The past research on leadership has revealed many of its aspects and has come up with many successful leadership theories and a wide array of leadership styles; however, none of the theory and style could assure the promising success if followed in an organization or even in a department of the organization. The present complex yet intriguing scenario demands a multi-skilled leader, capable of using the variety of leadership styles when dealing with different confronting situations.
Research concludes that it is not only the leadership styles, leadership skills and traits that ensure the effective leadership but, the various situational factors and the interaction between leaders and followers also play an immense part in analyzing the effective leadership.
For the proper analysis of situation and then gradually deciding the style to be implemented; one should judge the situation from different dimensions.
Degree Of Authority
First thing to be assessed is the amount of power a leader is entrusted with in an organization. Such as the degree of financial resources and the expertise available, the deadlines for the particular task and the directions and limitations accompanying the task. The more the leader is allowed to play a free hand by the organization, the better he be able to lead the group properly and obtain the results without the use of autocratic approach.
Nature Of The Task
The nature of the task affects the leadership style too. If the goals are well defined to the followers along with the steps available to be taken, the more easily the best results would be obtained. The good quality can be ensured and the followers could be made responsible as well as rewarded for their tasks. However, if the work is task oriented and the goals are unstructured, there will be room for distractions and, there are high chances that the efforts of followers are not channeled well. Hence, the outcome would not be productive either.
Communication skills
The factors like interpersonal communication skills, mutual understanding and the relationship between the leader and followers are of immense importance to judge the effectiveness of any applied style as the authority exercised by leader and the task to be accomplished are highly under the control of the organization but, here in personal relations and understanding, the leader is totally independent of organization.Hence,if the relations exercised by both the parties are good and are based on mutual understandings, the democratic or participative style can prove to be effective for leadership.
Judging The Most Appropriate Leadership
Considering the authority of leader, the nature of task and the relations between leaders and followers’ one could decide the situation and based on that situation, leadership style and the degree leadership success could be assessed.
If the leader’s power is weak and the task is not clearly defined, along with poor, dotted relations with the followers, the situation is unfavorable. The successful leadership can be ensured by adopting a style that focuses more on task by using autocratic style where, all the decisions are taken solely by leader and the subordinated are directed to do certain tasks. Though, the subordinates would be uncertain of their future but, the maximum results could be achieved by directing the team mates at all steps.
On the other hand, when the situation is extremely favorable such as the power exercised by the leader is maximum, the tasks are articulately defined and, the strong, well-supported relations are established, the leader can focus solely on the attainment of goal by adopting the democratic style which permits the followers to come up with useful suggestions and, they are well integrated in the decision making process too.
However, when the situation is a balance between favorable and unfavorable i.e. moderate; the successful leadership can be achieved when the leader focuses on the relations. Under this situation, the leader should follow employee-centered style where the goals are defined to subordinates and they are given full freedom to do it in the way they want to do. The leader focuses on the human aspect and the goals solely.
The authentic leadership comes when the leader critically analysis the situation well and integrate it with different styles and approaches. Neither the task oriented approach nor the good relationship approach could be effective unless it is well integrated with the true essence of goal. The more amalgamated sort of styles one pursues, the more successful he would be. The things like his confidence on system and the subordinates, the expectations from the subordinates and from the organization play imperative part in determining the leadership success.However, once all the assessments are made carefully, keeping in view the above-mentioned factors and the styles are implemented accordingly, the increase in inclination towards leadership effectiveness can be assured.
Showing posts with label effectiveness of leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label effectiveness of leadership. Show all posts
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Path-Goal Theory of Leadership
The research has clarified the fact that any of the leadership style can not be effective solely if the situation is not kept in view before the particular style is decided and implemented.
New findings and theories have began to unveil a whole new leadership theory, came to be popularly known as “path-goal” theory. This leadership theory is explained on the basis of situation and other related factors.
The path-goal theory suggests that the leaders can only have a successful leadership if they support the subordinates towards a specific goal by assigning them a clear, creative path. They can do so by explaining them clearly and articulately about their vision, making them aware of the upcoming obstacles and at the same time, revealing them the way of how to stand up amidst of curbing crisis. A series of rewards, explanation of mistakes and encouragement will make the leadership effective-the ultimate purpose of this theory.
This theory explains the effectiveness of leadership in terms of impact of leader on subordinates. Robert House, the American psychologist, who suggested this theory, says that leaders are successful as long as they have immense leadership influence on the subordinates, who acts as a source of motivation to their followers. In other words, the true leader inspires the goals and dreams and allow them turn their idealism in to realism by showing them the required path.
This theory highlights the amalgamated version of all the leadership styles. The theory demands the leader to have a right balance between his authority and his friendliness with the subordinates. He neither have to be too authoritative that the subordinates hesitate in expressing their creative ideas and critical thoughts nor have to be too friendly that the divider between the leader and subordinates reduce to transparency, and subordinates start exercising their freedom in the negative way.
This modern theory of leadership permits a wide space for participative leadership as the subordinates are totally involve in decision-making process and their suggestions are sought and given their due credit. In the path-goal theory of leadership, the challenging goals are set for subordinates and, the leaders show them the way to attain it.Additionally, they are given free hand to implement their creative ideas for the best accomplishment of goals. Leaders show their confidence by entrusting them with the complete authority on the allocated task.
Since, the theory is totally situation oriented; the leader has to be extra careful in the analysis of the task and other factors before defining the path to the subordinates. For example, at the time when the task is not clear to the subordinates or the path appears as vague or distorted to them, guidance and suggestions by the leader would be willingly welcomed by the subordinates. However, when the things are well-defined and outlined to the subordinates and the followers are quite confident of their efforts, the redundant regulations would be taken by them as over controlling their skills and potential.
This variance in approach is dependent on the clarity of the situation, abilities of the subordinates and their motivation and, on the depth of task. The more complicated the task is and the less comprehensible the paths are, the increase supportive suggestions by the leader would be genuinely entertained.
This theory demands the leader to maintain a firm checks on his behavior and the body language as the actions speak louder than the words. He as to appear as a source of motivation, inspiration, trust and confidence. The actions should speak the depth of his commitment and the passion for the task and the affection for followers. The behavior should infuse the feeling of satisfaction in the working aura.
The key to have effective leader, based on the path-goal leadership theory, is to mark the paths to the goals. This can be well done by identifying the key tasks to the subordinates, explaining the nature of complicated hurdles and, describing the way to smooth away the obstacles in to terrific success.
The path-goal theory can promise the successful leadership as long as the situation, motivation and the inclination of the followers towards the task is kept in view. The more the related factors are considered and the appropriate the decisions are made, along with the full-fledged implementation of the opted strategy, the more the effective leadership would be and, the chances of the success would become certain.
New findings and theories have began to unveil a whole new leadership theory, came to be popularly known as “path-goal” theory. This leadership theory is explained on the basis of situation and other related factors.
The path-goal theory suggests that the leaders can only have a successful leadership if they support the subordinates towards a specific goal by assigning them a clear, creative path. They can do so by explaining them clearly and articulately about their vision, making them aware of the upcoming obstacles and at the same time, revealing them the way of how to stand up amidst of curbing crisis. A series of rewards, explanation of mistakes and encouragement will make the leadership effective-the ultimate purpose of this theory.
This theory explains the effectiveness of leadership in terms of impact of leader on subordinates. Robert House, the American psychologist, who suggested this theory, says that leaders are successful as long as they have immense leadership influence on the subordinates, who acts as a source of motivation to their followers. In other words, the true leader inspires the goals and dreams and allow them turn their idealism in to realism by showing them the required path.
This theory highlights the amalgamated version of all the leadership styles. The theory demands the leader to have a right balance between his authority and his friendliness with the subordinates. He neither have to be too authoritative that the subordinates hesitate in expressing their creative ideas and critical thoughts nor have to be too friendly that the divider between the leader and subordinates reduce to transparency, and subordinates start exercising their freedom in the negative way.
This modern theory of leadership permits a wide space for participative leadership as the subordinates are totally involve in decision-making process and their suggestions are sought and given their due credit. In the path-goal theory of leadership, the challenging goals are set for subordinates and, the leaders show them the way to attain it.Additionally, they are given free hand to implement their creative ideas for the best accomplishment of goals. Leaders show their confidence by entrusting them with the complete authority on the allocated task.
Since, the theory is totally situation oriented; the leader has to be extra careful in the analysis of the task and other factors before defining the path to the subordinates. For example, at the time when the task is not clear to the subordinates or the path appears as vague or distorted to them, guidance and suggestions by the leader would be willingly welcomed by the subordinates. However, when the things are well-defined and outlined to the subordinates and the followers are quite confident of their efforts, the redundant regulations would be taken by them as over controlling their skills and potential.
This variance in approach is dependent on the clarity of the situation, abilities of the subordinates and their motivation and, on the depth of task. The more complicated the task is and the less comprehensible the paths are, the increase supportive suggestions by the leader would be genuinely entertained.
This theory demands the leader to maintain a firm checks on his behavior and the body language as the actions speak louder than the words. He as to appear as a source of motivation, inspiration, trust and confidence. The actions should speak the depth of his commitment and the passion for the task and the affection for followers. The behavior should infuse the feeling of satisfaction in the working aura.
The key to have effective leader, based on the path-goal leadership theory, is to mark the paths to the goals. This can be well done by identifying the key tasks to the subordinates, explaining the nature of complicated hurdles and, describing the way to smooth away the obstacles in to terrific success.
The path-goal theory can promise the successful leadership as long as the situation, motivation and the inclination of the followers towards the task is kept in view. The more the related factors are considered and the appropriate the decisions are made, along with the full-fledged implementation of the opted strategy, the more the effective leadership would be and, the chances of the success would become certain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)