Managerial Leadership - Leader Qualities - Leadership Theories

1. Meaning of Leadership.

Leading is 1 of import business office of management only side past times side to planning in addition to organizing. It is the liveliest chemical constituent inward the management process. It initiates actions to interpret the decisions into concrete actions. Managers withdraw keep to Pb their subordinates through guiding in addition to motivating. Leading involves directing, influencing in addition to motivating employees to perform essential tasks.

Every managing director has to deed every bit a leader inward his expanse of operation. This agency he has to guide, instruct, Pb in addition to motivate his subordinates then every bit to utilisation their skills, efficiency, capacity etc. for the do goodness of his Organisation. He has to influence the behaviour of his subordinates in addition to acquire the piece of work done through their collective efforts. Leadership qualities are required inward monastic tell to conduct diverse managerial functions effectively. Each in addition to every grouping of people engaged inward a detail activity needs a leader inward monastic tell to guide, co-ordinate in addition to command their efforts. In this sense, leadership is required for the conduct of economic, social, political or cultural activities. H5N1 college principal, secretarial assistant of a co-operative fellowship or of a sports lodge or cultural association deed every bit leaders inward their respective fields. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandella, John F. Kennedy are the world known political leaders piece Henry Ford, J. R. D. Tata in addition to S. L. Kirloskar are known leaders inward the work organisation world. Here, nosotros are concerned only amongst the managerial leadership. Managerial leadership is that part of a manager's activities past times which he influences the behaviour of his subordinates towards a desired objectives or results.

Leadership is followership. H5N1 practiced leader leads but does non push. Effective leadership tin guide a grouping towards sure enough ideals without exerting much force. Managers who possess the lineament of guiding in addition to directing the subordinates nether inspired impulses tin last called work organisation leaders. Leadership is concerned amongst getting results through people in addition to implies the Organisation of staff into productive teams, groups in addition to departments. Leadership entrails the creation of human structures, their motivation in addition to direction; the resolution of conflicts at the workplace, creating vision for the entire work organisation in addition to providing resources inward back upwardly of this.

Manager tin perform diverse managerial functions to a greater extent than effectively past times providing proper leadership to his subordinates. This makes leadership an inevitable aspect of management procedure itself. Leadership is essential for the success in addition to stability of a work organisation enterprise. Managers possessing leadership qualities are called work organisation leaders.

2. Definitions of Leadership.

1. According to Koontz in addition to O'Donnell, "Leadership is the mightiness of a managing director to create subordinates (followers) to piece of work amongst confidence in addition to zeal."
2. According to George Terry, "Leadership is the activity of influencing people to strive for mutual objectives."
3. According to Peter Drucker, "Leadership is the shifting of own's vision to higher sights, the raising of man's performance to higher standards, the edifice of man's personality beyond its normal limitations."

3. Characteristics of Leadership.

1. Involves guiding in addition to motivating : Leadership is a managerial procedure of guiding in addition to motivating the subordinates for achieving organizational goals/objectives. For motivating, communicating is necessary. Leadership is described every bit an fine art of influencing in addition to inspiring subordinates to perform their duties efficiently.
2. Needs subordinates in addition to mutual interests : It pre-supposes the beingness of subordinates. There must last mutual involvement for the leader in addition to his followers due to which they cooperate in addition to participate for achieving mutual objectives.
3. Promotes involvement inward the piece of work : The purpose of leadership is to influence, motivate in addition to encourage subordinates to convey active involvement inward the piece of work assigned in addition to give the best results.
4. Needs back upwardly from all : The leader must recognize the presence of all employees irrespective of their position. The leader cannot travel successful unless he obtains back upwardly from all.
5. Influences subordinates through personal qualities : H5N1 leader understands the problems of his subordinates in addition to influences them past times his personal qualities.
6. Dynamic in addition to continuous procedure : Leadership is a dynamic in addition to continuous process. It is a regular activity of guiding in addition to motivating subordinates for improving their performance in addition to contribution towards organizational objectives.
7. Leadership is situational : An ideal leadership is ever situational. H5N1 leader has to written report the prevailing province of affairs in addition to render appropriate leadership to his subordinates.
8. Assumes obligation : H5N1 leader ever inspires followers. In the lawsuit of failure, he does non shift the responsibleness to his subordinates but accepts his personal weaknesses inward performance. H5N1 leader leads past times setting practiced example.
9. Needs interaction amongst followers : The objective of the leader in addition to his subordinates should last the same. If the leader attempts for 1 purpose in addition to his subordinates for some other purpose, it is no leadership. Their involvement must last identical.
10. Achievement of objectives : The success of a leader largely depends on his mightiness to attain organizational objectives. When a leader fails to attain the objectives, he is of no utility to the management.

4. Qualities of a Good Leader / Leadership Qualities.

A leader needs audio wellness in addition to physical capacity to perform his functions or duties assigned inward an efficient manner. In add-on to physical qualities, an ideal leader needs sure enough qualities of caput in addition to heart. The primary qualities include Personal Traits in addition to Managerial Traits which are shown inward the next chart:

5. Styles of Leadership.

There are dissimilar styles of leadership. This classification is based on the methods used past times the leaders.

Edwin Flippo has defined leadership trend every bit "a pattern of behaviour designed to integrate organizational in addition to personal involvement inward pursuit of some objectives."

Basically, the styles of leadership tin last divided into 2 broad groups. These are: (a) Task-oriented styles, in addition to (b) People-oriented styles.

1. In the chore oriented styles of leadership, to a greater extent than importance is given to getting the piece of work done past times subordinates. Task-oriented leaders are interested inward the completion of piece of work in addition to do non give importance/attention to subordinates or their desires, interests in addition to then on. Dictatorial leader in addition to autocratic leader are the examples of this category.
2. People-oriented trend of leadership is basically democratic. Here, the leader gives importance to the interests, thoughts, problems, etc. of subordinates. He tries to attain objectives amongst their back upwardly in addition to co-operation. Participative or democratic leader comes nether this category.

6. Theories of Leadership.

1. Trait Approach Theory (The Traits Approach),
2. Behavioral Approach Theory, and
3. Contingency / Situational Approach Theory.

7. Trait Approach Theory (The Traits Approach).

The traits approach theory was 1 of the kickoff attempts to explicate the leadership based on personal traits. Traits are inborn or acquired personal qualities of an individual. They include physical qualities in addition to the qualities of caput in addition to heart.

Traits theory refers to sure enough traits/characteristics which separate leaders from non-leaders. Such traits enable some to ascent inward a higher house their followers.

The basic traits useful for leadership include height, energy, looks, noesis in addition to intelligence, imagination, self-confidence, integrity, fluency of speech, mental balance, enthusiasm, courage, sociability, in addition to friendliness in addition to then on.

According to the traits theory, an private possessing such traits is usually able to influence others in addition to gets the status of a leader. This suggests that a leader is quite dissimilar from an average individual inward regard to personal qualities such every bit intelligence, perseverance in addition to overall personality including physical features.

The traits theory suggests that leaders are inward a higher house the followers inward regard to personal traits. H5N1 fair combination of such traits makes them influential in addition to impressive every bit compared to others.

Traits theory indirectly supports the stance that leaders are born in addition to non made. Researchers withdraw keep suggested dissimilar traits of leaders. Such traits are like to physical, psychological, mental, intellectual in addition to other qualities which are unremarkably treated every bit essential inward the instance of an ideal leader. It may last noted that some traits are innate piece some others tin last acquired through particular efforts.

The traits theory is based on the personal qualities (inborn/acquired) of an individual. Such qualities play a positive role inward edifice leadership. H5N1 individual becomes leader due to such traits. The theory is based alone on personal traits in addition to their contribution inward developing leadership.

7.1 Limitations of Traits Approach Theory / Criticism of Traits Theory.

1. Examples of leaders without sure enough traits are mutual : According to this theory, leadership is based on sure enough traits such every bit personality, intelligence, self-confidence, courage in addition to then on. However, it is really hard to detect out a detail leadership trait inward the greatest leaders of the world. Some known the world leaders withdraw keep had quite dissimilar traits. People amongst express education, express grooming in addition to without good developed personality withdraw keep proved to last groovy leaders. History is total of such examples of leaders.
2. Traits are non absolutely essential for leadership : As per the theory, many traits are desirable inward the instance of leaders. However, none seems to last absolutely essential. Many leaders are extremely pop fifty-fifty without sure enough useful traits.
3. Situational aspect is ignored : The theory fails to convey into consideration the province of affairs inside which the leaders withdraw keep to function. There are instances inward which a leader is successful inward 1 province of affairs but may non last inward some other fifty-fifty when traits are same on both the occasions. For example, Winston Churchill was Prime Minister of England in addition to was besides state of war hero during the Second World War but was defeated inward the full general elections nether novel province of affairs i.e., afterward the halt of World War II.
4. No reference to essential qualities : The theory fails to give the listing of essential qualities (innate in addition to acquired) required for leadership purpose.
5. Superiority is non clearly stated : The theory states that a leader has superior personal traits every bit compared to his followers. However, the nature or extent of superiority is non given inward a clear manner.

8. Behavioural Approach Theory.

The behavioral approach theory is an extension of the traits theory in addition to is superior inward sure enough respects. The traits theory failed to explicate what caused effective leadership. The behavioral approach is based on the written report of behaviour of a leader.

Leadership grows/develops non past times traits but past times the acts or sense of a person. The behavioral theory is based on the supposition that leaders are non born but they develop gradually past times sense in addition to maturity. The attending is given to what leaders do (i.e., their behavior) rather than to what they are. H5N1 leader learns novel traits through his sense (behavior or acts). The focus point, here, is on what the leader does piece leading.

This behavioral theory suggests that a leader do non deport inward the same fashion nether all situations. Similarly, his actions are non identical nether all situations which he faces. He adjusts his behaviour every bit per the demand of the situation. There is an chemical constituent of flexibility inward his approach in addition to behavior. He studies the province of affairs in addition to adjust his leadership trend accordingly. He adopts dissimilar leadership styles to run across the demand of dissimilar situations.

The most pop behavioral theories are:

1. blogspot.com//search?q=douglas-mcgregor-theory-x-theory-y">Douglas McGregor's Theory 'X' in addition to Theory 'Y', in addition to
2. Dr. Rensis Likert's Four Management Systems.

The behavioral approach theory is practical inward nature. It gives to a greater extent than attending to acts in addition to behaviour of a individual in addition to non to the personal traits. Leadership develops past times sense in addition to non past times inborn traits. H5N1 leader has to acquire sure enough qualities past times sense only.

Like the traits theory, the behavioral approach oversimplifies the complexities of the leadership process. However, the behavioral approach is responsible for the evolution of a classification of leadership styles which has provided managers suitable opportunities to secure greater insight into their ain behavior.

9. Contingency / Situational Approach Theory or Blanchard's Situational Leadership Theory.

Situational/Contingency Theory is a novel add-on to the existing theories of leadership. It is a combination of dissimilar leadership styles such every bit autocratic, democratic in addition to then on. An ideal leader studies the overall prevailing situation, draws conclusions nigh the whole province of affairs in addition to adopts the leadership trend which is most appropriate to the prevailing situation. He is non concerned amongst 1 specific leadership trend but volition utilisation whatever trend every bit per the available situation. He is interested inward achieving his objectives in addition to is willing to utilisation suitable agency for this purpose. Sometimes he may last democratic but may last autocratic on some other occasions. "Different strokes for dissimilar folks" is his leadership approach. He volition consider the grouping of employees (skilled, unskilled, supervisory, etc.) to last handled in addition to adjust his leadership trend accordingly. He volition non utilisation 1 leadership trend for controlling/motivating all categories of employees. On the other hand, he volition last democratic amongst some categories of employees in addition to autocratic amongst the employees working at the other level. In other words, adjusting the leadership trend every bit per the demand of the province of affairs or every bit per the grouping of employees/subordinates to last handled is the essence of situational leadership style. In brief, he studies the province of affairs in addition to adjust his leadership trend accordingly. He adopts a practical approach inward monastic tell to acquire his piece of work done i.e. achievement of organizational objectives. In brief, inward the situational leadership style, the leader adopts practical in addition to flexible approach inward decision-making. This is the essence of situational/contingency theory or approach.

Contingency approach concludes that in that location is no "one best style" of leadership nether all conditions. Efficient leadership trend varies amongst situations in addition to an efficient leader is 1 who studies the prevailing province of affairs in addition to finds out the leadership trend which would last most suitable for the given situation. This is natural every bit a unproblematic cookbook approach for selecting the best leadership trend does non exist. H5N1 practiced leader has to written report the province of affairs in addition to adjust his leadership trend accordingly. Here, the focus is on the province of affairs in addition to non on the personal qualities in addition to behaviour of a leader.

Situational leadership trend is flexible/adjustable in addition to is unremarkably to a greater extent than effective every bit compared to other types of leadership. The situational theory of leadership was developed past times Hersey in addition to Blanchrd at the Centre for Leadership Studies inward Ohio State University.

9.1 Important Features of Situational Leadership.

1. Situational leadership is novel add-on to the existing styles of leadership.
2. An ideal leader (according to this theory) studies the overall situation, draws conclusions in addition to adopts the leadership trend which is most appropriate to the prevailing situation. This is the essence of situational leadership theory.
3. The best leadership trend according to this theory is situational.
4. An ideal leader is 1 who tin adjust his trend of functioning every bit per the province of affairs inside which he has to operate. This agency the internal in addition to external surroundings to the enterprise.
5. A leader may deed every bit a dictator at 1 fourth dimension in addition to besides every bit a democratic leader on some other occasion. H5N1 practiced leader is 1 who studies the province of affairs some him in addition to adopts the most suitable leadership style.
6. A situational leadership is a combination of all types of leadership.
7. A situational leader knows dissimilar leadership styles but selects 1 detail style, which is most, appropriate to a given situation/environment.
8. A situational leader adopts flexible approach inward his trend of functioning. This makes his leadership effective in addition to result-oriented. H5N1 situational leader knows when to utilisation autocratic trend in addition to when to utilisation democratic style. He makes corresponding adjustment inward his style. This makes him effective/successful every bit a leader.

The situational theory suggests that a manager's leadership trend should vary amongst the situation. This leadership model is unproblematic in addition to appealing. However, it ignores several other critical elements that create upwardly one's hear leadership trend in addition to it does non withdraw keep a broad accepted inquiry base. Inspite of the limitations, this leadership model achieved considerable popularity in addition to besides awakened many managers to the thought of contingency approaches to leadership style.

9.2 Merits of Situational Leadership.

1. The situational leadership theory is a practical 1 in addition to is based on existent facts of life. The best leadership trend is situational.
2. The situational theory has universal acceptance.
3. It focuses attending non on the personality of the leader, but on the personality of the Organisation every bit a whole.
4. The situational leadership theory is flexible in addition to adaptable. It tin operate inward whatever trend (autocratic, democratic, etc.) every bit per the demand of the situation.

9.3 Limitations of Situational Leadership.

1. In situational leadership, to a greater extent than importance is given to the province of affairs in addition to less to personal traits. Leadership should involve both traits in addition to situations. However, the theory gives importance to province of affairs only.
2. The theory offers an incomplete explanation of the leadership process.

10. Question Bank On Leadership.

1. What is leadership? Explain its functions.
2. Explain the importance of or role of leadership inward business.
3. State in addition to explicate the qualities of a practiced leader.
4. "Best type of leadership is situational" Explain.
5. Write curt notes on:
   • Blanchard’s situational leadership theory
   • Qualities of an ideal leader
   • Leadership is situational