Leadership: Definition, Features & Importance in Management

Leadership

 

 

Concept of Leadership

Leadership is the process of influencing the behavior of other people to work willingly towards the achievement of specified goals in a given situation. Leadership is required in every organization. The success of an organization depends to a great extent on the quality of leadership, particularly on the part of the top management. Leadership is an important element of the directing process (i.e., to lead and guide the activities of subordinates) of the management. Managers at all levels act as leaders because they have subordinates who follow them. Leadership is the ability to build up confidence and zeal among subordinates and to create an urge in them to be led. The power of leadership is the power of integrating.

Some definitions of leadership given by eminent management experts are as follows:

• According to Koontz and O'Donnell, "Leadership is the ability of a manager to induce subordinates to work with confidence and zeal."
• According to Alford and Beatty, "Leadership is the ability to secure desirable actions from a group of followers voluntarily, without the use of coercion."
• According to George R. Terry, "Leadership is the activity of influencing people to strive willingly for group objectives."
• According to R. Dubin, "Leadership is the exercise of authority and making of decisions."
• According to James and Orlando, "Leadership is an influence process in which the leader seeks the voluntary participation of subordinates to reach organizational objectives."
• According to Ralph M. Stodill, "Leadership is a process of directing and influencing the task-related activities of group members."

Characteristics (or Features) of Leadership

A few remarkable features of leadership can be derived from the following points: 

1. Influencing process:- Leadership is an influencing and inspiring process. The leader directs of his subordinates s (or followers) towards the attainment of organizational goals. Effectiveness depends on how much influence a leader can exert over his followers. 

2. Coexistence with the followers:- Leadership presupposes the existence of followers. Leader requires leading and guiding his followers. The leader has no existence without followers. The leader exercises his authority (or power) to influence the working behavior of his followers.

3. Reciprocal relationship:- The reciprocal relationship between a leader and his followers is one of the important characteristics of leadership. This relationship is created on account of regular interaction between them. Since a leader influences his followers, the followers may exercise some influence on the leader.

4. Cooperation of followers:- Leadership presupposes the existence of followers. A leader guides and direction his followers. He convinces his followers about the goals and policies of the group. He leads in all activities win over the confidence and cooperation of his followers. The essence of leadership is followership.

5. Achieving common goals:- A leader motivates the followers to work for achieving common goals. He explains these goals to his followers clearly, so as to get their maximum cooperation for attaining pr determined objectives. Leadership can exist only when the leader and the followers strive for common goals. Effective leadership makes his followers to act willingly to achieve the organizational goal.

6. Situation bound:- Any leadership is highly situational. The effectiveness of a leader is greatly influenced by situational variables. A particular style of leadership may be successful in one situation but may fail in another situation. The leader has to modify his approach and style of functioning according to the demands of the situation. 

7. Acquainting feelings of the followers:- The leader should be well-acquainted with the feelings and the problems of his followers the leader should always keep watch over the means of stylings and the Individual needs of the followers. Therefore, leadership is a shared function. A good leader share ideas, opinions, experience, etc., with his followers.

8. Authority (or power) based process:- Leadership is an authority (or power) based process. A leader needs adequate power to influence the behavior of his followers and their performance. Normally, a leader derives his power from the formal authority chain exists in the organization.

9. Self-awareness and exemplary conduct:- The action and conduct of a leader have great influence on the behavioral pattern of his followers. In fact, leadership depends on strategic competence and individual attributes. It is essential for a leader to become conscious about his own conduct and behavior. It is the duty of a leader to set good example of his own behavioral pattern. This may serve as an inspiring lesson among his subordinates. He should guide and stimulate his subordinates to great deeds.

10. Dynamic process:- Leadership is a dynamic and ever-changing process. No particular style of leadership is effective in all situations. An effective leader must have the adaptability to changing situations and must exercise his leadership accordingly. Leadership styles do change under different circumstances. The effectiveness of leadership depends heavily on the situational variables.

11. Continuous process:- Leadership is a continuous (or on-going) process. It involves regular interaction between the leader and his followers. An effective leader is one who not only secures a desired form of behavior from his subordinates, but also creates a sense of satisfaction among them on a continuous basis. A leader continuously makes efforts to influence behavior of his subordinates through two-way communication process.

12. Assumption of responsibility:- It is necessary for a leader to accept full responsibility in the exercise of authority over his followers. The effective leader is one who is capable of satisfying personal needs, wants, and interests of his followers. Assumption of responsibility should work for redressing all grievances of the followers and preparing the necessary ground for team-work.

Characteristics (or Features) of Leadership

Importance (or Significance) of  Leadership in Management 

Leadership may be regarded as an important part of the managing process. The success of an enterprise depends to a great extent upon effective leadership. The importance of leadership can be understood from the following points:

1. Guiding and inspiring subordinates:- The leader creates an urge among his subordinates for higher performance. The leader helps in motivating the employees for the accomplishment of organizational objectives. A good leader influences the behavior of employees by improving their morale. A leader shows the way and guides his subordinates towards group accomplishment. He creates enthusiasm for higher performance among his followers.

2. Securing cooperation of the employees:- Leadership serves as a motive power to group efforts. The leader creates team spirit and coordination among different members of the group. The leader persuades employees to work unitedly and enthusiastically towards the attainment of organizational goals.

3. Creating confidence among employees:- A good leader creates confidence among the employ res by his conduct and expression. He provides guidance, support, and help to his subordinates in their day-to-day work. In this way, a leader provides psychological support among his employees, so that they can realize their capabilities and potentials. A good leader can infuse a spirit of enthusiasm among his employees.

4. Creating conducive work environment:- The leader develops an environment for the employees too contribute their maximum efforts towards the realization of organizational goals. The leader maintains a rapport with the employees, which helps in creating an environment of mutual help and trust. Effective leadership can create a productive work environment where employees can work with pleasure.

5. Intermediary between subordinates and management:- The leader acts as an intermediary be his subordinates and the higher-level management. He communicates the expectations of the management to his subordinates. He carries the grievances of his subordinates to the top management and tries to convince them.

6. Representing the members:- The leader is a representative of members led by him. The leader attempts to protect and promote the interests of members. The real leader is one who is capable of satisfying personal needs, wants, and the interests of the members. He also protects the interests of his subordinates against any outside challenge and threat.

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