Running head: LEADERSHIP STYLES INVENTORY

Leadership Styles Inventory

Ashley McAra

Professor Davis

Baker College

May 23, 2017

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Leadership Styles Inventory

After completing my Leadership Styles Inventory test, it has concluded that I have a

democratic leadership style. The test states that Democratic leaders, also known as participative

leaders, accept input from one or more group members when making decisions and solving

problems, but the leader retains the final say when choices are made. Group members tend to be

encouraged and motivated by this style of leadership (verywell, para 10). This style of leadership

often leads to more effective and accurate decisions, since no leader can be an expert in all areas.

Input from group members with specialized knowledge and expertise creates a more complete

basis for decision-making (verywell, para 11).

After researching the Global Gurus top 30 list of 2017, I found it amazing that John C.

Maxwell has been the consistent number one Leadership Guru on the Global Gurus site for 6

years (Global Gurus, para 1). I immediately recognized Robin Sharma, due to his books, my

mother owns a few. Robin Sharma has been consistently voted in the top 10 of the best

leadership speakers and trainers (Global Gurus, para 4).

A. Provide a short biography of your chosen leader.

Mary Temple Grandin, an American animal science professor, livestock industry

consultant, and an autism spokesperson. Temple was born August, 29, 1947 in Boston,

Massachusetts (Wiki, para 2). When in her 40s, Temple was officially diagnosed with autism.

After she graduated in 1966 from Mountain Country School, Grandin went on to earn her

bachelor's degree in human psychology from Franklin Pierce College in 1970, a master's degree

in animal science from Arizona State University in 1975, and a doctoral degree in animal science

from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1989 (Wiki, para 7). Grandin is a

prominent and widely cited proponent for the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter (Wiki,
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para 8). Grandin has stated that the part of other people that has emotional relationships is not

part of me (Wiki, para 9). Temple is unmarried and does not have children. Temple has been

awarded many honors, including being named in the Time 100 list of most influential people in

the heroes category (Wiki, para 10).

B. How does that leader relate to others?

Temple relates to others in the way she is involved with her work, aside from that, she is

very much dislike others. I appreciate this about Temple and chose her because she is not like

other people. Temple thinks differently than most, she has the ability to remain emotionally

unattached and that allows her to make decisions that will not be biased, but made on the best

choice give the situation.

C. Why is this person an effective leader?

Temple is an effective leader because she is fighting for something ethical. The treatment of

animals and recognition of autism. Given she has autism herself, and is highly functioning, she

wants to spread the outlook on accepting autism. She is also promoting the safe and ethical

treatment of animals, with a focus on slaughter. The way she interacts with the people shes

teaching is why she is an effective leader. Temple is as involved as everyone else, and allows the

group to make effective decisions together, which makes her a more democratic leader like

myself.

D. Why do people follow this leader?

I think people follow temple because she portrays herself as she is. She is very transparent and

has a big heart. She is also standing up for something that is a huge issue in todays culture,

which is those with autism, being held at a lower standard than others. I think a lot of people also

follow Temple because it takes a lot for a person to stand up for an issue that is so overlooked.
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Many people are diagnosed with autism, but are instantly categorized as lesser in academics

because of it. I know from experience, several people with autism of Aspergers that are much

smarter than I am.

E. How do they respond to this leader?

I think people definitely respond to Temple differently. In my agriculture program, many

agriculture students look up to Temple and her work. People outside of agriculture may not feel

the same, they may not agree that the ethical treatment of animals at slaughter is an important

topic. I also think that people with sensitivities towards autism and people with learning

disabilities might be more apt to listen to Temple on her thoughts about autism. Where someone

who does not have interest in that would not.

F. Provide a conclusion that includes why you believe this leader most closely matches

your own style.

In conclusion, I believe that Temple Grandin most closely matches my leadership style because

she is very much a team player. As a democratic type leader, I want everyone to have a say, and I

want everyone to be treated fairly. Temple displays many of these same traits in her speaking.
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References

Global Gurus, (May 23, 2017) Worlds Top 30 Leadership Professionals for 2017, Retrieved

from http://globalgurus.org/best-leadership-speakers/

Verywell, (May 23, 2017) What is Your Leadership Style? Retrieved from

https://www.verywell.com/whats-your-leadership-style-3866929

Wikipedia, (May 23, 2017) Temple Grandin, Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Grandin