Lesson Plan: Introduction to Leadership Styles

Objective: To introduce university students to various leadership styles and help them understand the importance of effective leadership in different contexts.

Duration: 2 hours

Materials Needed: - PowerPoint presentation - Handouts with examples of leadership styles - Whiteboard or flipchart - Markers

Procedure:

1. Introduction (10 minutes) a. Greet the students and introduce yourself. b. Explain the importance of leadership skills in various aspects of life, including academics, career, and personal development. c. Share a brief personal anecdote or example of effective leadership to engage the students.

2. Definition and Overview of Leadership Styles (15 minutes) a. Present a PowerPoint slide defining leadership and explaining the concept of leadership styles. b. Discuss the different leadership styles commonly recognized, such as autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire, transformational, and servant leadership. c. Provide brief explanations and examples of each leadership style. d. Distribute handouts with detailed examples of each leadership style for students to refer to during the discussion.

3. Group Discussion: Leadership Style Analysis (20 minutes) a. Divide the students into small groups of 4-5 members. b. Assign each group a leadership style to analyze and discuss. c. Instruct the groups to identify and discuss the strengths, weaknesses, and potential applications of their assigned leadership style. d. Encourage students to share personal experiences or examples they have witnessed related to the assigned leadership style. e. After the discussion, ask each group to present a summary of their findings to the class.

4. Case Study Analysis (30 minutes) a. Present a case study involving a leadership challenge or scenario. b. Divide the students into pairs or small groups. c. Instruct them to analyze the case study and identify the most suitable leadership style(s) to address the situation. d. Encourage students to discuss and debate their choices, considering the potential outcomes and impacts of different leadership styles. e. After the analysis, ask each group to share their chosen leadership style(s) and reasoning with the class.

5. Leadership Style Exercise (25 minutes) a. Provide each student with a self-assessment questionnaire to determine their preferred leadership style. b. Instruct students to complete the questionnaire honestly and independently. c. Collect the questionnaires and tally the results. d. Discuss the different leadership styles preferred by the students and their potential implications. e. Facilitate a class discussion on the benefits of understanding one’s own leadership style and the importance of adapting leadership approaches based on the situation.

6. Conclusion and Reflection (10 minutes) a. Summarize the main points covered during the lesson. b. Encourage students to reflect on their own leadership style preferences and consider areas for improvement. c. Provide additional resources or recommended readings for students interested in further exploring leadership styles. d. Answer any questions and conclude the lesson.

Note: The duration of each activity can be adjusted based on the class size and level of engagement.