Leadership is imperative for the functioning any kind of group whether family, society, business, government or any other organization. Every organization focuses on planning, executing, reviewing and controlling therefore they require a critical force in the form of a leader to design, execute, co-ordinate and control all these functions to help accomplish the desired objective with efficiency.
The concept of leadership has undergone change over the period. Upto 1930, leadership was believed to be something of the nature of personal traits – a characteristic of the people, which was the monopoly of only few persons. The supporter of this theory held the view that their characteristics or traits are intrinsic. Therefore, the concept of “born leadership” or the concept of “leaders are born not made” became popular. Later on others had the view that these traits may be acquired. Leadership is regarding coping with change.
Characteristic of Leadership
Empathy
As a leader you must try to build a good rapport with your staff makes to avoid personal issues and resentment. If your team knows that you are empathetic to their concerns, they would be likely to share their vision, rather than have negative feelings.
Consistency
You must try to be consistent leader to gain respect and credibility, to get a buy-in from the group. So as a leader you must set example of fairness and credibility, to develop respect and faith.
Honesty
Honest leaders, ensure that problems will be addressed rather than avoided. Honesty also allows for better evaluation and growth.
Direction
A good leader should have the vision to break out of the norm and aim for great things and thereby set the steps necessary to get there. — is one of the essential features of good leadership.
Communication
Leaders should always aim to effectively communicate the roles and responsibilities to the team to ensure that they are working on the right projects with the right attitude.
Flexibility
No two problems have the same solution so by being flexible to new ideas you tend to increase the chances to find the best possible answer.
Conviction
One of the important features of leadership is strong vision and the willingness to see it through. So leaders who believe in the mission and works toward it, will be an inspiration and a resource to their followers.
The difference between a successful project managers and a great project leader is that – a successful project managers are good at encouraging productivity, overseeing progress, and driving performance among workers where on the other hand great project leaders go a step beyond, to demonstrate emotional intelligence, excellent communication skills, aim to build productive relationships and managing high-functioning teams.
Leadership Style
Various types of leadership styles exist for different work environments. It is primarily the cultural goals of an organization that helps to determine the leadership style that matches the organizational development. Companies adapt to several leadership styles within the organization, depending upon the necessary tasks to complete and needs of the departments or organization at a whole
Laissez-Faire
Laissez-faire is a leadership style in which leader lacks direct supervision of employees and fails to provide regular feedback to their subordinates. Only highly experienced and trained employees who require very little supervision falls under the laissez-faire leadership style. This leadership style hinders the production of employees required for supervision. There are no supervision efforts from managers under laissez-faire style which may lead to poor production, and lack of control thereby leading to increased cost.
Under Laissez-faire a person may be in a leadership position without providing leadership, thereby leaving the group to deal with the situations themselves. Subordinates are required to decide for themselves by creating their own policies and methods. Therefore the subordinates are required to be self-motivated to be creative and innovative.
Autocratic
Autocratic leadership style allows managers to make decisions on their own without the efforts of others. In this style of leadership the total authority lies with the manager which is imposed further on the employees. In this leadership styles no one challenges the decisions of autocratic leaders. Autocratic leadership style benefits employees who require close supervision. This leadership style is detested by creative employees who thrive in group functions.
All decision-making powers are centralized in the leader, just like a dictator. In this leadership style do not listen to any suggestions or initiatives from subordinates. Autocratic management proves advantageous as it provides strong motivation to the manager. Autocratic style allows quick decision-making, as a single person decides for the whole group.
Participative
Also known as democratic leadership style or shared leadership style. A participative leader values the input of team members and peers, but holds the responsibility of making the final decision. This form of leadership helps boosts employee morale as employees contributes to the decision-making process. A sense of being engaged and feeling that their opinions matter. The participative leadership style helps employees to accept and adapt to the changes easily as they are a part of the process. This style helps in situation when companies need to make a decision in a short period.
Leaders share the decision-making abilities with group members by supporting the interests of the group members and by practicing social equality.
Transactional
In this form of leadership style the managers receive certain tasks to perform and provide rewards or punishments to team members based on performance results. In this style the managers and team members set predetermined goals together, such that the employees agree to follow the direction and leadership of the manager to accomplish the end goals. Manager possesses the power to review final outcome and correct the subordinates failed to meet goals. So when the goals are accomplished the employees receive rewards in terms of bonus.
Transformational
The transformational leadership style depends on high levels of communication from management to meet goals. Leaders motivate employees and enhance productivity and efficiency through communication and high visibility. This style of leadership requires the involvement of management to meet goals. Leaders focus on the big picture within an organization and delegate smaller tasks to the team to accomplish goals.
Narcissistic
In this leadership style the leader is only interested in his own performance. That is their priority is themselves – at the expense of other team members. In which case the leader tends to be arrogant, dominant and hostile. This style maybe prove to be anywhere between positive and harmful.
Toxic
Under toxic leadership style the leaders has responsibility of over a group of people or an organization, in which case a leader–follower relationship is used by leaving the group or organization in poor condition than when he joined it.
Task-oriented and relationship-oriented
In this style the leader pays attention on the tasks that need to be performed in order to meet a certain production goal. In this approach the task-oriented leaders are concerned with producing step-by-step solution for any problem, thereby ensuring the deadlines are met, to meet the target outcomes. Under relationship-oriented leadership style, the leader is more concerned with the relationships amongst the group and the overall well-being of group members. Leaders in this style of leadership emphasize on communication within the group, to develop trust and confidence in group members, thereby appreciating for work done.
The Blake-Mouton Managerial Grid
In 1964, the Blake-Mouton Managerial Grid was published that highlighted the process of choice making and adopting the most appropriate style to use, based on the concern for the people working in an organization and concern for production/tasks.
Categories designed under Blake-Mouton Managerial Grid
- People-oriented style focuses on organizing, supporting, and developing the team members. In which case the participatory style encourages good teamwork and creative collaboration.
- Task-oriented leadership focuses on getting the job done. It requires defining the work and the roles required, put structures in place, and plan, organize, and monitor work.
- People as well as task oriented approach focuses when there is high concern for people as well as high concern for the task. This approach states that one should aim for both, rather than trying to offset one against the other.
