Leadership:

Concept
induce his followers to do whateverer khe
Leadership is an quality in a human being to
abstract
isdirected to do with certainty, zeal and confidence.
A leader is an individual whose behaviour inspires those who are being led to accomplish
some common goal of the organisation. Hence a leader is a guide, friend and philosopher and
also a good administrator whose behaviour influence the behaviour of an individual or groun
on a continuous basis for the attainment of some common goal.
A leader shows the way by his example. He is not a pusher, he pulls rather than pushes.
L.F. Urwick has listed the following four primary functions of a leader which he is called
upon to perform whatever may be his field of work:
i) To represent the undertaking and its purpose
(ii) To initiate measures necessary to keep the undertaking healthy and progressive.
(ii) To administer the undertaking.
iv) To interpret the reasons for everything to everybody, particularly the reasons for te
changes demanded by those who help him in administration. He, in fact, is a teacher
in true sense of the term.
According to G. R. Terry, leadership as, "the activity of influencing people to strive willing!
for group objectives."
According to Koontz and O'Donnell, leadership as "Influencing the people to follow in
achievement of common goals."
According to P. F. Drucker, "Leadership is the lifting of man's vision to higher sign,
raising ofa man's performance to a higherstandard, the building of a man's personality beyo
its normal limitations.
According to Haimanu Theo, *Leadership can be defined as the process by which an exc cutive
imaginatively directs guides and influences the work of others in choosing and aa ng
specified goals by mediating between the individual and the organisation in such manner
an
that both will obtain maximum satisfaction."
Types of Leadership:
1. AutocraticLeadership Style: /the
Under this leadership style, the leader has
supreme power and takes full responsibility. isjon
sionin
subordinates have to obey what the leader wants and power to take ded
any matter. Autocratic leadership
they have no power to ak r d i n a t e s

gives a negative impression in the minds of the su

and they feel unsecured.
Features/Characteristics:
The following are the main features of autocratic
The leader has the
leadership: ritytohis
highest authority and he does not delegate any au
subordinates.
The subordinates have to execute all the decision and
instruction of the leader.
ttl subordinates can not participate in the decision making process and can not
The
express their opinion for the accomplishment of objective of the
organisation.
iv) Controlling system centralised and comprehensive under this
is
leadership.
/v Communication flows from upward to downward to implement the decision taken by
the leader.

Advantages of Autocratic Leadership:

The following are the benefits of autocratic
leadership:
) Centralised Leadership: Under autocratic leadership all the decisions are taken
the leader and for this
by
leadership is centralised. Subordinates are to execute whatever
decision is taken by the leader. Hence, every thing is goes on time.
) Prompt Decision making: As all decision s are taken by the leader he can take
prompt decision. He does not have to wait for suggestions and instruction from
other ends. For this execution of work becomes easier.
(1) Follow Unity of Command: The principle of unity of command is fully applied in
this type of leadership. Every subordinate takes command from his immediate
superior
and the work is executed. As a result no contradiction arises.
V) Efective Performance: As all decision and instructions comes from the leader every
Subordinate has to perform it effectively otherwise he or she would be accountable.
Hence all the work can be effectively performed.
) Highly Motivated: As subordinates has not power to participate in the decision
making process they are motivated because they need nothave any extra work pressure
CACept to execute the jobs according to the instructions of the superior.

Limitations:
ne following are the limitations of autocratic leadership:
Lack of Motivation: There is lack of motivation of the subordinates due to
monotonous as
Centralisation of authority under this leadership. The work becomes
nave to execute all the jobs only according to the decision and instructions
Cy
gven by the leader. They lost their creativity and become highly frustrated.

of authority flows
Absence
ADSence of Delegation of Authority: There is no delegation
to the
leader to the subordinates. Everything is to be executed according
the
whims and
ont
 2. Democratic or Participative Leadership:
Under this leadership style, leader gives authority and responsibility to his subordinats
and acts as a friend and philosopher. The subordinate's gets freedom to participate in the
decision making process and may expresses their views and opinions. Hence the subordinates
get highly motivated and do their best for the achievement of organisational goals.
Characteristics: The following are the common characterises of participativeleadership

) Under this leadership authority of the leader is decentralised.

ther
(ii) Subordinates can participate in the decision making process and may give
valuable suggestions.

(iii) Communication flows from both top level to lower level and vice-versa.
lish
iv) Subordinates feel secured and get job satisfaction and they become happy toestabi
a good relation with their leader.
ause

(v) Creativity innovation and new ideas arises in the minds of the subordinates De
of giving specific authority and responsibility to accomplish organisational goa
chieve
The leader establishes relationship between an individual and a group to a
(vi)
some common goal of the organisation.

Advantages of Democrative Leadership the

i) Highly Motivating: In this environment the subordinates may participate ? r o t a t i o n

throughi
making process and creates new
decision ideas, gets variety of jobs g i v e s inne

good understanding between peers, group efforts and all these thing B
satisfaction to the subordinates and they becomes highly motivated.
ponsibili"

ii) Attaining Organisation Goals: Under this leadership, as authority andrendife i nd i f f e r e n .

goes hand-by-hand the subordinates ofthe organisation may take decisio

matters which ultimately helps to attain organisation goals.
 High Morale: Under this leadership subordinates can act in an open environment
(iii) with variety of decisions taken by them they becomes self directed and highly
motivated.

iv) Effective Decision Making Process: Under democative leadership employees are
given opportunity to participate in the decision making process and they can share
their views and opinions to attain organisational goals and in this way decision making
becomes effective.

(v) Creation of New Ideas: Hunman resources are the best resources in today's competitive
business scenario. Human resources of an organisation give their valuable ideas and
Suggestions and create new ideas and innovations which ensure organisational
stability.
Limitations of Democrative Leadership:
) Reluctant by Employees: Many employees of the organisation are reluctant to
participate in the decision making process and want to be led by the others. They
want to be very casual and do not want to take extra responsibility outside their
allotted jobs.
(ii) Requires Long Time: As employees of the organisation from all levels are allowed
to participate in the decision making process, this requires a long time which resu'ts
in delay in the decision making process.
Gii) ncompetence of the Leader: If a leader always consults with the subordinates on
Every matter it indicates a sign of inefficiency on the part of the leader to handle the
problem.
iv) Unsuitable for complex Organisational Structure: In a complex organisational
structure it is really impossible to participate in the decision making process from all
levels.
(v) abit of Consultation: If the subordinates consults with their leader on all matters
t becomes a habit or regular feature which results frustration when the leader is not

avallable. For this reason creativity of the leader may be lost.

3.
aissez-faire or Free-Rein Style of Leadership:
Under this
executi
CXecution of
leadership, subordinates are given full authority to take decisions regarding the
iss given
given policy.
policy, programmes
pr and strategy formulated by the leader. As complete freedom

forfor the bytthe leader to the subordinates, they establish their own goal and course of action
the depar
m ment and try to execute these goals which are under the ultimate goal of the
ompany. For CXample,
exan sales target fixed by the marketing manager of an organisation is

115
executed by the subordinates of that department by formulating their own strategy with f
freedom i.e. without the intervention of the leader.

Characteristics:
Following are some of the common characteristics of laissez-faire style of leadershin
The leader generally does not give direction or instructions to the subordinates
(i)
Subordinates or followers takes their own decision to execute their work taking int
(ii)
account the organisational goals and takes advises from their leader.
utilised.
(ii) Delegation of authority from the top to the lower level is fully
execute their jobs and
(iv) The subordinates are allowed to get full freedom i.e. how to
for this purpose they may give their opinion and suggestions.
Control system is not rigid hence flexible according to the need of the circumstances
(v)
(vi) Under this leadership open communication system is used.

Advantages of Laissez-faire or Free-Rein Style of Leadership:

The following are the benefits of Laissez-faire Style of Leadership:

i) No intervention by the Leader: Under this leadership the leader does not intervene
and
about the job of the subordinates and they can work as per their own decision ir
ways they feel better for the organisation. This gives them confidence about tne

jobs.
(ii) Good Relationship: Under this leadership there subsist a good relationshipbetwc
the leader and the subordinates. The leader gives full freedom to the subordinatc
fthe
take decision as their own to attain the organisation goal. Hence confidence
subordinates increases.
kthe
(ii) Highly Motivated: As leader gives full freedom and open environment for wol
employees gets highly motivated about their jobs and get full satisfaction.
(iv) Maximum utilisation of Capacity: As the subordinates are given authorityto
maximun
decision about their jobs and they are highly motivated there may be an
utilisation of capacity.
ordinates

(V)Creation
() of new ideas and innovation: Under open environment where subi
full freedom to take decision
i n n o v a t i v e *

gets they may have generate newideas and un

minds to create new things which
may contribute success for the organisa
the
(vi) Increase in Productivity of the Subordinates: Under this leadership
is an open environment for
wi rdinate

taking decisions the productivity ot the su

increases.
 Limitations of Laissez-faire style of Leadership:

Passive Leadership: Leader has no active role for the accomplishment of

organisational goals. The leader simply delegates all the authority to the subordinates.
Hence the leader has no active role for the execution of plans and policies of the
organisation.

Gi) Do not get skill and expertise of Leader: Under this leadership as the leader has no
active role for taking decision and execution of work by the subordinates they are
exploited by not getting the skill and expertise of their leader which may have a
leading part for the attainment of common goal of the organisation.
ii) .Weak Management: A there is an open enironment for taking various decisions
by the subordinates, and the leader does not have any active role for making decisions
and execution- of the
plans and policies of the organisation the management
becomes weak and ultimately have no control over the subordinates.
(iv) Lack of co-ordintaion and Team spirit: Under this
leadership, each group of
Subordinates take their own decision and there is almost no control from
the top
management there arises lack of co-ordination and team spirit and for this the ultimate
goals of the organisation is hampered.

Qualities of a Good Leader:

. Successful leader must possess various qualities so that subordinates become the followers
8eat success not only for the accomplishment of the organisational goals but also to
CiT personal objectives. The different qualities of a good leader are
discussed below;
)
Anowledge and Intelligence: A leader must be a person who must have adequate
AOWledge and intelligence. He should be a person is able to take quick decision
Ccording to the need of the situation. The subordinates will learn many things relating
tneir jobs if a leader has adequate knowledge in the respective field.
i) Fox
Sightness: A leader should have the ability to foresee the events which
fi Occur in the near future and have the ability to take right decision in right time. may
it) De ISion
making ability: A leader must have
i nght time and according to thegood
situation demands afterability
to take decision in the
carefully considering all the
nternal and external
iv) factors.
Analytical abili
hytical ability: This is one of the important criteria or being a good leader i.e.
St
have analytical ability according to the need and situations.

117
(v) Sense of duty and responsibility: A successful leader must perform his dutie
responsibilities so that subordinates can depend on him. This creates a sense
of
trustworthiness about the leader so that they can fully rely on him.
(vi)
(vi) Creates Motivation: A leader through his quality and performance built up amoie
role to the subordinates and they gets motivated and perform their work with zea
and confidence.
(vii) Professional and Technical Competence: A leader should have professional and
technical competence and have a sound knowledge in his domain both in theory and
practices. These qualities give confidence and support of the subordinates.

(viii) Create Human relation: A leader must have ability to built human relationship
with their subordinates. He should have such an ability to create a friendly atmosphere
so that subordinates can express their demand,
inclinations and aspirations to ther

leader
his own ability and
(ix) Confident about Success: A leader must be self confident about
the need of the organisation.
efficiency so that he can tackle any situation according to
tools for being
(x) Effective Communication skills: This is one of the very important
a sounC
He must have effective communication skill and have
successful leader.
communication.
knowledge about different methods and means of