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 leadership skills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leadership skills. Show all posts
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Effective Leadership
The thorough research on this important phenomenon of effective leadership has resulted in the upsurge of many leadership theories, styles and skills, each guaranteeing the terrific accomplishment of tasks; however, the studies has also reveled that the pursuance of any particular leadership style or theory or having some leadership skills are not enough for this worthy and outstanding job and, a lot more has to be considered and done for the effective leadership.
Each individual is unique and therefore, each leader is unique in its own way. Consequently, each individual has to adopt a distinctive amalgamated form of styles and skills in order to rise as matchless leader in extensively diverse pool.
There are some qualities that form the basis of the effective leadership and so, should be possessed by all.
Flexibility
Flexibility is the universal trait of today’s leader. He has to be flexible in his attitude, behavior and approaches. He must be flexible in the leadership powers, too. The effective leadership stems from the adaptation of leadership style on the basis of the capabilities of the followers and the situation. When the little knowledge is possessed by the subordinates, he must be the sole decision-maker and should guide them at all the steps. He can have shared leadership when the followers have much knowledge about the task and could be relied.
These balances in the styles and attitude determine the leadership influence on the juniors and this very impact of leader judges the victory of the organization or team.
Fully Acknowledged
Being active and fully acknowledging the responsibilities and authorities is an essential trait for a successful leadership. Only when one knows the leadership strengths and the area where he can exercise his authority, the correct goals can be set and visions can be carved ideally and properly.
Creating A Favorable Environment
The leadership can only be fruitful and can have underlying impacts if the favorable working atmosphere is built up, which clearly lights up the goals and the future career of the individual. The resources and the machinery and other input factors should be available for the maximum use. This would create a comfortable and helpful working environment for the followers.
Consultancy With Subordinates
Consulting should be done with all the members while setting the goals.Furthermore; the win-win attitude should only dominate the thoughts of all. This would lead to the mutual consensus that would only promise the unending triumph.
Additionally, the suggestions and ideas of the budding minds should be given their due importance as today’s young generation want their voice to be shared no matter how much distorted the vision is. Moreover, the weekly discussions on the imperative topics, having an immense influence on the individual and organization as whole should be discussed. The crucial decisions, affecting the lives and the future of the followers, should be taken by taking them in to utmost assurance.
Discussion On Work Related Problems
The work related problems should be discusses weekly and the individuals should be encouraged to come up with the critically logical solutions to the challenging problems. They must be rewarded and spurred for their contributions and should be given annual or bi-annual awards and certificates of excellence.
All the same, the important aspect of successful leadership is that leader pay a genuine heed to the problems and grievances of the subordinates. Keenness in the general welfare of the followers and helping them coping the problems would establish an unexplainable closer link between the followers’ and the leaders.
Only when the juniors feel that they are heard and responded and, their life and presence are precious to the leader, they feel like being closer to their leader. This association would ultimately convince them to live up to the expectations of their leader by giving their best.
Time Management
The time management and adhering to the deadlines can pledge the effective leadership, too. The leaders must ensure that at every time the progress in the task should be made to avoid the swift working at the eleventh hour. This leadership skill is vital for the very of survival of leadership.
On the whole, the effective leadership creates the feeling of trust and confidence and accentuates the leadership strengths of all the individuals. It is the source of motivation and inspiration for the subordinates. The effective leadership creates the feeling of trust and confidence and accentuates the leadership strengths of all the individuals. The individual feels like being more productive with the every sunset, and more capable and strong with the every sun rise. The impact of the effective leadership is so deep that the radiant light engulfs the very nook of darkness of the life of the subordinates, and illuminates the way of success!
Each individual is unique and therefore, each leader is unique in its own way. Consequently, each individual has to adopt a distinctive amalgamated form of styles and skills in order to rise as matchless leader in extensively diverse pool.
There are some qualities that form the basis of the effective leadership and so, should be possessed by all.
Flexibility
Flexibility is the universal trait of today’s leader. He has to be flexible in his attitude, behavior and approaches. He must be flexible in the leadership powers, too. The effective leadership stems from the adaptation of leadership style on the basis of the capabilities of the followers and the situation. When the little knowledge is possessed by the subordinates, he must be the sole decision-maker and should guide them at all the steps. He can have shared leadership when the followers have much knowledge about the task and could be relied.
These balances in the styles and attitude determine the leadership influence on the juniors and this very impact of leader judges the victory of the organization or team.
Fully Acknowledged
Being active and fully acknowledging the responsibilities and authorities is an essential trait for a successful leadership. Only when one knows the leadership strengths and the area where he can exercise his authority, the correct goals can be set and visions can be carved ideally and properly.
Creating A Favorable Environment
The leadership can only be fruitful and can have underlying impacts if the favorable working atmosphere is built up, which clearly lights up the goals and the future career of the individual. The resources and the machinery and other input factors should be available for the maximum use. This would create a comfortable and helpful working environment for the followers.
Consultancy With Subordinates
Consulting should be done with all the members while setting the goals.Furthermore; the win-win attitude should only dominate the thoughts of all. This would lead to the mutual consensus that would only promise the unending triumph.
Additionally, the suggestions and ideas of the budding minds should be given their due importance as today’s young generation want their voice to be shared no matter how much distorted the vision is. Moreover, the weekly discussions on the imperative topics, having an immense influence on the individual and organization as whole should be discussed. The crucial decisions, affecting the lives and the future of the followers, should be taken by taking them in to utmost assurance.
Discussion On Work Related Problems
The work related problems should be discusses weekly and the individuals should be encouraged to come up with the critically logical solutions to the challenging problems. They must be rewarded and spurred for their contributions and should be given annual or bi-annual awards and certificates of excellence.
All the same, the important aspect of successful leadership is that leader pay a genuine heed to the problems and grievances of the subordinates. Keenness in the general welfare of the followers and helping them coping the problems would establish an unexplainable closer link between the followers’ and the leaders.
Only when the juniors feel that they are heard and responded and, their life and presence are precious to the leader, they feel like being closer to their leader. This association would ultimately convince them to live up to the expectations of their leader by giving their best.
Time Management
The time management and adhering to the deadlines can pledge the effective leadership, too. The leaders must ensure that at every time the progress in the task should be made to avoid the swift working at the eleventh hour. This leadership skill is vital for the very of survival of leadership.
On the whole, the effective leadership creates the feeling of trust and confidence and accentuates the leadership strengths of all the individuals. It is the source of motivation and inspiration for the subordinates. The effective leadership creates the feeling of trust and confidence and accentuates the leadership strengths of all the individuals. The individual feels like being more productive with the every sunset, and more capable and strong with the every sun rise. The impact of the effective leadership is so deep that the radiant light engulfs the very nook of darkness of the life of the subordinates, and illuminates the way of success!
Leadership At Managing The Resources
Leadership is a great responsibility in its true essence. Its areas of attention are as diverse as its styles and theories are. When it comes in to light the term of leadership, the picture of managing the resources accordingly, yielding the best from the present, is what to be expected from the leader.
The current developing world is in severe urge of an authentic leader that could make the effective use of resources, with minimum side effects and high yields. When such high is the demand of the time, the upcoming leaders must concentrate on these points in order to evolve the best.
• Time Management
The first and foremost factor that influences the usage of resources is the “time” factor. Timely fulfillment of the tasks without any last minute hassle, would avoid many abrupt decisions that could be dangerous for the individual and organization as a whole.
Moreover, the more planned the tasks are, giving their deserved time, more mistake could be avoided. It would not affect the efficiency of the followers and they would mentally be satisfied and relaxed in doing their job as it is well said “the birth of tension is the death of talent.”
As long as the time is managed properly and the demanding tasks are given their due attention, the tension would not stem up and would not hamper the performance of the individuals.
• Meetings For The Prioritization Of The Tasks
The organization of the meetings is immensely essential for the management of resources. It is always advisable to arrange the meetings, inviting all the related top officials and the subordinates, and discuss the resources from many angles i.e. discuss its negative and positive points, the cost effective areas, the creative and the lucrative areas. Prioritize the tasks on the basis of these factors and allocate the financial and expertise accordingly.
The more the concerned issues are addressed, the minimum would be the chances of hurdles and work can be done smoothly, resulting in the terrific accomplishments of goals.
• Managing The Budget
Proper and effective use of the money has always been an important aspect for the leadership influence. Though, the apt use of money is indeed the key to the success, any mistake in it could explode the very basis of the assured success in no time.
The allocation of money should be based on the prioritization of the task and the resources available. If the more convenient resources are available to achieve the simple tasks and the desired work can be obtained from those resources, it is always wise to spend the money on the area which is lucrative and affects the results across the board, ensuring the output maximum, too.
• Usage Of Technology
No doubt the technology has incredible effects on the efficiency of the process and yields the greatest, too; the unwise spend on it, without judging it from all angles, will not necessarily produce the profitable and balanced results.
For example, if any task requires the use of machinery, and that can be easily manipulated manually too, it is always suggested to estimate the over all profit of the task manually as well as in mechanized form. If the profit is significantly higher in mechanized form, covering the cost of machinery in the good package, the idea of the mechanized technology can then be supported. And, if the profits are not up to the expectations or are not in harmony with the mechanized path-way, then the use of manual power would be the only best option.
Management of the resources is no doubt a difficult and demanding task, the careful analysis of the key factors from varied angles and the discussions of the allocation of the staff and the finance would produce the optimum results. The fundamentals like time factor and the technology use are indispensable too, for they assure the uprising of the brighter sun from the horizon of success!
The current developing world is in severe urge of an authentic leader that could make the effective use of resources, with minimum side effects and high yields. When such high is the demand of the time, the upcoming leaders must concentrate on these points in order to evolve the best.
• Time Management
The first and foremost factor that influences the usage of resources is the “time” factor. Timely fulfillment of the tasks without any last minute hassle, would avoid many abrupt decisions that could be dangerous for the individual and organization as a whole.
Moreover, the more planned the tasks are, giving their deserved time, more mistake could be avoided. It would not affect the efficiency of the followers and they would mentally be satisfied and relaxed in doing their job as it is well said “the birth of tension is the death of talent.”
As long as the time is managed properly and the demanding tasks are given their due attention, the tension would not stem up and would not hamper the performance of the individuals.
• Meetings For The Prioritization Of The Tasks
The organization of the meetings is immensely essential for the management of resources. It is always advisable to arrange the meetings, inviting all the related top officials and the subordinates, and discuss the resources from many angles i.e. discuss its negative and positive points, the cost effective areas, the creative and the lucrative areas. Prioritize the tasks on the basis of these factors and allocate the financial and expertise accordingly.
The more the concerned issues are addressed, the minimum would be the chances of hurdles and work can be done smoothly, resulting in the terrific accomplishments of goals.
• Managing The Budget
Proper and effective use of the money has always been an important aspect for the leadership influence. Though, the apt use of money is indeed the key to the success, any mistake in it could explode the very basis of the assured success in no time.
The allocation of money should be based on the prioritization of the task and the resources available. If the more convenient resources are available to achieve the simple tasks and the desired work can be obtained from those resources, it is always wise to spend the money on the area which is lucrative and affects the results across the board, ensuring the output maximum, too.
• Usage Of Technology
No doubt the technology has incredible effects on the efficiency of the process and yields the greatest, too; the unwise spend on it, without judging it from all angles, will not necessarily produce the profitable and balanced results.
For example, if any task requires the use of machinery, and that can be easily manipulated manually too, it is always suggested to estimate the over all profit of the task manually as well as in mechanized form. If the profit is significantly higher in mechanized form, covering the cost of machinery in the good package, the idea of the mechanized technology can then be supported. And, if the profits are not up to the expectations or are not in harmony with the mechanized path-way, then the use of manual power would be the only best option.
Management of the resources is no doubt a difficult and demanding task, the careful analysis of the key factors from varied angles and the discussions of the allocation of the staff and the finance would produce the optimum results. The fundamentals like time factor and the technology use are indispensable too, for they assure the uprising of the brighter sun from the horizon of success!
Assessing The Leadership Skills In A Job applicant
The present world is constantly emerging as more competitive and demanding. In order to cope with up with the fast emerging trends, it has become immensely necessary to have the employees which posses the best leadership skills that are essential for job since, the competent, effective leadership is the necessity at all the levels.
Since creative leadership traits have become an increasing demand of all the organizations, here are some tests that would enable the employer to finely judge the leadership skills in the employee for the best selection.
The Psychological Test
It consists of a series of question and answers that allow perceiving the character and thinking of the employee. It includes a series of some group versus individual tests. It helps the employer to evaluate that how much the employee is inclined to have good communication and understanding between him, his team mates and the subordinates. The proper assessment of one’s character is essential as it gives the idea of how much flexible he is in his approach.
If the job requires the participative or employee-centered style to be implemented, this test is indispensable as it gives the idea of how much he is task oriented and good at human relations, the main prerequisite of the styles.
The Ability Test
This test is not basically the test of any required leadership skill but since the good knowledge of the job ensures the right guidance by the leader, this test is essential. Also, if the employee is the subordinate of any leader, the good knowledge is vital to come up with the challenging, creative ideas in participative leadership.
The Personality Test
This test examines the behavior and actions of the person when subjected to different situations. A leader has to be optimistic and remain cool even in the tense, hot situation. This is essential as it infuses the feeling of confidence and trust among the subordinates, required for the optimum efforts by the subordinates.
The test involves some group activities, with the tough deadlines. The employees are keenly observed through out the task to judge the confidence, sharpness and the decision-making ability of the leader.
Emotional Intelligence Test
This test is aimed at evaluating the ability of an employee to control his feelings and emotions. The leadership styles that demand the good social relations between the subordinates and the leader, the positive emotional intelligence tests are then rightly demanded.
It facilitates the employee to ascertain the social and communication skills of the employee and how much he is aware of the surroundings and could well control his impact on others. This test helps to examine the balanced approach of the employee in getting the assigned work from the subordinates and exercising his leadership authorities on them.
Integrity Test
Integrity is one the exceptionally important leadership trait. Every good leader is found to possess this tremendous skill. This test gives an idea of whether the person will indulge in any unfair means. The honesty, sincerity and commitment of the employee could be well ascertained through this test.
The test includes some activities and leadership questionnaire to assess the sincerity and honesty in his words and actions. If there lies the deep, closer link between what he answered in the questionnaire and what he does in the practical task, the person possess integrity, the most imperative leadership skill.
Interview
The last but not the least is the interview test which allows the leader to figure out the confidence and the communication skills of the employer. If the interview is structure based, with some challenging questions, the employee can well discover the decision-making capability of the individual.
The effective leadership requires the good decision-making ability. Hence; the structured interview will help the employee to ascertain leadership characteristic in the individual. Once all these tests are properly performed, the authentic leadership can be easily figured out among the masses.
Since creative leadership traits have become an increasing demand of all the organizations, here are some tests that would enable the employer to finely judge the leadership skills in the employee for the best selection.
The Psychological Test
It consists of a series of question and answers that allow perceiving the character and thinking of the employee. It includes a series of some group versus individual tests. It helps the employer to evaluate that how much the employee is inclined to have good communication and understanding between him, his team mates and the subordinates. The proper assessment of one’s character is essential as it gives the idea of how much flexible he is in his approach.
If the job requires the participative or employee-centered style to be implemented, this test is indispensable as it gives the idea of how much he is task oriented and good at human relations, the main prerequisite of the styles.
The Ability Test
This test is not basically the test of any required leadership skill but since the good knowledge of the job ensures the right guidance by the leader, this test is essential. Also, if the employee is the subordinate of any leader, the good knowledge is vital to come up with the challenging, creative ideas in participative leadership.
The Personality Test
This test examines the behavior and actions of the person when subjected to different situations. A leader has to be optimistic and remain cool even in the tense, hot situation. This is essential as it infuses the feeling of confidence and trust among the subordinates, required for the optimum efforts by the subordinates.
The test involves some group activities, with the tough deadlines. The employees are keenly observed through out the task to judge the confidence, sharpness and the decision-making ability of the leader.
Emotional Intelligence Test
This test is aimed at evaluating the ability of an employee to control his feelings and emotions. The leadership styles that demand the good social relations between the subordinates and the leader, the positive emotional intelligence tests are then rightly demanded.
It facilitates the employee to ascertain the social and communication skills of the employee and how much he is aware of the surroundings and could well control his impact on others. This test helps to examine the balanced approach of the employee in getting the assigned work from the subordinates and exercising his leadership authorities on them.
Integrity Test
Integrity is one the exceptionally important leadership trait. Every good leader is found to possess this tremendous skill. This test gives an idea of whether the person will indulge in any unfair means. The honesty, sincerity and commitment of the employee could be well ascertained through this test.
The test includes some activities and leadership questionnaire to assess the sincerity and honesty in his words and actions. If there lies the deep, closer link between what he answered in the questionnaire and what he does in the practical task, the person possess integrity, the most imperative leadership skill.
Interview
The last but not the least is the interview test which allows the leader to figure out the confidence and the communication skills of the employer. If the interview is structure based, with some challenging questions, the employee can well discover the decision-making capability of the individual.
The effective leadership requires the good decision-making ability. Hence; the structured interview will help the employee to ascertain leadership characteristic in the individual. Once all these tests are properly performed, the authentic leadership can be easily figured out among the masses.
Are You A Successful Leader?
Leadership is a relationship between leader and followers based on ability and position, with an aim to achieve the certain goals, which is made possible through conducive environment, mutual understanding and effective communication; allowing the clear insight of vision and the steps to attain it, to the followers .
The researchers have suggested the various leadership styles, theories and characteristics but what pledges the guaranteed triumph, the question is still in discussion. The successful leader can be defined as the one who has attained in all the tasks and has remained as an outstanding and influential person through out his job.
The article puts light on some of the qualities possessed by all the great leaders of the past.
The successful leadership stems from being exceptionally sharp in decision-making and always come up with the right conclusions at demanding time. The leaders carefully analyze the facts and figures and open a new episode of creativity, each time they express their ideas. He possesses the ability to best interpret the information and reach at more practical and lucrative solutions.
The successful leaders possess vitality in his actions which instill the inspiration and the unbeatable feeling of motivation in the followers. This insurmountable inspiration and motivation acts as a catalyst towards the promising success. To get the task done, this is an important step by the leader as, it produces the cohesive feeling among the team mates. He must have a correct idea of the weakness and strengths of the individual and then work accordingly to bring them together, as a whole
Importantly, the successful leader is good at transferring his ideas and vision. The fluency, the enthusiasm with which he conveys his ideas to the subordinates engulf them with an invincible feeling of promised success. The clearer he is in his vision and goals, the better would be the performance of the followers.
To be an effective leader, he must have the true insight of the leadership styles and what style suits which situation. Only the apt of the situation and selection of the styles accordingly would assure the accomplishment of goals. On the basis of the individuals knowledge, the resources available, the related experiment, the nature of task and the relations with subordinates; the decision of situation is made in to effect.
Integrity in the words and actions is essential leadership skill. If the subordinates believe on the words of the leader, he would trust on him and will look forward to him in the troublesome situations. He would be expected to make fair judgments. The leader must be honest a in his judgments and must give the juniors their due reward; this will instill confidence in them to trust on their abilities and work harder.
To come up as an authentic leader, he has to make a leader among his subordinates. History has proved that only those leaders are written in the golden pages of history that have produced true leaders. For this to be done effectively, the leader must act as a role model for the subordinates and should keep his words. He must entrust the subordinates with few authorities in certain matters and expect the best from them. Timely guidance, instilling confidence through responsibilities would carve their skills of leadership, which would be unveiled as the situation demands.
If these superb qualities are the hallmarks of one’s character, he is truly a successful leader-the only support in the violent sea of crisis!
The researchers have suggested the various leadership styles, theories and characteristics but what pledges the guaranteed triumph, the question is still in discussion. The successful leader can be defined as the one who has attained in all the tasks and has remained as an outstanding and influential person through out his job.
The article puts light on some of the qualities possessed by all the great leaders of the past.
The successful leadership stems from being exceptionally sharp in decision-making and always come up with the right conclusions at demanding time. The leaders carefully analyze the facts and figures and open a new episode of creativity, each time they express their ideas. He possesses the ability to best interpret the information and reach at more practical and lucrative solutions.
The successful leaders possess vitality in his actions which instill the inspiration and the unbeatable feeling of motivation in the followers. This insurmountable inspiration and motivation acts as a catalyst towards the promising success. To get the task done, this is an important step by the leader as, it produces the cohesive feeling among the team mates. He must have a correct idea of the weakness and strengths of the individual and then work accordingly to bring them together, as a whole
Importantly, the successful leader is good at transferring his ideas and vision. The fluency, the enthusiasm with which he conveys his ideas to the subordinates engulf them with an invincible feeling of promised success. The clearer he is in his vision and goals, the better would be the performance of the followers.
To be an effective leader, he must have the true insight of the leadership styles and what style suits which situation. Only the apt of the situation and selection of the styles accordingly would assure the accomplishment of goals. On the basis of the individuals knowledge, the resources available, the related experiment, the nature of task and the relations with subordinates; the decision of situation is made in to effect.
Integrity in the words and actions is essential leadership skill. If the subordinates believe on the words of the leader, he would trust on him and will look forward to him in the troublesome situations. He would be expected to make fair judgments. The leader must be honest a in his judgments and must give the juniors their due reward; this will instill confidence in them to trust on their abilities and work harder.
To come up as an authentic leader, he has to make a leader among his subordinates. History has proved that only those leaders are written in the golden pages of history that have produced true leaders. For this to be done effectively, the leader must act as a role model for the subordinates and should keep his words. He must entrust the subordinates with few authorities in certain matters and expect the best from them. Timely guidance, instilling confidence through responsibilities would carve their skills of leadership, which would be unveiled as the situation demands.
If these superb qualities are the hallmarks of one’s character, he is truly a successful leader-the only support in the violent sea of crisis!
Top Five Leadership Styles
The well popular and the immensely important concept of leadership unveils with itself many approaches, leadership styles and skills which if truly applied and are well integrated ,keeping in view the reality and the depth of goal, will ensure the positive, promising environment for success. These leadership styles are emerged from the different theories put forwarded after the thorough research.
There lies a broad spectrum of leadership styles, ranging from the classic, old and bossy styles to the modern, participative and thoughtful styles, successfully catering the needs of as diverse situations as the styles possibly are. It covers all the areas of leadership, ranging from a small school to a corporate organization, from the coaching of athletes to running a successful business; only the apt selection of leadership style and proper application of it, ensures the effective leadership across the board.
The following are the most common leadership styles
Authoritarian Or Autocratic Style
This sort of leadership style mainly revolves around the power of the leader where the leader, solely, exercises all the powers and the subordinates are only expected to complete the designed job without any questioning. Since all the activities are controlled by leader and the subordinates are not taken in to confidence, so they are highly uncertain of their future. This results in high absenteeism and staff turnover. The leader does not participate in the group and, just come up with directions to the subordinates. Hence; this style lacks creativity and innovation of new ideas and techniques that come up if young subordinates are given at least a little free hand. These budding minds then feel like being bottled- up and are totally confined.
This style is generally viewed as the bossy or dictatorship style.
It is helpful only in the situation when the leaders possess the excellence in knowledge or there is lack of decision-making time.
Democratic Or Participative Style
This type of leadership style is truly creative as it permits all the subordinates to participate in the decision making process by coming up with ideal suggestion and creative ideas. Here, the subordinates are fully involved in the task, from decision-making process to working on it with commitment and, hence they are highly certain of their future and can visualize their success in near future. This impulse acts as a source of motivation.
Since, this style encourages the maximum participation on both sides; there lies the good communication and friendliness between the leader and the subordinates. Hence, this style could be well applied in the situations which are task-oriented and, at the same time demands the good, comprehensible communication.
It minimizes the aggression, hostility and grievances among the group members and paves way to the greater satisfaction and high morale. It ensures the personal development of subordinates, too.
Employee-Centered Style
The employee-centered style is little bit more freedom oriented than democratic style. The leaders just designed the achievable goals and, articulately explain it to the employers. The rest is the job of the subordinates to follow any possible strategy that paves the way to success. The leaders then focus on the human aspect of the subordinates and motivate them in the application of their useful thoughts.
This style is best applied on the subordinates who possess the considerable knowledge about the task.
Production-Centered Style
The style is quite contrary to the employee-centered style where the focus is on the production rather than on the human aspect. The employers are kept pushed to meet the deadlines without giving deserved attention to the assigned task. The focus is mainly on the increased productivity and the best use of employers is made to attain this target.
This style can no longer be applied in today’s scenario where the subordinates are not willing to be directed and pushed all the time. In fact, today’s scenario portrays that the subordinate is more leader than the leader himself.
Supportive Style
This style is linked with the psychological relation between leaders and subordinates, which springs from the good mutual understanding and good communication skills. Leader, when adopting supportive leadership, appreciates and truly acknowledges the work of subordinates, does not force the worker to do beyond his capacity and often keeps in mind the problems of subordinate. In fact the leader appears more as a source of help to the subordinates. More than that, he always stand up for the rights and efforts of the subordinates and, do not criticize them harshly or even in front of others. The leader is willing to get influx of ideas from the subordinates and, often appreciates and rewards them for their extraordinary thinking.
When such a strong, motivated and appreciably good relationship exists between them, they subordinates feel motivated and always endeavor to do the best.
However, this relationship can not be solely applied. It has to be integrated with the employee-centered style or participative style, the required perceived results can then be guaranteed.
The leadership styles are extremely diverse and their effective application is totally subjected to the situation. The hallmark of a true leadership is that it analyzes the changing attitudes, values and the situation appropriately and then implements the blend of leadership styles, which reflect those changes, that eventually ensures the good outcome at the end.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)