This specific study by analyzing four questions critically has evaluated various theoretical concepts of leadership. Individual employee is able to perform well by getting a proper direction from the leader while providing services. This very specific study has provided detailed overview about the various traits of leadership. An individual in quest of being a successful leader tends to follow different forms of leadership style depending on their organizational structure and discipline. While leading a team towards reaching a business goal leaders have to follow appropriate leadership styles, approaches and leadership theory. Based on those specific aspects a particular leader tends to direct the team members in delivering services. This very specific study in the third question has focused to evaluate a clear distinction about the concept of management and leadership.
1.1 Individual approach:
Definition of leadership by various eminent scholars
A business leader primarily aims to motivate the employees in giving their best effort towards services. Various eminent scholars have made different point of views regarding leadership. As per the opinion of Mayowa (2009), “leadership is the ability to evaluate and or forecast a long term plan or policy and influence the followers towards the achievement of the said strategy”. People belonging to various geographical boundaries and attitudes are associated with a particular organization (Wong and Laschinger 2013). Bill Gates emphasized, “as we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” Therefore, the role of a successful business leader is to provide equal priority to every team members and direct them towards the business goal. Handy (1992) has stated, “A leader shapes and shares a vision which gives point to the work of others.”
As per Great Man Theory of Leadership, some people are born with distinct quality, traits and attributes that make them different from others. The primary traits based on which an organization tends to identify a leader include adaptability, learning capability, excellent communication skill, capability of handling crisis and so on. Team members within a particular team may be from different psychological backgrounds and attitudes. The role of a business leader is to adapt the behavioral and psychological approaches of every team members and give them effective responses in accordingly (Choudhary, Akhtar and Zaheer 2013). Leaders should have the trait of learning so that employees working under a specific leader can share their problems and issues. A business leader should have an excellent communication skill based on which the person can maintain proper interaction with every team members.
With the gradual dynamic progress of business, it is observed that business leaders to face innumerable crisis while dealing with a particular project. Crisis may arise due to the repeated rate of employee absenteeism (Dumdum, Lowe and Avolio 2013). In this kind of situation, an efficient leader should have the capability of overcoming the crisis. Leader should make every single employee competent so that employees can take additional burden at emergency (Northouse 2013). In addition, leaders should never show aggressive attitude at the workplace while handling work pressure (Clarke 2013). As per Great man theory, an efficient business leader should have the capability of taking immense work burden at the workplace.
Big five personalities:
The five personalities based on which an eminent leader should be possessed with include Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism. Openness implies the courageous and energetic attitude that a leader should have in running the entire team.
Employees get proper motivation from their leaders. Therefore, over introvert may hamper the energy level and determination of the employees as well. Conscientiousness is the strategy of showing self-discipline that every employee within the team has to obey for getting good performances (Nixon, Harrington and Parker 2012). Extraversion is the systematic approach of transmitting positive energy and enthusiasm within the employees so that they can perform well. Agreeableness implies the way of being cooperative, supportive and trust worthy towards the team members rather than being suspicious and arrogant. Neuroticism is the approach of accepting criticism and unpleasant experience on the work floor. While appointing in the post of a business leader the individual may not get appreciation from every single team members (Lam and O’Higgins 2012). Therefore, the leader should have that sporting attitude in accepting both criticism and compliments simultaneously.
Managerial grid:
As per Blake’s Managerial Grid model, leadership should be based on two major behavioral dimension including concern for people and concern for results. If the managers become successful to motivate and encourage people while working, the organization would automatically get good result. Therefore, the performance of employees is highly dependent on leaders’ concern on people.
Katz’s three skill approaches:
As per Katz’s three skill approaches, a particular business leader should have include technical skill, human skill and conceptual skill. With the advanced process of technology, the business leaders should have competency so that employees do not have to struggle in meeting business due to sudden technological barrier. It is undeniable at the same time that technological skill itself is not sufficient enough for becoming a proficient business leader (Kapp 2012). The leader should have appropriate human skill as well based on which the individual would like to maintain effective communication with every team member. The leader should make an enthusiastic attitude towards the team members. As a result, employees would like to perform well for achieving the business goal. Conceptual skill allows a business leader in focusing on work, which is amalgamated with ideas (Keskes 2014). The leaders before implementing a particular strategy and policy have to think about the future and its appreciation level. If the employees are not comfortable in accepting the strategy the leaders have to change the strategy at once for giving priority on employees’ thoughts and emotions.
Lewin leadership style:
As per Lewin, leadership style is possessed with several types including participative form of leadership, autocratic form of leadership and transformational form of leadership style and laissez-fair style of leadership. In participative leadership style, leaders do not like to impose their own decision on the employees. Employees are comfortable in sharing their views and ideas in reaching the business goal. As a result, both the leaders and the employees have equal participation towards the success of business (Caillier 2014). Autocratic form of leadership does not allow the employees in sharing their own opinion regarding the business success. The employees have to accept the decision taken by leaders and employers. Transformational form of leadership style is completely based on situation. This particular form of leadership style does not follow participation or autocracy. Business leaders tend to change their leadership style and skill based on various situations. In order to handle sudden crisis the business leaders may have to take an urgent decision by following autocratic form of leadership style (Du et al. 2013). On the other hand, participative form of leadership style is effective in involving both participants and business leaders before forming business strategy and policy. Large number of business organizations tends to follow this specific form of leadership style in order to handle the overall situation of business.
1.2 Contextual approach: Contingency Model:
In order to develop leadership skill and quality business leaders can follow Contingency model, which is constituted with three major steps. The steps are as follows:
Business leader before selecting the style of leadership has to observe the organizational situation (Peterson et al. 2012). If the employees are successful enough in maintaining organizational image and discipline, the leaders can follow a specific form of leadership style. On the other hand, if the employees fail to maintain organizational culture leaders have to imply their own decision on the employees (Goleman, Boyatzis and McKee 2013). Based on the situation, the business leaders have to implement appropriate leadership style. Participative form of leadership style is very much effective for the development of a specific organization. With the help of participative form of leadership style both the employers and employees can equally participate within the services. Contingency model is very much systematic in evaluating the leadership skill of an individual.
1.3 Rational approaches:
Leader member exchange theory:
Leader member exchange theory implies that both the employee and leader have equal right of sharing their views and ideas (Aydin, Sarier and Uysal 2013). Leaders while taking a business decision do not like to impose their own decision on the employees. Business leaders believe on collective decision-making based on which both the employees and employers have equal right in exchanging thoughts and views.
Transformational leadership theory:
Transformational leadership style as opined by Strom, Sears and Kelly (2014) is another form of situational approach. As per the situation happened at workplace business managers have to implement appropriate form of leadership style. At the time of crisis business managers have to take immense decision. In this situation, managers do not have sufficient time in involving the employees while making the decision (Men and Stacks 2013). On the other hand, while forming appropriate business strategy and policy the business managers tend to involve the employees in order to make collective decision. Therefore, transformational leadership style is completely based on situation.
Servant leadership theory:
The theory of servant leadership is the set of practices that reaches the lives of individuals in order to build an effective organization. Along with resolving the issues at work place, business leaders tend to focus on resolving the problem of individual. As per the concept of numerous eminent scholars, an individual can never perform well if that specific individual has to face personal issues (Aydin, Sarier and Uysal 2013). Therefore, this specific theory of servant leadership implies that business leaders should resolve the personal problem of employees so that they can perform well towards the services.
Team leadership:
Team leadership is the method of leading a particular team. The role of a team leader is to provide proper guidance and direction to the team members for achieving the business target. While leading a team properly the leaders have to focus equal attention to every member of team. As a result, the employee gets motivated in performing well towards the services.
How to be a good leader:
However, in order to be a good leader an individual should have proper communication skill, decision-making skill, managerial skill and time management skill. The models and theories discussed above would help an individual to be an efficient leader. A successful leader an individual is required to have a combination of individual contextual and relational characteristic relate to the leader’s traits and leadership styles. Contextual characteristics refer to the leader ability to adapt to different situations and environments. Relational characteristics are associated with the leader ability to relate to other people and develop positive relationship that will support their vision. In order to become an efficient leader an individual should have both contextual and rational characteristics.
2.1 Can leadership be developed, is it born or made?
Different eminent scholars have provided point of views about the skill of leadership. () stated that leadership is a skill that can be developed with the gradual experiences gathered at the workplace. This specific scholar has opined that leadership quality is not a born talent. It has to be gained while working at the work floor.
2.2 How can you develop leadership?
Numerous eminent scholars have pointed out that good leadership can be developed by taking an effective training and guidance from the senior managers as well as professional trainers. It is observed that business leaders sometimes fail to draw the attention of employees. Employees do not intend to perform well due to the lack of appropriate leadership style within the team. As a result, the organizational productivity is hampered effectively. Different eminent scholars have expressed their own point of view regarding the on how to develop the style of leadership within organization. Carter and Greer (2013) stated that superior guidance from the senior employees is one of the most effective ways based on which business leaders can groom up. On the other hand, in order to evaluate the skill and competency the leaders can attend coaching and development session as well. This particular coaching and development session can help the business leaders in reaching the business goal. Monitoring is one of the most effective ways of rendering development on leadership. Junior leaders can consider the seniors as their mention while delivering the services (Kelloway et al. 2012). As a result, the junior business leaders can enhance their performance level while leading the team. In addition, training and development session is the most effective ways, based on which leaders can develop their competency by fulfilling satisfaction level of employees.
2.3 Method of leadership development:
Another important ways of developing the skill and competency level of an employee is conducting effective case studies. Business leaders can make an in-depth analysis of the case studies of those leaders who have achieved the peak of success (Braun et al. 2013). They should identify the strengths of leaders while evaluating the observational case study for gaining motivation and courage (Grint 2005). Succession planning on the other hand is the systematic way of evaluating the performance level of a business leader. While making an effective succession planning business leader has to think on several factors and the factors are as follows:
It is undeniable that leaders can improve their way of leadership based on various approaches. Contextual approach implies that leaders should make an effective approach to the team members based on a specific context or clients’ specific needs and demands. In this case, leaders do not like to follow a particular leadership style (Yeh and Hong 2012). The employees are supposed follow the instruction of leaders based on a specific context. Situation approach is one of the most effective ways of interacting with the members as per situation. At the time of taking an urgent decision, business leaders have to follow autocratic form of leadership style. Leaders do not have sufficient time in taking collective decision by communicating with the employees (Liden et al. 2014).
The primary purpose of path goal theory is to set a specific business goal and to direct the employees towards this path. While following proper leadership style, business experts tend to meet a specific business target (Bello 2012). The leaders motivate and encourage the employees in reaching the business goal.
According to the report, majority of the human resource managers are of the opinion that the more engaged will be the employees and other associated stakeholders, the more will be the effectiveness of the leadership development program of the organization. This is due to the reason that, if the employees and the majority of the internal stakeholders are not engaged in their workplace and they are not motivated with their leadership, then the criterion for the leadership development can be identified. On the other hand, it is also been see that, in the coming years, some of the popular trends in the leadership development will be the mentoring, social media and on the job training.
2.4 What method of leadership development is the most effective?
After evaluating various methods of leadership development, it can be concluded that succession planning is one of the most significant leadership development method. While leading a particular team business leaders have to face innumerable challenges at the workplace. The leader has to identify those challenges first, based on which the individual tends to make an effective succession plan for improving the leadership quality. One of the key methods of leadership development activities is the enhancing the participation of the employees in their workplace. This will be helpful due to the reason that, the more participation of the employees will help in having more engagement of them in their workplace. Moreover, it is also being concluded that, the selection and recruitment of the employees is another important method of development of leadership. This is due to the reason that, if the employees are not being selected and inducted in the organization based on the existing organization culture, then it will be difficult for the employees to adjust with the organizational culture and it will also be difficult for the upper level management to manage them.
3.1 Leadership vs. management:
Peter Drucker raised a question like “does a manager have to be a great leader and does a leader need to have good management skills? What is the difference between leadership and management?” Men and Stacks (2013) stated, “the term manager was adopted because the prevailing view was that managers were in charge. Managers were still seen as professional workers with critical roles and responsibilities to help the organization succeed, but leadership was mostly not in the everyday vocabulary of management scholars.” The two overarching terms management and leadership are inseparably related to each other. As per the opinion of Clarke (2013), “leadership means “the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organizations of which they are members.” The similarities of these two roles are that both the leaders and the managers have to direct the employees in rendering business profit. Therefore, the objective of both managers and leaders are same within an organization (Grint, 2005). At the same time, it is undeniable that the two concepts leadership and management are different from each other. Business managers are primarily concerned in controlling the overall process of business (Northouse, 2013). The role of an efficient business manager is to render organizational profit by forming different business strategies and policies.
3.2 Definition of management and leadership:
Management is the systematic process of managing, planning and implementing different strategies within organization in quest of controlling the entire flow of business. In order to render the success of business the business managers have to communicate with the business leaders, supervisors and evaluate their performances. The business managers tend to deal with the client directly in quest of collecting feedback (Lorinkova, Pearsall and Sims 2013). Based on the gathered feedback from the clients organizational managers like to make organizational strategies and policies.
Leadership is the process of showing a right path to the employees based on which they tend to give their best effort towards services. Business leaders are not concerned in controlling the entire process of business (Rothfelder, Ottenbacher and Harrington 2012). Leaders primarily aim to motivate and encourage the employees in achieving the success of business. However, managers have to play the role of a leader while controlling business process. On the other hand, an efficient leader does not have to look into the entire business process. Enhancing the performance level of employees is the primary objective of business leaders.
3.3 Similarities and dissimilarities between leadership and management
|
Leadership |
Management |
|
|
Similarities |
The role of a leader is to motivate employees in achieving the business target. |
The role of a manager is to provide equal motivation and enthusiasm to the employees and leaders for rendering business success. |
|
Dissimilarities |
Leaders need to focus on the enhancing the performance level of employees. |
On the other hand managers have to control the entire process of business. |
3.3Critical analysis about the two terms:
Different scholars have made an objectionable approach while using the term like leadership vs. management. As per the point of view of Northouse (2013), the ultimate aim of a leader and a manager is not different. The primary objective of both leader and manager is to control business process by implementing managerial strategies and policies. The only difference between a leader and a manager is specification of job role. Leader tends to focus on the performance of employees only for meeting the business target. On the other hand, the role of a manager is vast. Manager aims to control entire business process where employee motivation, customer satisfaction are intimately related. Therefore, in order to control overall business process leaders have to provide effective support to the managers. Therefore, the two overarching term management and leadership are inseparably related to each other.
I have gone through several experiences at my workplace while playing the role of a responsible leader. The primary challenges that I have faced while guiding my team members include language barriers, psychological barriers and cultural barriers. Employees belonging to different cultural backgrounds and attitudes have to face immense challenges in communicating with me due to language barrier. I failed to interact with those employees properly as I was unable to understand their problems and difficulties. As a result, the issues that the workers faced at the workplace remained the same. In this kind of situation, it is very much difficult for an organization to maintain the performance level effectively.
In addition, I had to face difficulties at the time of decision making of strategies as well. Employees are from various cultural and religious backgrounds and attitudes. Therefore, psychology of those individual varies from person to person. While taking a collective decision I had to face challenges in convincing every individual member equally. However, while leading the team I have gone through numerous positive effects from the team members. I got the scope of sharing views and ideas from the team members in group-discussion. They have shared their own point of views regarding the success of business goal. Whenever I was confused to select the appropriate business strategy for my organization, I got immense help and cooperation from my team members.
While working as a subordinate I had to face challenges in providing good performances to the organization. I had to face challenges in communicating with my team lead due to cultural barrier. I failed to share my problems facing at the workplace. In this kind of situation, clients failed to get good performances from me. They had to wait for long time while receiving the services. However, after observing the leadership skills and quality of some of my seniors I have identified major drawbacks within my leadership quality.
While evaluating my own experiences as business leader I have learnt what should be the role of an efficient leader while directing the team members. I have learnt that leader should have proper professional skill, communication skill, human skill and technological competency. I have learnt that as a business leader my communication skill should be increased so that I can easily interact with my team members. I have also realized that I need to improve my technological competency. In order to resolve the issues of my team members I should improve my human skill as well. As a lead, I have learnt on how I can motivate the employees towards performances. However, the drawbacks that I have identified within me should be improved in order to become more efficient towards the services. In order to enhance my communication skill I can receive training and development session. Trainers can help me in enhancing my professional competency so that employees can share their views without any hesitation. I would be able to perform better in future that enables organization in achieving the peak of success.
Conclusion:
This very specific study has focused to give detailed overview about theories of leadership and its various components. People belonging to various geographical backgrounds and attitudes are associated within the business process. The role of an efficient business leader is to treat every single employee with equal priority. Business leaders primarily aim to motivate the employees towards performing well. The success of a business organization is entirely dependent on the performance level of employees. Employees tend to perform well towards the services only when they get enough co-operation and motivation from the employees. However, this very specific study has provided critical evaluation on various leadership theories such as Great man theory, contingency theory. At the end, I have provided a self-reflection about my own experience as a business leader. I have provided a critical evaluation regarding my learning process from process experiences.
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