Leadership is one of the most complex human behaviours. Leadership
is a multidimensional process that is conceptualized as a trait, as an ability,
as a skill, as behaviour, as a relationship and as a process (Northouse 2015,
author: Introduction to Leadership). Effective leadership is a key factor in
the survival and success of an organization. Leaders can make the difference between
success and failure. A leader is a person who directs, organizes, administers,
makes decisions, delegates possibilities and plans for future. Effective
leadership needs skills, styles, character and the spirit of serving to be
effective, efficient and productive. Leaders need to have a vision, communicate
that vision with passion so followers are inspired. Successful leaders have a
strong desire to lead and exercise power, exhibit honesty and integrity and are
highly self-confident. The world’s most effective leaders –Gandhi, Mandela,
Churchill, Lincoln, Thatcher, Mother Teresa etc. – display widely different
personal qualities.
Leadership concept
Leadership can occur between the leader and another
individual; between the leader and a group, or an organization or a community
or a society. Leaders need followers in order to lead. Followers need leaders
in order to follow. Leadership is a
relational concept. Leadership exists in relation to others (followers). Leadership
deals with people in relationships. Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner said,
‘Leadership is a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who
choose to follow.’ So leadership is composed of leaders, followers as well as
situations. Leadership is a process of social influence (not power), which
maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal (Kruse
2013). Psychologist Bernard Bass (1990) reviewed 28 studies and found evidence
that the desire for achievement is an important motivating factor among effective
leaders. Successful leaders are
characterized as “electric, vigorous, active and full of life.” (Kouzes and
Posner 1987). They are ‘tirelessly persistent’ in their activities – especially
in communicating their vision to followers (Bass 1990).
Leadership definition
Leadership is commonly defined as a process of interaction
in which the leader influences others toward goal achievement (Yukl 1998).
Leadership occurs among people, involves the use of influence and is used to
attain goals. So leadership can also be
defined as the ability to influence people towards the attainment of goals.
Leadership is a ‘people activity.’ In order to lead, the leader must do
something benefiting followers and the followers allow the leader to lead.
Leadership is a transaction between leaders and followers. Leadership is a process whereby an individual
(a leader) influences a group of people to achieve a common goal.
Leadership factors
Leadership is composed of four primary factors such as
leaders, followers, communication and situation.
Leader –leaders
require traits, skills and knowledge. The leadership traits include
intelligence, self-confidence, determination, integrity and sociability
(Stodgill 1974).
Follower – The
process of leadership involves the leader and the followers in interaction. Peter
Drucker said, “The only definition of a leader is someone who has followers.”
Communication-
Communication skills are the foundation for effective leadership. Communication includes how the leader speaks,
listens and learns. Many American presidents like John F Kennedy, Franklin D
Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln have made impact as great communicators.
Situation – the
situation normally has a greater effect on a leader’s action than his/her
traits. What a leader do in one situation will not always work in another.
Leadership theories
Trait theory –
assumes that a leader is born with specific traits that made him/her a good
leader. This theory assumes that the leader is different from the average
person in terms of capacities, talents and personality.
Behavioural theory
- assumes that anyone can learn to become a good leader because he is not
drawing on personality traits.
Transformational
theory – assumes that people will follow a leader who inspires and
motivates them.
Transactional theory
– assumes that people are motivated strictly by reward and punishment.
Leadership function
Leadership have three
essential roles: they have to define the task, achieve the task and maintain
effective relationships.
Planning –
seeking all available information and defining the task; developing a workable
plan.
Initiating –
explaining people the aims and the plan;
Informing –
clarifying the task and the plan; summarizing suggestions and ideas coherently;
Controlling –
making sure that all resources and energies are properly harnessed;
Supporting
–setting and maintaining organizational and team values and standards;
Motivating –
gaining the goodwill and genuine commitment of the team and each member;
Evaluating
–establishing and applying the success criteria appropriate to the field;
Setting an example
– leading from the front while exemplifying the qualities and behaviours
expected in the team.
Leadership components
Character – the
leader’s behaviour and personality;
Style –the way
leader relates and does the job daily;
Skills –
performance, which could be developed on the job;
Service – a
leader is a servant first and then a boss. Leadership is relationship of
service to people and purpose (Kouzes and Posner)
Leadership characteristics
The purpose of leadership is to change lives. The leader
bears an almost sacred duty to create conditions that enable people to grow and
have happy and productive lives (Senge 1990). Leadership is often thought of as
more inspirational or guidance –oriented as well as informal. Leadership relies
more on personality traits and people skills. Leadership is thinking creatively
and innovatively; empowering others through focus on execution. A leader who is
innovative and produces better results is respected and looked upon. In a
research conducted in 2008 (McKinsey research), it was found that more than 70%
of the senior executives believed that innovation was one of the drivers for
organizational growth.
Leadership styles
Four distinct leadership styles are identified based on the
relative presence (high-low) of task and relationship behaviour:
Telling – (high
task-low relationship) –The leader makes the decision. The leader defines roles
and tells followers what, how, when and where to do various tasks, emphasizing
directive behaviour.
Selling – (high
task – high relationship)- the leader makes the decision and then explains it
to the followers. The leader provides both directive and supportive behaviours.
Participating – (low
task-high relationship) – The leader and followers share decision making. The
main role of the leader is to encourage and assist followers in contributing to
sound decisions.
Delegating – (low
task – low relationship) – The followers make the decision. The leader provides
little direction or support.
Leadership qualities
Leadership behaviours are a function of intelligence,
personality traits, emotional competence, values, attitudes, interests,
knowledge and experience. Leadership qualities can be divided into two
categories: traits and core values. Leadership traits represent WHO you are.
They develop over time. Leadership core values represent HOW you are – the
guiding principles for how everyone in an organization thinks and acts.
Vision – the
sense of vision causes the leader to accept the duties of leadership and
inspires others. Leadership is a strong sense of purpose. Warren Bennis said, “leadership
is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”
Character – is a
significant source of personal power. Character in leadership is pursuing noble
ends with noble means with knowledge, skill and talent. The leader must have
drive and determination to stick with difficult tasks until they are completed.
Successful leaders remain calm and confident even during tense situations.
Personal integrity
– It is the quality of honesty, strength of character and courage of leader.
Integrity leads to trust and trust leads to respect, loyalty and ultimately action.
Fuchan Yuan said, “There are three essentials to leadership: humility, clarity
and courage.” Dwight Eisenhower also said,
“The supreme quality of leadership is integrity.”
Charisma –
Charisma is a Greek word that means ‘divinely inspired gift.’ Charisma means
attractive or possessing a certain quality that raises enthusiasm or interest. Leaders are talkative, good looking
authoritative or energetic. The result is admiration, enthusiasm and the
loyalty of followers.
Energy – To have
energy is to have the physical and psychological ability to perform. Ralph
Waldo Emerson said, “The world belongs to the energetic.”It is a better
indicator of long-term leadership success than many traits.
Competence –
competence in leadership is seen as a matter of task accomplishment and
interpersonal relations. Task accomplishment involved traits like intelligence
and knowledge. A leader must have a keen mind to understand information, formulate
strategies and make correct decisions. Interpersonal competence involved the
ability to communicate and to demonstrate caring, insight and empathy. A
leader’s interpersonal skills are vitally important in the process of inspiring
others toward implementing the vision. By counting attributes per category,
leaders must have a ratio of about 60% interpersonal and 40% personality
attributes.
Flexibility – those who are adaptable are willing to use
alternatives, substitutes and surrogates. Adaptability is a key component of
flexibility as a positive leadership.
Adaptability allows the leader to adjust multiple demands, shifting
priorities and rapid change. Adaptability helps the leader to be resilient in
the face of constraints, frustrations and adversity.
Sociability – is
ready and willing to engage others without anxiety or fear. The leader must be
sincerely and deeply concerned about the welfare of people.
Leadership effectiveness
Leading groups effectively is a tremendous challenge, a
great opportunity and serious responsibility. Leadership is mobilizing the
interest, energy and commitment of all people at all levels. Bardwick (1996)
clearly states that leadership is not intellectual or cognitive but emotional.
Noted author Warren Bennis, who has spent over three decades studying leaders
described leader as “one who manifests direction, integrity, hardiness and
courage in a consistent manner that inspires trust, motivation and
responsibility on the part of followers, who in turn become leaders themselves" (Johnson 1998). Effective leaders have more drive, honesty, leadership
motivation, self-confidence, intelligence, knowledge, creativity and
flexibility. Successful leaders accept responsibility and accountability for
their actions and decisions. They have clear goals and communicate them to
their followers. Great leaders are and
always have been of service to their followers first and then leaders into a new,
better, more productive life. Effective leaders are both task-centred and
people – centred. Current research indicates that emotional intelligence is
crucial factor in leadership effectiveness. Emotionally intelligent leaders are
equipped with the insight to see people’s pattern of emotions, the relationship
between emotions and how emotional states change from one to another. Raymond
Perras, the author of AiM for Life Mastery said, “If choose peak performance,
you will learn to apply the right stuff, in the right amount, at the right
time.”
“Great leaders inspire greatness in others” – Anon.
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