LEADERSHIP

Leadership is the process of influencing the behaviour, attitude,

activities and efforts of an individual or groups for achieving
common goal.

DEFINITIONS

 Leadership is the ability to make others to seek defined

objectives.
 Leadership may be defined as the ability to exert
interpersonal influence by means of communication towards
the achievement of a goal.
 Leadership is the ability to secure desirable action from a
group of followers voluntarily without use of coercion.
 Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LEADERSHIP

 Leadership is a group phenomenon.

 Leadership is a personal quality
 Leadership refers to the ability of one individual to influence
others.
 Leader emphasizes the present.
 The leader makes the organization a part of his self-picture.
 Leader’s objectives are organizationally centered.
 Leader sets realistic goal.
 It is a continuous process.
 Willpower-flexibility-initiative-self confidence.
 Social ability.
IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP

 Getting things done through people and all that entails (the
organization of people into productive teams)
 Directing group activities.
 The creation of effective means of communication.
 The resolution of conflicts, both behavioural and operational.
 Fulfilling social responsibilities.
 Taking informed, effective and successful decisions.
 Getting optimum performance from those carrying out the
work.
 Ensuring continuity, development and improvement.
 Seeking continuous improvement.
 Monitoring and evaluating.
 Establishing human relations.

FUNCTIONS OF LEADERSHIP

* Planning * Organizing * Directing *

Communication * Co-coordinating

* Appraisal * Decision making * Assessment *

Controlling * Development

* Creativity * Initiative * Building and developing

teams * Integration

* Domination * Achieving the task * Concern for the

people

* Production emphasis
LEADERSHIP STYLES

1. Autocratic style------The autocratic leader is seen as a

person who commands and expects compliance, who
dogmatic and positive and who leads and directs others by
an ability to give or withhold rewards or punishment.
2. Democratic / participative style-----The leader who uses
this leadership style, consults with his subordinates about
proposed action and decisions and e encourages them to
participate in these decisions.
3. Free rein style----- (Laissez-faire) Leader gives complete
freedom to subordinates. Leader gives subordinates a
substantial degree of independence in their work, leaving
them to set their own goals and discover their own ways of
achieving them.
4. Consultative style-----Managers using this leadership style
to seek out the options and ideas of subordinates and work
to put them to constructive use. They also engage in
communication both upward and downward and encourage
some participation in decision-making.
THEORIES OF LEADERSHIP

1. Traits theory--------- This approach is taken to identify the

traits, attributes and characteristics that are present in effective and
successful leaders. The traits are like good personality, ability to
make decision, courage, perception, intelligence, understanding,
initiative, motivation etc..The trait theory rests on the traditional
approach which describes leadership in terms of certain special
 characteristics which are not acquired by knowledge and training
but considered inherited. It holds that the possession of these traits
permits certain individual to gain position of leadership.

2. Behavioural theory------This theory studies leadership by

looking at leaders in terms of what they do. According to this
theory leadership is shown by a person by his acts than his traits.
The leadership effectiveness is determined in terms of leader-
subordinates interactions and outcome.

3. Situational theory-------The prime attention in this approach is

given to the situation in which leadership is exercised. The
contention is that in one situation leadership may be successful
while in others it may not.
Situational Variables (THAT AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF
LEADERSHIP)
 The cultural environment
 Differences between individuals
 Differences between jobs
 Differences between organizations

4. Path and Goal theory------The path-goal theory of leadership

proposes that the effectiveness of leader can be measured from
their impact on their subordinates in terms of motivation, their
ability to perform effectively and their satisfaction with their task.

Environment
contingency factor
-task-nature of work
- authority

Leader’s behaviour OUTCOME

- Directive - goal clarity
- Participative Subordinates factor - performance
- Supportive - experience - satisfaction
- Achievement - control
oriented - perception
-
This model emphasizes that the leader’ behaviour be such as to
compliment the group work setting and aspirations so that it
increases the subordinate’s goal to achievement level clarifies the
path to these goals. Effective leaders clarify the path to help to
their followers through which subordinate can achieve related
goals.

5. Contingency theory of leadership------------( by Fred

Fiedler )

There are 3 variables that have influence over effectiveness of

leadership.
These 3 variables are-----1. Leader-member relationship
2. Task-structure
3. Leader’s positional power.

 Leader- member relationship is determined by the manner in

which leader is accepted or rejected by the group.

 Task- structure-----it means the extent to which the tasks

performed by subordinates are specified and structured.
  Position power refers to the legitimate power inherent in the
leader’s organizational position. It refers to the degree to
which a leader can make decisions about the allocation of
resources, rewards, and sanctions.

The results of the model are----------

 The task-oriented leaders perform better in highly favourable

situations.
 In a unfavourable situations, he is more concerned with the
performance.
 In intermediate situation, the leadership is contingent upon
the cooperation of the group.

6. Paul Hersey and Kenneth Blanchard’s Situational

Theory---( Life – cycle theory of leadership )

The model focuses on the maturity of the followers as a

contingency variable affecting the styles of leadership.
Maturity-----ability and willingness to take responsibility.

Hersey and Blanchard’s approach identifies two major styles;

 Task style----Leader organizes and defines role for

subordinate, the leader explains the task to each subordinate-
what – when- where- how to do them.
 Relationship style-----The leader has close, personal
relationship with member of the group and there is open
communication and psycho-emotional support.
  Telling style------ specific directions as to what, how and
when to do the tasks.
 Selling style------- suitable where followers have low to
moderate maturity.
 Participating style----- welcomes people in decision-making
process.
 Delegating style-------empowering people
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Contemporary leadership is as a process--------------

“Leadership is a long-term, value-based process that encourages

leaders and implementers to initiate actions that contribute to
achieving a common purpose, and to willingly make significant
contributions in meeting mutual objectives.”

Contemporary theories of Leadership

1. Charismatic Leadership--------vision, personal risk, sensitivity,

unconventional behavior

2. Transformational Leadership-------INSPIRE FOLLOWERS TO

TRANSCEND THEIR OWN SELF INTEREST FOR THE GOOD OF
THE ORGANISATION; YHEY CAN HAVE A PROFOUND AND
EXTRAORDINARY EFFECTS ON FOLLOWERS.

3. Authentic leadership--------Ethical people who know who they are,

know what they believe in and value and act on those values and beliefs
openly and candidly.