Leadership

What is leadership
• Leadership is a process whereby an individual, or group, is able to
influence others to take on a collective vision and mobilize them
toward attaining that vision. Effective leadership transforms people’s
goals and ambitions, even their identities, and replaces self-oriented
behavior with group-oriented behavior

Attributes of a great leader
• Honesty and Integrity. ...
• Inspire Others. ...
• Commitment and Passion. ...
• Good Communicator. ...
• Decision-Making Capabilities. ...
• Accountability. ...
• Delegation and Empowerment. ...
• Creativity and Innovation

Difference between Boss and Leader
• Boss Leader
Thinks knows it all Always willing to learn
Talks more than they listen listens more than they talk
Give answers seeks solution
Criticizes encourages
Point out weakness recognizes strengths
Puts blame on others take responsibility
Focuses on themselves focuses on team

Organizational leadership
• Organizational leadership emphasizes on developing leadership skills
and abilities that are relevant across the organizations. It means the
potential of the individuals to face the hard times in the industry and
still grow during those times. It clearly identifies and distinguishes the
leaders from the managers. The leader should have potential to control
the group of individuals.

• individuals who are highly ambitious, have high energy level, an urge
to lead, self-confidence, intelligence, have thorough knowledge of job,
are honest and flexible are more likely to succeed as organizational
leaders. Individuals who learn the organizational leadership develop
abilities and skills of teamwork, effective communication, conflict
resolution, and group problem solving techniques.

Tips for Effective Organizational Leadership
• A leader must lead himself, only then he can lead others. He must be
committed on personal and professional front, and must be
responsible. He must be a role model for others and set an example for
them.
• A leader must boost up the morale of the employees. He should
motivate them well so that they are committed to the organization. He
should be well acquainted with them, have concern for them and
encourage them to take initiatives. This will result in more efficient
and effective employees and ensure organizational success.

• A leader must work as a team. He should always support his team and
respect them. He should not hurt any employee. A true leader should
not be too bossy and should not consider him as the supreme authority.
He should realize that he is part of the organization as a whole.

There are certain actions performed by leaders which separate them
from the rest of the leaders and senior executives.
1. The first step if their ability to identify and include right people with
them towards achieving goals. Unlike the traditional method of
building strategies and then looking for the right people to carry
them out, they take a different route. It’s about getting the right
people on board and then deciding on the destination.
2. They also do not shy away from facing and accepting brutal truths
and realities of data, numbers and situations but at the same time
they do not lose hope of a better future.

3. They also strive towards aligning consistent efforts towards a goal,
rather than giving one massive push they believe in small but firm
pushes to bring in the momentum.
4. They also exercise their judgment to understand an aspect, in depth
and thoroughly, rather than burdening themselves with myriad
information.
5. They practice and encourage a disciplined approach towards their
work life and as visionaries use carefully identified technologies to give
their businesses strategic advantage

Leadership styles

What is leadership styles
• Leadership styles are classifications of how a person behaves while
leading a group.
• Lewyn's leadership styles are authoritarian (autocratic), participative
(democratic), and delegative (laissez-faire).
• In 1939, a group of researchers led by psychologist Kurt Lewin set out
to identify different styles of leadership. While further research has
identified more distinct types of leadership, this early study was very
influential and established three major leadership styles that have
provided a springboard for more defined leadership theories.

Authoritarian Leadership (Autocratic)
• Authoritarian leaders, also known as autocratic leaders, provide clear
expectations for what needs to be done, when it should be done, and
how it should be done. This style of leadership is strongly focused on
both command by the leader and control of the followers. There is also
a clear division between the leader and the members. Authoritarian
leaders make decisions independently, with little or no input from the
rest of the group.
• Researchers found that decision-making was less creative under
authoritarian leadership.Abuse of this method is usually viewed as
controlling, bossy, and dictatorial

• Authoritarian leadership is best applied to situations where there is
little time for group decision-making or where the leader is the most
knowledgeable member of the group. The autocratic approach can be a
good one when the situation calls for rapid decisions and decisive
actions. However, it tends to create dysfunctional and even hostile
environments, often pitting followers against the domineering leader

Characteristics
• Some of the primary characteristics of autocratic leadership include:1
• Allows little or no input from group members
• Requires leaders to make almost all of the decisions
• Provides leaders with the ability to dictate work methods and
processes
• Leaves group feeling like they aren't trusted with decisions or
important tasks
• Tends to create highly structured and very rigid environments
• Discourages creativity and out-of-the box thinking
• Establishes rules and tends to be clearly outlined and communicated

Pro and cons
Benefits
• Allows for quick decision-making especially in stress-filled situations
• Offers a clear chain of command or oversight
• Works well where strong, directive leadership is needed
Drawbacks
• Discourages group input
• Hurts morale and leads to resentment
• Ignores or impairs creative solutions and expertise from subordinates

Delegative Leadership (Laissez-Faire)
• Lewin found that children under delegative leadership, also known as
laissez-faire leadership, were the least productive of all three groups.
The children in this group also made more demands on the leader,
showed little cooperation, and were unable to work independently.
• Delegative leaders offer little or no guidance to group members and
leave the decision-making up to group members. While this style can
be useful in situations involving highly qualified experts, it often leads
to poorly defined roles and a lack of motivation.
• Lewin noted that laissez-faire leadership tended to result in groups that
lacked direction and members who blamed each other for mistakes,
refused to accept personal responsibility, made less progress, and
produced less work.

Participative Leadership (Democratic)
• Lewin’s study found that participative leadership, also known as
democratic leadership, is typically the most effective leadership
style. Democratic leaders offer guidance to group members, but they
also participate in the group and allow input from other group
members. In Lewin’s study, children in this group were less productive
than the members of the authoritarian group, but their contributions
were of a higher quality.
• Participative leaders encourage group members to participate, but
retain the final say in the decision-making process. Group members
feel engaged in the process and are more motivated and creative.
Democratic leaders tend to make followers feel like they are an
important part of the team, which helps foster commitment to the goals
of the group.

Characteristics of Democratic Leadership
• Some of the primary characteristics of democratic leadership include:
• Collaboration: Group members are encouraged to share ideas and
opinions, even though the leader retains the final say over decisions.
• Engagement: Members of the group feel more engaged in the process.
• Creativity: Creativity is encouraged and rewarded.

Pros and cons
Pros
• More ideas and creative solutions
• Group member commitment
• High productivity
• Improved group morale
Cons
• Communication failures
• Poor decision-making by unskilled groups
• Minority or individual opinions overridden
• Potential security issue

Ethics in leadership

• Dignity and respectfulness: He respects others. An ethical leader
should not use his followers as a medium to achieve his personal
goals. He should respect their feelings, decision and values.
Respecting the followers implies listening effectively to them, being
compassionate to them, as well as being liberal in hearing opposing
viewpoints. In short, it implies treating the followers in a manner that
authenticate their values and beliefs.
• Serving others: He serves others. An ethical leader should place
his follower’s interests ahead of his interests. He should be humane.
He must act in a manner that is always fruitful for his followers.

• Justice: He is fair and just. An ethical leader must treat all his
followers equally. There should be no personal bias. Wherever some
followers are treated differently, the ground for differential treatment
should be fair, clear, and built on morality.
• Community building: He develops community. An ethical leader
considers his own purpose as well as his followers’ purpose, while
making efforts to achieve the goals suitable to both of them. He is
considerate to the community interests. He does not overlook the
followers’ intentions. He works harder for the community goals.