Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Organizational Leadership Practice Test

In which leadership theory is a leader's attitude about followers critical in explaining their behavior and performance?

1. Leader Motive Profile Theory

2. Transformational Leadership Theory

3. Transformational Leadership Theory

4. Situational Leadership Theory

The correct answer is: Leader Motive Profile Theory

The correct answer centers around the Leader Motive Profile Theory, which posits that a leader’s beliefs, attitudes, and motives regarding their followers significantly influence how they lead and, ultimately, how their followers perform. This theory suggests that a leader’s intrinsic motivations, such as their desire to achieve or their need for power, shape their interactions with team members and can affect the overall performance and behavior of the group. In Leader Motive Profile Theory, the underlying premise is that leaders who have a keen understanding of their followers’ needs and aspirations are more likely to engage and inspire them effectively. It emphasizes the importance of leaders' psychological makeup and attitudes in fostering a productive leader-follower relationship. In contrast, other leadership theories focus on different aspects of leadership. Transformational Leadership Theory, for instance, stresses the importance of inspiring and motivating followers through a vision and fostering personal development, rather than focusing solely on the leaders' attitudes. Situational Leadership Theory, meanwhile, highlights the adaptability of leaders based on the task and maturity of their followers rather than their intrinsic beliefs about them. Therefore, Leader Motive Profile Theory specifically addresses the critical role of a leader's attitude towards followers in explaining their behavior and performance, setting it apart from the other approaches.