Leadership and Supervision, Employee Participation, Interpersonal and Group Dynamics, Managing Change & Conflict, Organizational Development and Training.
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Q.
What do you understand by Leadership? Discuss the functions of Leadership?
Ans.: Keith Davis - “Leadership is the ability to persuade others
to seek defined objectives enthusiastically. It is the human factor which binds
the group together and motivates it towards goal.”
Keys and
Case – “Leadership is the process of
influencing and supporting others to work enthusiastically towards achieving
objectives.”
Weihrich
and Koontz – “Leadership is the art or process
of influencing people so that they will strive willingly and enthusiastically
towards the achievement of group goals.”
Thus leadership is the process and the art influencing the
behaviour, attitudes, activities of people to work willingly and
enthusiastically towards the accomplishment of group goals.
Functions of Leadership:
I.
Guides or Inspires or Motivates
II.
Boosts Morals
III.
Creates Confidence and Enthusiasm
IV.
Develops Team Spirit
V.
Creates Vision and Initiative
VI.
Transforms Potential into Reality
VII.
Sincerity and Honesty
VIII.
Courage and Will Power
IX.
Flexible and Dynamic
X.
Emotional Stability i.e. Maturity
XI.
Sound Judgment
XII.
Tact and Humour
XIII.
Education and Knowledge
XIV.
Conceptual Skills
XV.
Administrative Skills
XVI.
Analytical Skills
XVII.
Human Relations Skills
XVIII.
Technical Skills
Q. Explain the various styles of Leadership.
Ans.: Leadership style is the
general way or pattern of behaviour of a leader towards his followers in order
to influence their behaviour to attain a goal.
The main styles of leadership are as
follows:-
(1) Autocratic and Authoritarian
Leadership: An autocratic leader is one who centralizes power and make all the
decisions himself. He tells his followers what to do and expects to be obeyed
without questions. Thus, such a leader imposes his will on his followers.
Autocratic leaders may be of two types:-
(i) Pure Autocratic
or Negative Leader : He is a director and makes all decisions himself. He
superimposes his decisions on his subordinates. He uses fear of punishment or
penalty to carry out his decisions. Thus, it is a negative leadership.
(ii) Benevolent
Autocrat or Positive Leader : When an autocrat leader avoids negative
coercive power and uses reward power to influence his subordinates, he is
called a benevolent autocrat leader. Such a leader shows active concern for the
feelings and welfare of his subordinates.
(2) Participative/ Democrative Leadership: Participative leaders
decentralize authority. Such leaders involve subordinates in decision making
process. The leaders and their group members work as a social unit. They freely
exchange their views and express opinions and suggestions.
(3) Free Rein or Laissez Faire Leadership Style : Such a leader
completely delegates his authority to his subordinates and allow them to make
their own plans, procedures and decisions. He simply aids his subordinates in
performing their job. He exist as a contact person with the subordinates
external environment. Free rein leadership style is permissive and leader least
intervenes his subordinates. The leader remains passive observer but intervenes
only during the crisis. Free rein leadership is suitable where subordinates are
highly competent and duty conscious.
(4) Paternalistic Leadership: A paternalistic leadership is
authoritarian by nature. It is heavily work centered but has consideration
after his subordinates the way father looks after his children. Such a leader
helps, guide and encourages his subordinates to work together as member of a
family. The subordinate in turn tend to remain submissive and faithful.
Q.3 Discuss the different theories
of Leadership.
Answer: Several
theories of leadership have been developed by management theoreticians. These
theories may be classified into three categories.
1)
Personality Theories
2)
Behavioral Theories
3)
Situational or Contingency Theories
1) Personality
Theories: Personality theories are theories that focus on the personal
qualities or traits of leader. Such theories include the following:-
i.
Great Man Theory
ii.
Trait Theory
i. Great Man theory of Leadership:
Great man theory of leadership claims that “Leaders are born, not made”.
Leadership qualities are inherited or carried in genes. Leadership qualities
cannot be acquired or developed through education or training.
ii. Trait Theory of Leadership: This
theory states that there are certain unique traits or qualities essential for
successful leader. Any person who wants to be a successful leader must posses
those traits. This theory emphasizes that those traits need not necessarily be
inborn but may be acquired through education, training and practice.
2) Behavioural Theory
of Leadership: Behavioural theory focuses on what the leaders do i.e. on
the actual behaviour of the leader. Behavioural theory is based on the premise
that effective leadership is the result of effective behaviour of the leader.
Success of leadership depends on the behaviour of the leader and not on his
traits.
A particular behaviour pattern of a leader (functional
behaviour) makes him a successful leader and its opposite (dysfunctional) would
reject him as a leader. The functional dimensions include setting goals,
motivating employees towards achievement of goals, making effective
communication and interaction, building team spirit etc. The dysfunctional
dimensions of leaders behaviour include in ability to accept subordinates
ideas, poor communication and ineffective interaction, poor, human relations
etc.
(3) Situational /
Contingency Approach : The situational approach of a
leadership emphasis that emergence and success of a leader is largely
determined by supranational factors This theory stresses that a
leadership behaviour which is effective under the particular situation may be
ineffective under the other. These are several different situational models of
leadership have been developed. Fiedler’s contingency model, path goal model,
Blanchard’s model etc.
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