Tweet

Leadership Styles - the Amazing Story of the Hawthorne Effect

Guest post by: Stephen Warrilow

Article Overview: I have long held the view that successful strategies for managing change and the leadership styles that support those strategies are people centric rather than totally process oriented. Whilst undertaking research for a section of my website I came across a very interesting experiment.

Leadership Styles - the Amazing Story of the Hawthorne Effect

I have long held the view that the successful strategies for managing change and the leadership styles in practical change management that support those strategies are people centric rather than totally process oriented.

Whilst undertaking research for a section of my website I came across a very interesting experiment.

A major business improvement research project was conducted between 1927 and 1932 at the Hawthorne Plant of the Western Electric Company in Cicero, Illinois.

This research project was not about inspirational motivation, or leadership, or change management - but an attempt to examine the physical and environmental influences of the workplace (e.g. brightness of lights, humidity) and later, moved into the psychological aspects (e.g. breaks, group pressure, working hours, managerial leadership).

However, the major finding of the study was a totally unintended and unexpected consequence of the study.

What they found was that almost regardless of the experimental manipulation employed, the production of the workers seemed to improve! This has become known as "The Hawthorne Effect".

Stated simply the discovery was that: people work better together when they are allowed to socially interact with one another and are given supportive attention.

The primary [at the time startling] discovery was that the workplace is a social system. The Hawthorne researchers came to realise that the workplace is a social system made up of interdependent parts.

In summary 3 further general conclusions were drawn from the Hawthorne studies:

(1) Individual production is strongly influenced by social factors - far more so than individual aptitude.

(2) Informal organisation affects productivity - there is "a group life" among the workers - and the relations that supervisors develop with workers tend to influence the manner in which the workers carry out directives.

(3) Work-group norms affect productivity - work groups tend to arrive at norms of what is "a fair day's work".

So the obvious first change management lesson of this is that people benefit from a leadership style that addresses their need for your supportive attention.

Also the second lesson is that in the practice of change management leaders need to recognise and work with and through the informal social structures of the workplace.

Properly applied, this is exactly what a people-oriented leadership style will deliver when employing the holistic and wide view perspective of a programme based approach to change management.

And, to ensure that you ARE employing successful strategies for managing change - that are appropriate to your organisation - you need to know how to apply: (a) these people oriented leadership skills, AND (b) how to apply the supporting programme management based processes - to ensure that you avoid the catastrophic 70% failure rate of ALL business change initiatives.

Related Articles
  Best Book on Painting Tips for Artists I Ever Read
  Identifying Poor & Pathetic Leadership Styles and Related Impacts
  What is Leadership
  The Key to Extraordinary Leadership
  Whats Your Managerial Style
  My Way or the Highway: The Power of Perception
  Leadership Styles - What is Most Effective in Leading Change?
  How to Appeal to People with a Different Spotlight Style
  The Hawthorne Effect is Alive and Well
  Watch Me Tell One of the Best Stories in Never Eat Alone
  Business and Communication: Almost, but Not Quite
  The Components of Human Influence
  Situational Leadership Theory in Change Management - Different Strokes For Different Folks
  Leadership Exposed: Things You Thought You Knew About Leadership
  Case History - How Not to Hire Salespeople
  Psychology and Leadership: What Does Your Style Say about You?
  Dynamic Indifference
  Styles of Leadership
  Mirror Mirror On The Wall - Great Executive Coaches Know How To Reflect
  Are You Following Me?

Article Tags: change management, hawthorne effect, leadership styles, managing change



Related Forum Posts
Re: USA vs Canada Hockey time . . . - Amazing game wasn't it?!
Re: Business Women Peer Mentoring Spotlight - Hi Everyone, Gosh, I REALLY appreciate your concrete feedback. This was far more than I expected and I'm glad you said what you thought straight out. Each of you have shared something of value and I want to take some more time to think and really go over what each of you have said. However, I can see there are some things I need to change right away. What an interesting point about a NEW program perhaps making people think they are guinea pigs! This is NOT what I want to convey! It's funny how we can see some things so clearly in others while not always seeing it for ourselves! I must admit there are a few things I've been meaning to change (like my bio which is very outdated). Obviously, these things need to be higher on my priority list. You caught me like the plumber who puts his clients first and doesn't get around to fixing his own tap! As far as my target market, I do feel quite strongly about working with Women Leaders and doing Leadership Coaching with them. It's non-negotiable in my books. In my Executive Coaching training, the terms "Leaders" and "Executives" are interchangable. To me, an Executive is a Leader and so is the Business Woman or Entrepreneur who is CEO of her own business. I love working with decision makers! What I did learn is that I need to avoid opening up the Leadership term beyond what I described above. I'm also wondering if there is a misunderstanding with the general public as to what Leadership Coaching really is. Leadership Coaching is all about developing your leadership skills, both as a people manager and in more effectively running and growing the business. There is ALWAYS room for growth in some way. As well, sometimes, we just need a sounding board to clarify what our next BEST step is. In fact, if a woman thinks she has nothing to work on, then we aren't a good Client/Coach fit anyway. How can she grow if she doesn't see the value of expressing ALL of the great ability within her? How can her company grow if she doesn't see the value of strategic planning for the next best level? Thanks again to you all! I will go back to my website and really question whether I am conveying the right message. I got more than I bargained for in this Spotlight... you generously offered way more than I was asking. I think we could be on to something great for the Forum. Now it's time to let someone else have the spotlight. It would be great if everyone took a turn! In gratitude, Tami
Re: 3 Ways I Used Twitter To Grow My Business This Week - Hi Olivia, It seems you are working in the area of leadership area. Is Leadership = Learning? I am looking for some good books on strategy? Which one do you recommend? Thanks, Robert
Re: Obama Wants Social Security for Illegals - [quote="Alan Mater":3kaa8sg4] Obama WILL make changes... but they're not the changes we as a country need or should look forward to.[/quote:3kaa8sg4] Sad but this is exactly how I feel about it. Change is coming - but unless I'm really wrong, it is not a change this country needs. Amazing how much a good speaker with a good speech writer can do. If you paid attention to the things he said "off script" - much of it is frightening. Chris
Re: LEADERS - Nice post, i like the Doers and the listeners comments from my handbook 8.5 HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT LEADERSHIP? Planning Problem Solving Vision Innovation Leadership Emotional Intelligence Delegation Communication Self-Development Relationship Building Commercial Financial skills Personal Energy Ethics Transparency Even there I see that we are missing "PASSION"


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

The Right Job - Part Five 'Compensation'

The Digital Diet by Daniel Sieberg

Ask All to Buy!

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.