Final answer:
The key to understanding leadership behavior is focusing on 'followership', the concept of studying interactions between leaders and followers to appreciate the complexity of individual traits and situational factors that influence their relationship.
Step-by-step explanation:
If all the project management studies discussed in the text are synthesized, it quickly becomes apparent that the key to understanding leadership behavior is to focus on the dynamic relationship between a leader and their followers, often referred to as followership. This research shift emphasizes the importance of studying the leader-follower relationship from both perspectives to appreciate the interactions fully. Each individual's unique traits, such as their level of extroversion, influence how they respond to different leadership styles, suggesting that there is no single ideal leader-follower dynamic.
Insights drawn from various leadership theories, such as transactional versus transformational leadership styles, further illuminate the complexity of leadership behavior. Transformational leaders, for example, are characterized by their charisma, inspiration, intellectual stimulation, and consideration. But it's also important to recognize that various situational factors and individual follower characteristics will determine the effectiveness of differing leadership styles.
Ultimately, successful leadership and management of any project or organization require attention to the collective behavior, the role of precipitating factors in mobilizing action, the influence of social control, and the need for effective participation from all stakeholders to realize evaluation project success.