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Leadership may be defined as: the influence that particular individuals (leaders) exert upon the goal achievement of others (subordinates) in an organizational context. An earlier unit on Board Governance addresses in a limited way, the impacts of leaders on performance. We stated that leaders have an ability to see how different aspects of a situation fit together and influence each other. They seek out alliances, opportunities, and approach goals in a proactive way. They have a positive effect on others, which attracts support from those who have similar needs for
accomplishment. Their self confidence creates a belief in other people’s abilities, therefore, emphasis is placed on empowerment and freedom.
If we agree with these statements, then leadership has two distinct aspects: i) the individual who
exerts influence, and ii) those who are the objects of this influence. Successful leadership depends, to a large extent, on the environment and situation in which these dynamics exist.
In general terms, both emergent and assigned leaders fulfill two different functions. They must be able to provide social and emotional support to the group by listening, acknowledging, team
building, and supporting other members in the group. This is referred to as social-emotional
support. The second factor is to provide direction and assistance to the group in accomplishing
their tasks. Successful leaders have the ability to identify and apply the appropriate strategy at the
right time. A group that is confused about the goals of the organization, for example, will not
respond well to a social-emotional approach, nor will a group that is experiencing internal conflict and in need of team building skills respond very positively to a request to improve individual
performance.
Participative Leadership
We have seen in an earlier unit (Public Participation) that there are differing degrees or levels of
participation. These range from total involvement of subordinates in planning, implementation,
and evaluation to simple requests for assistance where such participation is a necessary ingredient
for success. Given this fact, we can easily see that participation will not be successful in all situations. While public or community involvement will provide much better results in compiling
a strategic plan for the community, you would not apply a public participation model if you were trying to escape from a burning building.
Public or community participation can contribute to the following:
Motivation: Participation can contribute to identifying and establishing group goals and
how they can be accomplished. It can also contribute to intrinsic motivation by enriching
subordinates jobs through variety, autonomy, and empowerment.
Leader Qualities
It is apparent that leaders must possess many qualities in order to be successful and maintain the
support of subordinates.
Motivation: Successful leaders know what they want, have a clear path
to achieving it, and are “driven” by intrinsic rewards.
Whether it’s Maslows need for self-actualization, Alderfer’s
growth needs, or McClelland’s need for power, leaders are
driven by a need for success and achievement.
A single theory of motivation in isolation may provide some understanding of human behaviour,
but by combining these theories, one may see patterns that assist in understanding why some
people participate as they do. For example, the works of Maslow and Alderfer to some extent may provide understanding of why some people participate at higher levels than others and
identify some of the rewards that may help this level of participation to continue. Our
observations of leaders when combined with the leadership styles discussed in this unit will help us
understand why some leaders perform successfully, why some encounter difficulties and still
others struggle with low levels of support while displaying high technical abilities.
Understanding leadership and motivation opens our minds to new thought processes of how
people behave and why, helps understand some general principles of human behaviour and allows
us to use these theories as a guide for our participation, analysis and understanding of group behaviour. This understanding can serve us best in selecting individuals who display some of
these qualities to fill specific roles in our organizations and communities.
The following are the characteristics of Leader:
1. Leaders assimilate, learn and understand his role as a guide and provide stewardship to his people.
2. Leaders capture people’s heart and focus on people’s growth.
3. Leaders get the things done through commitment of people by stoking a fire within people’s heart.
Motivation of leaders:
Leaders are always intuitive and attracted to take a high risk where the rewards for success are great.
The first quality of effective leadership is the ability to focuses on strengths. They focus on the strengths in themselves and on the strengths in others. The fact of the matter is that strong people have far more weaknesses than they have strengths. You can never achieve greatness by compensating for your weaknesses. But you can become an outstanding person by identifying your areas of great potential strength and by then focusing all of your energies on becoming outstanding in those few areas.
A Leader is a Role Model
Another important quality of an effective leader is to be a role model, to be the kind of person that everyone else looks up to and wants to be like. Effective leaders carry themselves at all times, even when no one is watching, as if everyone was watching.
Leaders live in a goldfish bowl. Everyone is watching the individual in the leadership role. They are very aware of the impact of their words and gestures on the people around them. You must always be sensitive to the fact that everything you say or do is magnified times the people who report to you or look up to you for guidance. A positive remark from you to someone over whom you exert influence or control has inordinately positive effects. A negative remark or criticism has inordinately negative effects. Choose your words and your behavior with care.
Effective Leadership Requires Trust and Integrity
A third and perhaps the most important and respected leadership quality is integrity. It is the most required and most admired quality of all people, but especially of the effective leader. Trust is the quality that binds all relationships together. The willingness and ability to trust the people that you look up and report to is absolutely essential to your ability to perform at your very best. Sometimes, people come up to me at my seminars and tell me that they like their jobs but they don’t particularly like their bosses. I tell them, over and over, that one of the most important things you do, if you want to be successful at work, is to choose your boss with care. I have seen very few occasions where a person has been successful under a negative or dishonest boss with poor management skills. In most cases, you are wasting your life and your career by staying in a situation with a negative or untrustworthy person because the situation has no future. Practice these qualities of the most successful and effective leaders to hone your skills for leadership success. Only by continuously improving on your skills will you gain the respect and admiration that you deserve.
Thanks
Fully agree with answers given by Mr. Fazlur and Mrs. Ghada
The exceptional leader is always thinking three steps ahead. Working to master his/her own environment with the goal of avoiding problems before they arise.
Flexible/Adaptable
How do you handle yourself in unexpected or uncomfortable situations? An effective leader will adapt to new surroundings and situations, doing his/her best to adjust.
A Good Communicator
As a leader, one must listen...a lot! You must be willing to work to understand the needs and desires of others. A good leader asks many questions, considers all options, and leads in the right direction.
Respectful
Treating others with respect will ultimately earn respect.
Quiet Confidence
Be sure of yourself with humble intentions.
Enthusiastic Excitement
is contagious. When a leader is motivated and excited about the cause people will be more inclined to follow.
Open-Minded
Work to consider all options when making decisions. A strong leader will evaluate the input from all interested parties and work for the betterment of the whole.
Resourceful
Utilize the resources available to you. If you don't know the answer to something find out by asking questions. A leader must create access to information.
Rewarding
An exceptional leader will recognize the efforts of others and reinforce those actions. We all enjoy being recognized for our actions!
Well Educated
Knowledge is power. Work to be well educated on community policies, procedures, organizational norms, etc. Further, your knowledge of issues and information will only increase your success in leading others.
Open to Change
A leader will take into account all points of view and will be willing to change a policy, program, cultural tradition that is out-dated, or no longer beneficial to the group as a whole.
Interested in Feedback
How do people feel about your leadership skill set? How can you improve? These are important questions that a leader needs to constantly ask the chapter. View feedback as a gift to improve.
Evaluative
Evaluation of events and programs is essential for an organization/group to improve and progress. An exceptional leader will constantly evaluate and change programs and policies that are not working.
Organized
Are you prepared for meetings, presentations, events and confident that people around you are prepared and organized as well?
Consistent
Confidence and respect cannot be attained without your leadership being consistent. People must have confidence that their opinions and thoughts will be heard and taken into consideration.
Delegator
An exceptional leader realizes that he/she cannot accomplish everything on his own. A leader will know the talents and interests of people around him/her, thus delegating tasks accordingly.
Initiative
A leader should work to be the motivator, an initiator. He/she must be a key element in the planning and implementing of new ideas, programs, policies, events, etc
creativity
motivation
helpful
handle
asset other
Leader has a vision, leader is not involved in daily business transactions but he keeps a tab on all what's impacting the organization.
he mentors people in the organization and always strives for proficient back ups in case of sudden and uninformed attritions.
He always walk with people in the chain with a clear target related to organizational benefits.
Leader doesn't pin point the people and comes in front to own then accountability and then charts out the action plan to resolve the issue.
Effective leaders know the organization’s overall purpose and goals, and the agreed-upon strategies to achieve these goals; they also know how their team fits into the big picture, and the part they play in helping the organization grow and thrive. Full knowledge of your organization – inside and out – is vital to becoming an effective leader.
Knowing your areas of weakness does not make you weak; on the contrary, it allows you to delegate to others who have those abilities, in order to achieve the common goal. Rather than clinging to the false belief that they can do it all, great leaders hire people who complement, rather than supplement, their skills. Working on your areas of weaknesses will improve your leadership ability – and recognizing them makes you more human.
an effective leaders must have leading personality, good communication skill, management skill, how to manage group,
A good leader is one who takes his team along with him and while doing so he appreciates and encourages good work.
