Leadership

Leadership

Introduction

When an individual is able to influence the thought, actions and course of other people, then that person is said to be a leader. Those who are influenced are the followers. Leadership therefore entails all aspects in influencing other people to a certain direction. This can be in an organization, social setting and even in other informal settings that leadership is required. Leadership is very essential in the day-to-day running of an organization. This is because leadership creates order in an organization. An organization ceases to function effectively if the leadership aspect is not factored in (McNamara, 2006). This paper goes through ‘Leadership verses management’ in which the two are contrasted. It further outlines ‘leadership qualities’ that should be part of leader’s tools to lead well. It also covers ‘The leadership styles’ that exist and ‘a conclusion’ to all this. Leadership is not acquired through simply learning the skills that are not innate but it is developed through experience.

Leadership

Leadership is the ability to influence others. Leadership is closely related to management though they differ in a number of aspects. These include the aspect of where the two are applied. Leadership is applied in any setting but management is limited to the formal structures of an organization. This means that a leader is likely to apply the leadership qualities in any situation regardless of being given formal power whereas a manager may require formal structures or be given authority that exceeds responsibility in order to be effective (Mind Tools Ltd, 2010). The other key difference is found in the scope of the work they do. Leadership scope may not be as wide as compared to management.

Management involves dealing with all the functions of management. These functions include planning, coordinating, directing, staffing and controlling. This are wide areas to be handled by a manager, therefore as compared to leadership the scope of work is more involving in management than in leadership. Leadership may not necessarily require training in a certain field. Some leadership skills have been found to be inherent. This is in contrast with management that requires specialized skills and competencies.

Leadership Qualities

Leadership qualities may include empathy, integrity, honesty, good communication skills, humility and wisdom. Empathy relates to the ability of the leader to understand the feeling of the people under his or her lead. This is vital in the creation of harmony and trust between the leaders and the followers (Team Technology, 2008). Integrity refers to the ability of an individual to be what he or she is when alone as well as when with others. This is as opposed to pretence or putting on a plastic view of things when the heart is saying contrary. A leader should practice integrity with utmost sensitivity to create trust among the group or organization. A leader should know how to communicate appropriately as well as practice humility and wisdom in handling of others in the group.

Leadership Styles

The known leadership styles include bureaucracy, autocracy, laissez-faire and democratic leadership styles. Bureaucracy entails leadership that is based on laws and order. These are cases where people serve the law that is established. The leader is rigid to the set laws and everyone is subject to the law. Innovation and creativity is discouraged and loyalty to the laws is emphasized. This style is based on structures as compared to Democratic where laws serve the people and they are at free will to change it with changing demand of time. Autocracy involves dictatorial kind of leadership.

The leader knows it all and the followers have no option but to agree to what is decided by the leader. This has been practiced in communistic led countries for example Fidel Castro used this method to govern Cuba. This style of leadership is brutal to the people as compared to democratic style of leadership, which is people-oriented leadership (McNamara, 2006). Democratic leadership is run for the purpose of common good. It has been practiced by many leaders such as Barrack Obama of the United States. Lazier faire is the most rare kind of leadership as it involves the leader leaving the led at free will. People are free to do anything they want no matter the consequences. This is a dangerous approach to leadership as compared with Democratic, for it has no accountability of actions and repercussion of given tasks. It is the second most undesired leadership style after autocracy.

Conclusion

Leadership is not acquired through simply learning the skills that are not innate but it is developed through experience. The situations and the need for leadership may vary from one time to the other. Therefore, the leadership qualities should be engraved in ones heart rather being literary fixed into the situations that arise. Moreover, it can be concluded that management has a bigger scope than leadership.

References

McNamara, C. (2006). All About Leadership. Retrieved from http://managementhelp.org/ldrship/ldrship.htm

Mind Tools Ltd. (2010). Leadership Styles: Using the Right One for the Situation. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_84.htm

Team Technology. (2008). Leadeship And Management. Retrieved from http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/leadership-basics.html