Role Theory of Leadership

Role Theory of Leadership

Role theory is a concept in sociology and the role theory of leadership borrows these concepts to explain how people adapt to specific organizational and leadership roles. How the leaders and followers in an organizational context define their own roles, define the roles of others, how people act in their roles and how people expect people to act in their roles within the organization.

What is Role Theory?

Role Theory is a perspective in sociology and social psychology. Role Theory proposed that human behavior is guided by expectations held both by the individual and by other people. The expectations correspond to different roles individuals perform or enact in their daily lives, such as secretary, father, or friend. The model is based on the observation that people behave in a predictable way, and that an individual’s behavior is context specific, based on social position and other factors. Each social role is a set of rights, duties, expectations, norms and behaviors that a person has to face and fulfill. Roles are occupied by individuals, who are called "actors".

Role Theory of Leadership:

Role theory as it relates to organizational leadership is how the leaders and followers in an organizational context define their own roles, define the roles of others, how people act in their roles and how people expect people to act in their roles within the organization. The basic assumptions is that the leaders often define their own roles within an organization based on the how the employees see the leader’s role. This theory is based on the assumptions from social role theory that people define roles for themselves and others based on social learning and reading and they form expectations about the roles that they and others will play. People also encourage others within their social circle to act within the role expectations they have for them and they themselves try to act within the roles they adopt.

How it Works?

Associated with every work environment is a set of activities or roles that are defined as potential behaviors to be performed in accordance with a specific job.  Within organizations, there exist both formal and informal channels to convey these expectations about leader's role. Formal role theory reveals itself through policies and positions set by upper management. Examples of formal channels are leadership values training, explicit leadership behaviors at different levels/bands, organizational culture, training sessions, mentoring by senior managers, and so on.

Informal role theory reveals itself through the expectations of followers. Employees have internal representations about the role of leaders, based on what they read, discuss, hear, observe and so on. They consciously or unconsciously send these expectations to their leaders, acting as role senders, for example forwarding an important customer escalation mail to the manager for decision and guidance in-spite of employee knowing the desired actions to resolve the same. This balancing of decisions employees take upon ourselves and the ones that they leave on their leaders pass these subtle expectations to the leader. Leaders get influenced by these signals, and will generally adapt and follow these, playing the leadership role that is put upon them by their followers.

Role Theory Terms:

Role expectations of a leader can vary from very specific to a broad idea within which the leader can define their own style. Given below are definitions of some common terms used in context of Role Theory of Leadership.

Role Set refers to any feature of the organization that is able to send role expectations/requirements and role pressures to the manager. 

Role expectations refer to the degree to which all members of the manager's role set develop beliefs and attitudes about what the manager should and should not do as part of his/her role.

Sent role refers to the fact that role expectations are sent to the focal person (e.g., manager). 

Role pressures refer to the numerous influence attempts directed at the focal person that make up the process of role sending. 

Role forces are regarded as psychological forces of some magnitude and direction that result from sent pressures by role senders and are the immediate source of the manager's motivation to behave. 

Role behavior is a system relevant behavior that is performed by one who is an accepted member of the system, and whose behavior is reinforced by the formalities of the organization.

Role Conflicts: According to role theory, role conflict is a possible experience for leaders within a business or organization. When the employees in a business have a set of expectations on the role of the leaders that are different from what the leaders accept as their role, role conflict can occur.  Role conflict can also occur when different people have differing expectations of their leaders. It also happens when leaders have different ideas about what they should be doing compared to the expectations of followers or management. Similarly role conflict can also occur when a leader feels they should be performing a certain role but employees expect the leader to fill a different role.

Related Links

You May Also Like

  • Principles of Communication

    Principles of Communication

    Certain generally accepted truths or principles of communication are important to consider when communicating with others. These principles hold true for all people in every culture. By understanding these principles, you will experience greater communication effectiveness. An effective communication system is one that achieved its objectives. Communication is effective where there are no barriers to communication.

  • Functional leadership theory

    Functional leadership theory

    Functional leadership theory addresses specific leader behaviors that are expected to contribute most to the organizational effectiveness by focusing on how the leadership process occurs. The leader should ensure that all needs of the group get addressed.

  • Leader Member Exchange Theory

    Leader Member Exchange Theory

    The Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX), also called the Vertical Dyad Linkage Theory is a relationship-based approach that focuses on the two-way (dyadic) relationship to get the best from all team members. How leaders maintain their position in groups and develop an exchange with each of their subordinates. How leaders and members develop relationships that can contribute to growth or hinder development.

  • Burns Transformational Leadership Theory

    Burns Transformational Leadership Theory

    Transformational leadership theory has been defined by James MacGregor Burns as a process where both leaders and followers mutually raise one another to higher levels of morality and motivation. The concept of transforming leader works with teams to garner trust, respect, and admiration while reaching to higher moral positions. The transformational theory of leadership was developed while studying political leaders and how they use charismatic methods to attract people to the values.

  • Leadership Participation Inventory (LPI)

    Leadership Participation Inventory (LPI)

    Kouzes and Posner introduced the Leadership Participation Inventory model of Transformational leadership. This model is also known as Kouzes and Posner's Leadership Challenge Model. They identified five practices of exemplary leadership - Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enabling Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart.

  • Neo-Emergent Theory

    Neo-Emergent Theory

    Neo-Emergent Leadership theory supports that leadership is created through the emergence of information. Leaders can only be recognized after a goal is met. Follower’s perception of leaders is influenced by the ways these goals were accomplished.

  • Investment Theory of Creativity

    Investment Theory of Creativity

    Sternberg in the year 2006, proposed the investment and confluence theory focused on understanding creativity. According to the investment theory, creativity requires a confluence of six distinct but interrelated resources known as intellectual abilities, knowledge, styles of thinking, personality, motivation, and environment. It emphasizes that creativity is not about one thing, but about a system of things.

  • Contingency Theories of Leadership

    Contingency Theories of Leadership

    Contingency theories of leadership focus on both the leader's persona as well as the situation/environment in which that leader operates. These theories consider the context of leadership which means whether or not the leadership style suits a particular situation and states that a leader can be effective in one circumstance and a failure in another one. A leader will be most effective when he applies the right leadership style to a given situation and environment around him. Contingent leaders are flexible and adaptable.

  • Generating Ideas using Brainstorming

    Generating Ideas using Brainstorming

    The brainstorming technique was developed by Alex F. Osborn in 1957 and brainstorming means where a team of members generates a large amount of alternative fruitful ideas on a specific problem without any criticism and then evaluates each idea in terms of their pros and cons. Brainstorming techniques fall into four broad categories: visioning, exploring, modifying, and experimenting.

  • Transformational Theories of Leadership

    Transformational Theories of Leadership

    Transformational leadership theories focus on the leadership approach where the leader encourages, inspires employees to innovate and create positive and valuable organizational change. A transformational leader works towards “transforming” the culture to one that cultivates trust, mutual admiration, loyalty, and respect with the end goal of developing followers into leaders. Transformational leaders are known to be visionary, inspiring, daring, risk-takers, and thoughtful.

Explore Our Free Training Articles or
Sign Up to Start With Our eLearning Courses

Subscribe to Our Newsletter


© 2023 TechnoFunc, All Rights Reserved