The Key Factors that Contribute to Leadership - Essay Example

? The Key Factors That Contribute To Leadership and Evaluate Critically the Extent to Which Leadership Is Linked To Organizational Performance Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Critical evaluation of the article (Ogbonna & Harris, 2000) 3 Conclusion 6 References 7 Introduction In this age of stiff economic downturn and tough competitive scenario, sustainability is the most essential requirement. This is because an organization may not retain its portfolio or effectiveness in the market among other rival players without following the process of sustainability. However, this might be possible only with the help of the recruitment of an experienced and talented leader or manager within the organization. Leader is an individual that assists and motivates his or her followers or employees to work for a common goal. Not only this, a leader might inspire the employees or followers to improve their level of performance so as to enhance the level of productivity or reputation of the organization. Therefore, it might be stated that a leader is the most influential person within the organization, who includes high judgment power to evaluate the changing needs and demands of the customers and the situations as a whole. So, a leader is extremely essential for an organization (Stacey, 2012, pp. 54-62). Critical evaluation of the article (Ogbonna & Harris, 2000) A leader is an individual, who works with highly confident outlook and optimistic viewpoint in order to cope up with the challenges of this competitive age. Other than this, a leader might comprise of the power to motivate and stimulate the inner morale and interest of the followers or employees so as to enhance the performance of the organization (Tushman & Anderson, 2004, pp. 35-39). As a result, it might prove effective for the organization to improve its image and equity in the market among other rival players. Apart from this, the leader might comprise of the ability to clearly delegate all the responsibilities to his followers or employees so that the level of conflicts among the members reduces and accuracy enhances (Von Stamm, 2008, pp. 178-189). A leader might include the ability to effectively communicate his or her ideas and information among the followers or employees so as to analyse their viewpoints. This might prove effective for the organization to reduce varied types of conflicts and misunderstandings thereby enhancing consistency and uniqueness. The leader might also be extremely tactful with high thinking ability and determination so that, he might become able to take perfect decisions at accurate time. Therefore due to presence of such types of qualities, a leader might help an organization to enhance the net income and profitability among other rival players (McInerney, 2011, pp. 56-69). In this age of tough competition, an organization needs to have a leader with high controlling and tackling power so as to enhance the competitiveness of the organization in future era. Such types of qualities are viewed within the bureaucratic leaders that help in stimulating the confidence of the employees or followers in order to achieve the goals or targets of the organization (Ogbonna & Harris, 2000, pp.767-770). Only then, the brand equity and popularity of the organization might get enhanced thereby amplifying the profitability and productivity in the market among other rival players. Apart from this, a leader with extreme determination and thinking ability is also equally essential in order to tackle the situational changes (Sadler, 2003, pp. 178-190). Such types of qualities are present within the autocratic or authoritarian style or situational leadership style. As a result of which, the organization might undergo vivid planning and scheduling activities so as to mitigate the threats or challenges in an effective way. This might prove effective for the organization to retain its prosperity and values in the market in-spite of extreme situational distress. As a result, the rate of reliability and trust of the customers over this specific brand enhances thereby amplifying its portfolio (McKimm & Philips, 2009, pp. 116-128). Other than this, in order to retain the dominance and supremacy of an organization in this aggressive market, a leader with extreme creativity and intelligence is extremely essential. Such types of qualities are present within a participative style of leadership and it might help in introducing varied types of innovative products or services for the customers. As a result, such innovations and development might easily fulfil the changing trends and requirements of the customers thereby amplifying their level of loyalty over the brand (Isaksen & Tiddy, 2006, pp. 45-69). This might enhance the base of customers of the organization thereby increasing its profit margin and productivity in the market among other brands. Moreover, a leader might also include the ability to motivate his followers or employees by presenting them the opportunity to act according to their desires. Such type of quality is seen within laissez-faire leaders and such types of leaders are also described as the friends of other members and so he might easily stimulate them towards any specific goal or target (Davenport, 2005, pp. 134-145). Therefore, from above mentioned points it might be depicted that leaders are the prime requirement of the organization and they are essential to mitigate the threats of the situations such as (low market share, bankruptcy, financial crisis, new entrants, economic downturn, threat of new substitute products and many others). However, such types of qualities are also viewed within the leadership style of Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple Inc. His high judgmental and motivating power helped the organization of Apple to enhance its production capability and performance (Burns, 2012, pp. 156-168). And such qualities also helped Apple Inc to develop ipod, iPad and iphone5 that amplified its position and reputation in the market among others. Other than this, in order to tackle the competitive situation, Steve Jobs introduced MacBook Pro in the year 2006 that proved extremely effective for the organization of Apple Inc. Larry Page of Google can be considered as another example. The company had to face storms from the market factors but still Larry Page continued to do what he thought best and it finally paid off. He made Google an easy place to work in and the management team are considered as team players. So, these are clear examples of contingency theories of leadership. Thus, it might be depicted that leadership style is the most essential requirement, without which an organization may not sustain. Conclusion Conclusively, it might be described that leadership qualities or style act as the cornerstone of an organization that might mitigate the threats and increase the loyalty or market value among others. As a result, an organization may not retain its effectiveness or portfolio in the market, if an effective leader is not recruited. Therefore, such a scenario might be clearly revealed within the leadership style of Steve Jobs that enhanced the effectives of the organization of Apple Inc in the entire globe among others. References Burns, J, M. (2012). Leadership. New York : Springer. Davenport, T, H. (2005). Thinking for a living: How to get better performance and results from knowledge workers. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. Isaksen, S. & Tiddy, J. (2006). Meeting the Innovation Challenge: Leadership for Transformation and growth. Chichester: Wiley Press. McInerney, S. (2011). Steve Jobs: an unconventional leader. [Online] Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/management/steve-jobs-an-unconventional-leader-20111007-1lcmo.html [Accessed on 7 December, 2013]. McKimm, J. & Philips, K. (2009). Leadership and Management in Integrated Services. London: Springer. Ogbonna, E. & Harris, L, O. (2000). Leadership style, organizational culture and performance: empirical evidence from UK companies. International Journal of Human Resource Management, vol.11, no.4 , pp. 766–788. Sadler, P. (2003). Leadership. New York: Cengage Learning. Stacey, R, D. (2012). Tools and Techniques of Leadership and Management: Meeting the Challenge of complexity. New York: Cengage Learning. Tushman, M. L.& Anderson, P. (2004), Managing Strategic Innovation and' Change. New York: Oxford University Press. Von Stamm, B. (2008). Managing lnnovation, Design and Creativity. Chichester: Wiley. Read More