The Importance Of Leadership Theories

Leadership theories are very important to learn about, especially leadership theories used in the criminal justice system to allow the system to run smoothly. There are four main leadership theories that need to be obtained to run the criminal justice system smoothly. Those four main theories are the trait, behavioral, contingency, and transactional theory. The trait theory is based on the “certain traits an individual must have to become a leader.” (Allen & Sawhney, 2015 p. 225). The behavioral theory is based on “what leaders do and how they do it,” and the theory does depend on what traits the leaders possess since “the behavioral theory goal is to try to prescribe how a leader should behave” (Allen & Sawhney, 2015 p. 225). The contingency …show more content…
I would use the contingency theory to handle any situation that arises in a way that will result in a positive outcome. Since there is not “one best style of leadership,” I can handle certain situations one way and obtain positive results and another person can handle the same situations a different way and they can also obtain positive results (Allen & Sawhney, 2015 p. 227). The transactional theory is the theory I would use to see what is going on in the office by getting to know all the employees and treating them in a way that will result in their desire to work hard and get rewarded for their hard work. The “process of interaction” with employees will have a positive effect because if the employees know that their chief probation officer is willing to interact with them and listen to their feedback. (Allen & Sawhney, 2015 p. 233). The employees would be more willing to work with the chief probation officer by follow the instructions and accomplish their assigned tasks the right way “Leaders must provide employees with abundant, relevant information regarding impending changes, justify the appropriateness and rationale for change, address employees’ questions and concerns, and explore ways in which change might affect recipients in order to increase acceptance and participation (Gilley et al., …show more content…
The evaluation would allow the employees in my office to recognize what I am doing right and inform me about what I am doing wrong. The feedback I receive will help me change what I am doing wrong, resulting in an improvement of my effectiveness and leadership skills. This survey would help eliminate communication barriers, especially for the employees who are too shy to give honest feedback via verbal communication. The transactional theory would be enhanced by the interaction of employees to myself because they are providing feedback to me that will allow me to become a more effective leader. The contingency theory would be shown by the employees giving feedback based on how they see me respond to certain situations that arise. I have to switch between different styles of leadership because one style may work for a situation but the same style may not be effective for another