Leadership

Leadership

1. Success of a business concern is dependent upon the ability of its leadership. Leadership exists in any type of organisation. Whenever and in whatever situation if someone tries to influence the behaviour of another individual or a group, there is leadership.

   • NEED OR IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP
     • 2. Directing group activities: The personal conduct and behaviour of a leader can direct others to achieve organisational goals.
     • 3. Technological, economic and social changes: There is frequent change in technology, economic and social structure in the present computer world. So, the organisation should change its operation and style.
     • 4. Better utilisation of manpower: A leader treats with equal importance, plans, policies and programmes of an organisation. The plans, policies and programmes do not work themselves. There is a need for a leader.
     • S. Avoiding imbalances: An organisation grows in size and complexity with the imbalances. Complexity arises due to the introduction of new functions.
     • 1. Perfect organisation structure: That is why, informal relationships are made to exist within the framework or formal organisation structure. But the organisation structure is complete or perfect with the help of effective leadership.
     • 6. Source of motivation: Simply, the existence of leadership does not motivate the workers. The leadership style should be utilised to motivate the workers according to the situations prevailing.
     • 7. Reconciliation of goals: An organisation has its own goals. The employees of the organisation have their own goals. They are working mainly for achieving their goals instead of achieving organisational goals.
     • 8. Developing good human relations: Human relations represent the relations between the leader and the followers (subordinates). An efficient leader can develop the skill of the followers and promote self-confidence apart from motivation.
     • 9. Promoting the spirit of co-ordination: A dynamic leader can co-ordinate the activities of the subordinate. In an organisation,
     • 10. Fulfiling social responsibilities: Sumd responsibilities refer to the high standard of living to workers, higher productivity and lllcome to the organisation, more revenue to the government, reasonable price to consumers and fair return on investment to the investors.
   • APPROACHES OR THEORIES OF LEADERSHIP
     • 1. Traitist's approach or theory: Trait means quality. According to this theory, leadership behaviour is influenced by certain qualities of a person (leader). In simple words, leadership behaviour is sum total of traits.
   • WEAKNESSES OF TRAIT'S THEORY
     • *Trait's theory suffers from the following weaknesses: No common equalities list: The qualities of a successful leader are listed by various thinkers. * Measurement of quality: Thinkers simply provide the list of qualities. They fail to give the scale to measure the qualities. * No scope for future development: Trait's theory focuses on the inborn qualities of an individual. These inborn qualities cannot be developed or acquired. But, the inborn qualities can be developed. It has been practically proved.*No consideration for situational factors: Thinkers do not take into consideration the situation which influences the leaders.*No need of uniform traits: Different qualities are necessary for different levels of manage-ment. There is a direct contact between the leader and the followers at the lower level management. So, there is a compulsory need for technical knowledge. The policy of the management is interpreted at middle level management.
   • FUNCTIONS OF A LEADER The functions of a business leader are briefly explained below:
     • 1. Taking initiative: A leader has to take all initiatives to lead the business activities. He should not except others to induce him to take initiative.
     • 2. Representation: A leader is a representative of an organization
     • 3. Guide: The leader should issue instructions and orders whenever needed. These instructions and orders should be properly communicated.
     • 4. Encouraging others: The. leader is the captain of a team. The leader must win the confidence of his colleagues before winning in a competition.
     • 5. Arbitrator and Mediator: The leader can settlE! the disputes arising among the workers. Besides, he can create a smooth relationship among the workers.
     • 6. Planner: The type of activities or type of work is to be decided by the leader. The leader can decide when a work is to be done, where it should be done and by whom it should be done
     • 7. Rewards and Punishments: There is a standard for some set of work. Some workers perform their work within a standard time and properly.
     • 8. Integration: Each individual does a part of a whole work. They perform the work according to their specialisation.
     • 9. Communication: Communication is necessary to every organisation. Nothing will succeed without effective communication.
     • 10. Production: A leader is expected to show high production figures.
   • QUALITIES OF LEADERSHIP
     • 1. Physical appearance and strength: The leader has to put in hard work physically. He should have a capacity to work for long hours than others.
     • 2. Mental vigour: The leader is also strong mentally.
     • 3. Emotional stability: The leader should not be moved by emotion or sentiment. He should analyse the problem rationally and take a decision without bias.
     • 4. Sense of judgement: A leader should know the human psychology. He should understand the behaviour, needs, thoughts, motives etc. of his followers.
     • 5. Goodwill: A leader should be able to understand the feelings of others. He takes decision on the basis of expectations of his followers.
     • 6. Motivation: At the same time, if the same person is motivated, he will perform his job more than the expectations of his leader.
     • 7. Communication skill: Whatever the information needed to workers, it should be passed through the leader.
     • 8. Guiding ability: The leader acts as a teacher to new workers. So the leader helps his followers to learn their work.
     • 9. Sociability: An able leader can easily mingle with the workers. The workers should be encouraged to discuss their problems and difficulties with their boss.
     • 10. Technical knowledge: For example, a computer department manager should know all the latest developments in computers.
   • TYPES OF LEADERS
     • 1. Autocratic leader: A leader is one who wants to run the organisation all by himself. He frames the objectives of the organisation and requires the followers to achieve the objectives.
     • 2. Intellectual leader: A leader wins the confidence of his followers by his intelligence. Generally, the advice of a leader IS sought in big business concerns.
     • 3. Liberal leader: A leader is one who permits his followers to do their job howsoever they want to do.
     • 4. Democratic leader: A leader acts according to the wishes of his followers. The leader does what his followers want.
     • 5. Institutional leader: A leader exercises his power over his followers because of his position held in the organisational hierarchy.
     • 6. Inducing leader: The leader is one who influences his followers with his personality and persuades them to join him in doing a work.
     • 7. Paternal leader: An individual who has become the leader in the place of his father as leader has close relationship with his followers and comes to their rescue ever so often.
     • 8. Creative leader: The leader is one who encourages his followers to suggest new ideas, thoughts or ways. Sometimes, the leader himself puts forward new ideas.
   • TECHNIQUE OF LEADERSHIP
     • 1. Securing co-operation: A leader should get co-operation from his followers. Unless he enlists their co-operation, he cannot succeed. There must be a willingness on the part of both parties.
     • 2. The use of power: Leadership goes with power. It cannot exist without power. So the leader must use his power which subsequently results in getting things done by others.
     • 3. Co-ordination: Definite, flexible and open orders alone co-ordinate the activities. Definite order means that an order is not oral and the terms used in definite order have unequivocal meaning. In the case of flexible order, only goals are communicated
     • 4. Discipline: Discipline should be maintained to achieve the objectives. Individuals are restricted from doing things which are detrimental to the group interests.
     • 5. Morale: Leighton has defined morale, as the capacity of a group to pull together persistently and consistently for a common goal. "Morale is the attitude of an individual and group growing out of the conditions under which he or they complete the job effectively." The leader should create confidence in the minds of his followers.
   • LEADERSHIP STYLES
     • 1. Positive style: A leader motivates his followers to work hard by offering them rewards. A rule is framed in such a way that a reward will be ensured to those who show high efficiency.
     • 2. Negative style: A leader forces his followers to work hard and penalises them if the work is not upto the organisation's standard.
     • 3. Autocratic or authoritarian style: Under this leadership style, the leaders have full power or authority to take a decision. The leaders create a work situation under which the subordinates are expected to work.