Full bibliographic information of source
Reynolds, S. (2015). Leadership 101. Defense Acquisition Research Journal: A Publication of the Defense Acquisition University, 15(3), 16–20.
Stated research question and thesis
Reynolds (2015) sought to understand the diverse definition of leadership in students of the Defense Acquisition University’s Executive Leadership and Coaching programs. The author’s assumption is that leadership 101, or the very basics of being a leader, is easily theorized but implemented with a certain level of difficulty. Therefore, the thesis of the present study may be formulated as “leadership can and should be multifaceted and appeal to both the rational and irrational in people.”
Major argument and refutations
Based on students’ data, Reynolds (2015) concludes that leadership manifests itself through the following:
- goal setting;
- creating a team culture;
- providing an environment that is sufficient in terms of resources;
- setting the standards of performance and leading by example.
Despite participants’ broad knowledge of leadership and awareness of the many roles a leader assumes, they do not always live up to their own ideals. According to Reynolds (2015), it is the tyranny of today’s challenges that set a leader off the course and compromise his or her commitment to leadership 101.
Critique of author’s work including methods
The present study is not without limitations, the most significant of which is study sampling. One may infer that Reynolds (2015) only surveyed his own students at the Defense Acquisition University’s Executive Leadership and Coaching, which makes the sample homogenous and not representative of larger populations. Aside from that, it is hard to tell whether the students who took part in the study have sufficient experience in leadership roles to make a good judgment about the nature of leadership.
Research questions raised
The main question that Reynolds (2015) raises in his research is “How to create and lead extraordinary teams?”
Quotes that can be used towards mentorship and business
Some quotes from the study that may be useful for mentorship:
- “If a team’s direction is set through a combination of rational and emotional arguments, setting culture is an emotional pull (Reynolds, 2015, p. 17).”
- “A leader sets team values, rituals, and symbols and identifies and rewards those heroes modeling them (Reynolds, 2015, p. 20).”