Northouse, Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Lecture Notes
Chapter 13: Overcoming Obstacles
Chapter Summary
I. Obstacles Explained
II. Overcoming Obstacles in Practice
III. Obstacle 1:Unclear Goals
IV. Obstacle 2: Unclear Directions
V. Obstacle 3: Low Motivation
A. Help Others Feel Competent
B. Help Others Get What They Expect
C. Help Others Value What They Do
VI. Obstacle 4: Complex Tasks
IX. Obstacle 7: Lack of a Challenge
X. Leadership Snapshot: Bill Courtney, Head Coach, Manassas High School
Football
VI. Case Study: Obstacles Case Study
Chapter Objectives
2. Discuss obstacles in practice.
4. Describe each obstacle and the various ways leaders can respond
to these obstacles.
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Lecture Notes
• Do you agree that life is difficult? Why?
• What motivates you to do your best?
I. Obstacles Explained
A. An obstacle is a hindrance, problem, or hurdle that gets in the way of
followers and makes it difficult for followers to reach their goal.
B. It could be physical (e.g., bad work space) or task-related (e.g., complex
work process).
C. Obstacles and struggles are an integral part of life.
D. Leader needs to figure out what the problems are and what can be done to
solve them.
E. Learning about and dealing with obstacles is a very effective way to
improve your leadership.
II. Overcoming Obstacles in Practice
A. Whether it is by listening to their complaints, encouraging them, or
providing counsel, there are many ways a leader can be helpful to his or
her subordinates.
B. Challenges for a leader are to figure out what the problems are and to
III. Obstacle 1: Unclear Goals
A. Goal-oriented people are the exception, not the rule
B. When goals are not clearly articulated and understood, people less likely
to be successful in achieving the goals
C. Leader needs to make goals clear and understandable
1. Ex. Football coach to team
3. Ex. Orchestra conductor to orchestra
5. Ex. Speech teacher to students
IV. Obstacle 2: Unclear Directions
A. Bad directions lead to ineffective performance
B. A leader needs to define the path to the goal by giving clear directions
C. Unclear directions have debilitating effects on people
1. People can’t move forward.
D. Giving good directions takes thought and skill
1. Subordinates vary in their need for direction
2. Leader should adapt directions to the needs of each individual
E. Metaphor of the GPS
2. When drivers make a mistake, the system redirects them
3. Good leaders give gentle directions and correction, and tell
subordinates when they have “arrived”
V. Obstacle 3: Low Motivation
A. Much research has been done on subordinate motivation
2. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory (1954)
3. Skinner’s work on behaviorism (1953)
B. Expectancy theory is a way to motivate others
1. Motivation goes up when the effort put into a task leads to a
valued, expected outcome
3. Help others feel competent
4. Help others get what they expect
5. Help others value what they do
a. Without a valued outcome people are not motivated to put
forth effort toward a goal
b. Leader needs to help others see the value in their work
performance
VI. Obstacle 4: Complex Tasks
A. When the task is complex, people may feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or
threatened
B. Leader needs to be directive and clarify the path to the goal
1. Give instruction
3. Make rules and regulations clear
4. Ex. Jill Jones and overwhelmed employee
VII. Obstacle 5: Simple Tasks
A. With no variety or challenge, simple tasks become dull and uninteresting
B. Leader needs to use a supportive style
2. Ex. Assembly line
VIII. Obstacle 6: Low Involvement
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
C. When people are not involved, productivity goes down and group suffers
D. Leader needs to use a participative style to address low involvement
1. Invite others to share in the means of getting things done
3. Consult with others and integrate their suggestions into decisions
4. Ex. Oakwood Bistro
IX. Obstacle 7: Lack of a Challenge
E. Without a challenge people find work uninteresting
F. Leader should adopt an achievement-oriented style of leadership
2. Show confidence that people can reach challenging goals
3. Ex. Teachers who give A+ grades for superior work
X. Leadership Snapshot: Bill Courtney, Head Coach, Manassas High School Football
A. Bill Courtney faced huge obstacles when he volunteered to coach Manassas’
struggling football team in 2002.
B. Record of 5-95 for the past 10 years, roster of only 17 players, lack of
equipment, reputation as a doormat team were among the obstacles Bill faced.
C. Personal obstacles such as players living in poverty, most without fathers were
also very challenging.
D. For Courtney, it became more than just teaching the basic of block, hit, and
tackle. The job morphed into becoming a coach of his players’ characters,
F. His coaching did come with a sacrifice of his time with his business and
family.
G. In 2009, the team went 9-1. Courtney helped a couple of his students fight
adversity while the 9-1 season.
XI. Case Study