Leadership Should Benefit Both Leader and Lead
8 days ago
3 min read

Leadership Should Benefit Both Leader and Lead

Photo by Jehyun Sung on Unsplash
Photo by Jehyun Sung on Unsplash

"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 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 the 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 based on their concern for "production" (represented along the X-axis in a graph) and "people" (represented along the 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 themself by avoiding trouble.

  • The accommodating manager (1,9) has a serious concern for people but little for production. Though the resulting climate is friendly, it might need to be more productive.

  • The dictatorial manager (9,1) is concerned only with production and seeks to get people to produce by offering them money and through strict rules and punishments. Such a style is more suited in crises, as when a firm is failing.

  • The status quo manager (5,5) seeks to balance production requirements and people's needs. However, compromising on both might be met satisfactorily.

  • The sound manager (9,9) is highly concerned with production and people. This type of manager encourages teamwork and tries to make employees feel 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 the most significant 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.

  • The initiative involves starting actions and driving and supporting others

  • Inquiry consists of questioning, researching, and checking the 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 consists of coping with setbacks, problems, and failures

  • Critique consists of 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 the achievement-oriented, directive, participative, or supportive leadership style depending on the characteristics of the group they deal with. Managing changes and conflict resolution are typical and challenging 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 essential characteristic of leadership is identifying the right thing to do in different situations. Success is the cumulative result of correct 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 the right decisions and motivate his team to execute those decisions.

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