Leadership Should Benefit both Leader and Led

Team Building in which everyone contributes is a Good Example

Aug 3, 2009 Gopinathan Thachappilly

"Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen" (Alan Keith of Genentech).

It has also been defined as a kind of social influence that makes people follow the leader. For example, followers might find that the leader can help their sense of well-being and security. There are also styles of leading, such as authoritarian (leader dictates and expects absolute obedience), democratic (members discuss and arrive at a consensus, with technical help from leader) and laissez faire (members make policy and there is minimal involvement on the part of the leader).

Leadership and Management

In the context of business organizations, leaders have been graded on the basis of their concern for "production" (represented along X-axis in a graph) and "people" (represented along Y-axis). This model, known as the managerial grid model, groups managers under different categories.

• The indifferent manager (1,1) has low concern for both people and production, and is more concerned about protecting himself/herself by avoiding trouble
• The accommodating manager (1,9) has high concern for people but little for production. Though the resulting climate is friendly, it might not be very productive
• The dictatorial manager (9,1) is concerned only with production, and seeks to get people produce by offering them money, and through strict rules and punishments. Such a style is more suited in crisis situations as when a firm is failing
• The status quo manager (5,5) seeks to balance production requirements and people's needs. However, by compromising to some extent on both, neither might be met satisfactorily
• The sound manager (9,9) has high concern for both production and people. This type of manager encourages teamwork and tries to make employees feel that they are part of the company
• The opportunistic manager (no specific grid position) has no fixed pattern of behavior and instead adopts one that offers greatest personal benefit
• The paternalistic manager (alternates between 1,9 and 9,1) uses praise and support, but does not allow any challenge

The grid theory looks at behavior in a business context, and identifies seven elements.

• Initiative involves starting actions, and driving and supporting others
• Inquiry involves questioning, researching and checking correctness of understanding
• Advocacy involves expressing convictions and supporting ideas
• Decision making involves evaluating resources, alternatives and likely results
• Conflict resolution involves facing disagreements and working to resolve them
• Resilience involves coping with setbacks, problems and failures
• Critique involves providing objective and frank reviews

Leadership Skills

According to the situational theory, there is no universal profile for leaders. Different leadership styles suit different situations. For example, a manager might adopt achievement-oriented, directive, participative or supportive style of leading depending on the characteristics of the group he or she deals with. Managing changes and conflict resolution are typical, and usually tough, tasks leaders are often called upon.

Leadership functions can also be seen to involve:

• Monitoring the environment
• Organizing group activities
• Teaching and coaching
• Motivating
• Active intervention in the work

Subordinates look at the leader's concern for them, and also for clear directions in the form of performance expectations and clarification of their roles and responsibilities.

An important characteristic of leadership is the ability to identify the right thing to do in different situations. Success is the cumulative result of right decisions. Execution of wrong decisions, even if the execution is done right, will not lead to success. The ideal leader is a person who can make right decisions and motivate his team to execute those decisions.

Leadership is a rather fluid term with several definitions. Some focus on individual traits, others on situations, yet others on the functions performed for successful leading and then there are discussions on leadership styles. Leadership development and training is likely to be more effective if all the different viewpoints and their relevance are examined. Making right decisions, team building and good communication and change management skills are definitely key requirements.

The copyright of the article Leadership Should Benefit both Leader and Led in Business Management is owned by Gopinathan Thachappilly. Permission to republish Leadership Should Benefit both Leader and Led in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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