was one of the first people to receive a Ph.D. in aeronautics, and he invented the artificial horizon. He also devised a method for launching bombers off of a navy aircraft carrier, which resulted in the bombing of Tokyo. He received the Medal of Honor.

Leader as teacher
Why must a leader be a teacher? are role models and examples. Leaders teach their teams how to act and what to value. They

Who is Anne Sullivan? Anne Sullivan was a woman who taught Helen Keller how to be obedient and how to read. She was Kellers mentor. Do leaders need to possess all of these traits? Yes.

Great Man Theory

What is the great man theory? The great man theory states that in order to study leadership, you must focus on the life stories of successful people. Is Winston Churchhill someone you should study according to the great man theory? Yes. Should leaders be acquainted with the biographies of great men? Yes. It says that you

What does the great man theory say about possessing leadership capabilities? are born with them. The great man theory does not explain how we determine who is a successful leader.

Experience, education, and situation have a much greater impact on leadership than the great man theory acknowledges. What does the Air Force doctrine state about leadership? education, and training. Leadership is built from experience,

Trait Theory
What is the trait theory? The trait theory is a theory that explains leadership in terms of the personality and character of the leader. Is each leader unique in their personal qualities and approach to leadership? What five qualities do you think a leader should possess? courage, confidence What is the trait theorys major weakness? Is the trait theory accurate? No. Yes.

Decisiveness, experience, inspiration,

No one can agree on which traits make good leaders

The Flag
What is the flag? The American flag is our most important and most recognizable national symbol. It was created on June 14, 1777, and the current flag was introduced in 1960. In 1814, the flag inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner. What does the flag represent? and our commitment to equality. The flag represents the best things about our people, our land,

Identify proper and improper ways to display the flag: What to do: 1.) Display the flag with the union at the top and on its own right 2.) Display the flag on its own right or in the middle, highest position in a group of flags 3.) Display the flag as frequently as possible 4.)Fly the flag from sunrise to sunset, and at night if illuminated 5.)Do not fly the flag in bad weather 6.) Briskly hoist the flag up the flag pole and lower it ceremoniously 1.) Allow the flag to touch the ground 2.) Do not use the flag in advertising 3.) Do not fly the flag upside down, except as a sign of distress 4.) Do not fly another flag above the U.S. flag 5.) Do not wear the flag as clothing 6.) Do not fly a tattered or dirty flag

What not to do: