The Success and Competence of a Leader - Assignment Example

?3. Leadership Potential. Discuss the common measures, and best practices, in measuring leadership success. Propose one additional theory that you would utilize to evaluate the success, or competence, of a leader. Answer: Leadership can be considered as the most critical factor while analyzing the success of an organization. It is difficult to measure and assess leadership potential as it cannot be calculated by any tool neither it can be measured in a specific value. It can only be analyzed by customers’ and employees’ satisfaction. This indicates that the organization’s leadership is communicating the vision of the company in a right way. Measuring Leadership: Leadership potential can be analyzed on the basis of the skills present in a person who is willing to take the role as a leader. It is imperative for a leader to know the vision of his organization in a clear manner. He should be aware of the vision and the values from the core. A leader should be aware of his strengths and weaknesses. He should know how to positively use his strengths as tools to win the situation and how to overcome the weaknesses to gain power and authority. Training and development are the essential components in measuring the leadership skills and to enhance them further. A leader should know how to build trust and how to develop flawless interpersonal relations with the employees or the subordinates. Situational Theory: Situational theory can be very helpful for the leaders to select the best course of action that are dependent on the situation and the circumstances. This gives an edge to the leader to make decisions after analyzing the gravity of the situation and the circumstances (Hughes, Ginnett, and Curphy, 2012. For example, in a situation where the leader possesses greater knowledge and information than his subordinates, then adapting an authoritarian style would be more appropriate. Similarly, in a situation where the employees or the subordinates are more knowledgeable than the leader, then a democratic style would be more suitable for the leader to adapt. 4. Leadership Values. Discuss the role of values, ethics, and morals in leadership. Research for a specific example of a true leader (someone who “does the right thing”). Use known examples of behaviors exhibiting high values, ethics and morals. Answer: The Role of Values, Ethics and Morals in Leadership: Leaders are subjected to perform the “right things” in a right way. These right things should be morally and ethically right. A true leader seeks truth and rightly justification before taking any decision. A leader may fail to inspire his followers if he undermines the value of ethics, moral and truth in his actions. It is imperative for a leader to have a strong ethics and moral values in his personality. Values and ethics help a leader to develop moral conscience and without these basic elements, a leader cannot demonstrate true leadership. These elements define the level of trust between the leaders and the followers. Values help a leader to construct a positive behavior and personality. On the other hand, ethics enable a leader to commence the right conduct and to be more thoughtful in his actions and decisions. Leaders use moral reasoning to make decisions between what is right and what is wrong. Values play a central role in developing moral reasoning (Hughes, Ginnett, and Curphy, 2012). Martin Luther King, Jr. can be stated as a true leader who inspired his followers with his leadership based on moral and ethical values. He raised his voice against discrimination and was known in the history for the liberation of African-American nationals in America. His leadership revolved around nonviolence actions against racial inequality. He received Nobel Peace Prize due to his sincere efforts and true leadership. Some other known examples of behaviors exhibiting values, morals and ethics can be unbiased decisions by leaders, choosing the same for the followers what one chooses for oneself, valuing honesty without any fear and making right judgments. Leaders such as Gandhi, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Steve Jobs and many more can be considered as true leaders in their own spheres. 5.Leadership Behavior. Provide an overview of two leadership behavioral studies, concentrating on their implications to better understand a leader. Additionally, discuss strategies and methods an individual may consider to change their behavior and enhance their leadership abilities. Answer: Behavioral theories of leadership are centered towards analyzing the behaviors of a leader. It has been observed that behavior is a key determent to analyze the success of any leader or to predict the leadership influences. Behaviors can yield different responses under different situations. We have Great Man Theory which tells us that leaders are not made they are born with certain qualities needed for leadership. Similarly, Trait theory gives an insight that how we can evaluate the leadership potential and on the other hand, we have behavioral theories which tell us that how leaders can be shaped by teaching them to learn the most appropriate behavior under any situation. There are two important behavioral studies that were carried out by Ohio State University in 1940 and University of Michigan in 1950 (Hughes, Ginnett, and Curphy 2012).. According to the behavioral studies conducted by Ohio State University (1940), leaders can be categorized on the basis of their behaviors. The results produced after the research produced two kinds of groups: 1- People Oriented Behavioral Leaders Such type of leaders focuses more on satisfying their staff and keeping their level of motivation quite high. They focus more on developing relationships with their subordinates. For them accomplishment of the tasks and the results are of dire importance. They are: Encouraging/ Motivating Good at Observing Listening Patiently Help in training and development of their employees 2- Task Oriented Leaders This type of leaders focuses more on the organizational structure. They like to dominate the other people. They are more concerned with operating procedures. They have little interest in motivating their staff. They are more concerned with: - Initiating the tasks - Organizing them - Simplifying -Focused on gathering information However, University of Michigan (1950) proposed three essential components of effective leadership. We have already discussed the two above. The third one revolves around the concept of participative leadership which is needed for getting better results and success. This type of leadership encourages high trust and communication among the employees, subordinates and the leader. Each of them knows how their keen involvement can produce better results. How to enhance leadership skills: A leader can enhance his leadership by: - Measuring his performance - Analyzing his strengths and behaviors - Encouraging employees -Observing - Understanding the needs of his employees -Developing high level of trust. 6. Leadership Relations. A critical component of a leader’s success is their ability to develop effective relationships with their superiors, their co-workers, and their subordinates. Propose and discuss at least three strategies a leader should adopt to enhance their relationships with superiors, co-workers and subordinates. Answer: For leaders to enhance their relationships with superiors, co-workers and subordinates, they should consider the following three strategies: 1- Building Trust with the Employees: The leaders should focus on building trust with the employees and other subordinates to develop a smooth flow of communication and interpersonal relations with them. Building trust with the employees or the followers can only be attained if the leaders develop selfless behavior on moral and ethical values in their actions. Leaders have to be free from their selfish agendas to purpose their mission statement that could benefit their followers. Trust enhances the intensity of a relationship. Building trust with the followers will help them to become successful, to build strong relations with the employees and to overcome hurdles with mutual consent. 2- To Enhance Communication: To establish effective leadership and relationship with the followers or the subordinates, leaders need to establish enhanced communication with them. For leaders, it is important to transmit and receive information in an accurate manner. Communication is an art that leaders need to master in it. They can communicate their agendas, ideas and feelings more appropriately through communication. Effective communication enables them to build stronger trust and relationship. It is directly related with the employee satisfaction. 3- To Encourage Participation: Leaders should learn to encourage participation. They should make their followers feel connected with them. Followers want them to be heard and encouraged in the meetings. This strategy draws strong bond between both of them. List of References: Hughes, Richard L, Robert C. Ginnett, Gordon J. Curphy. (2012). Leadership: enhancing the lesions of experience (7th Ed.). McGraw- Hill/ Irwin: New York Read More