A Good Leader Will Always Make a Good Manager - Literature review Example

Report: A Good Leader will always make a Good Manager Abstract This report critically evaluates the statement that, “a good leader will always make a good manager”. According to various studies, a good leader is able to manage organizations in the right manner by encouraging increased production and innovation while observing the interests of his employees. This report evaluates how a good leader will always be a good manager in a business organization setting. Introduction Normally, organizations refer to their executives and members of boards as the leadership team. However, not all managers or members of board are leaders though they all influence employees and direct work. Leaders carry out their functions differently as compared to managers hence managers do not always qualify to be leaders. Leadership is the ability to influence a group of individuals in order to achieve a common goal. On the other hand, management can be defined as the science of planning, organizing, directing, staffing and controlling with the aim of meeting organizational goals and objectives. The statement that a good leader will always make a good manager is true. The qualities of good leadership if possessed by a manager of a business organization will lead to good planning, organizing, directing, staffing and controlling thus leading to the success of an organization according to Kotelnikov (2001). Effective Thinking by a Good Leader According to Fenton (1990), a good leader thinks radically and is more emotional thus being able to consider the interests of all stakeholders especially employees while making decisions. Moreover, good leaders make their decisions based on facts but not chauvinism and as a result, they have a preference for innovation. Good leaders usually develop goals for their organizations and ensure that they are attainable and well understood by all internal and external stakeholders. In a business organization, setting goals is one of the major factors that determine success in the market. Once realistic goals are set and well communicated to employees, motivation among employees goes high leading to increased production. A good leader usually develops short-term goals and long-term goals for the organization by the help of other leaders and employee representatives. As Jolet (2009) puts it, short-term goals entail the organizational goals which ought to be attained within a short period of time normally not exceeding two years. However, long-term goals entail those organizational goals which require a longer period of time in order to be achieved. Questions are likely to arise within an organization if there are no well defined goals to be achieved. Good Leaders Develop Realistic Goals Many uncompetitive managers who don’t have leadership qualities assume that employees can perform as expected provided that there are proper job descriptions. However, though job descriptions are important, they can’t be substituted by goals. The job descriptions don’t portray standards or priorities. According to Mathias (2006, p.91), goals are very important because they express to employees what the management expects of them. As a result, employees put more effort in order to achieve the goals. Performance appraisal of the organization, groups and individuals is very crucial within an organization. However, this can not be effectively achieved if smart goals are not established. Through goals, managers are able to evaluate the performance of the organization. Jolet (2009) asserts that, during evaluation of an organization, when the goals are found to have been achieved, the managers are certain that the management strategies employed are effective and need not to be changed. Comparison of goals and real position of the organization enables managers to identify management strategies which are not productive and replace them with more competitive strategies. According to Jolet (2009), “Specifically, goals give order and structure in all of our lives. Goals allow us to measure our progress. We need to feel that we are not just standing still, but moving toward our destination and always getting closer.” When goals are present within an organization, employees and managers feel that a purpose has been accomplished. Goals draw future picture of the organization hence enabling every manager and employee to strive to achieve them. Goals motivate individuals and give them the achievement pride. Without goals nothing will ever be achieved. If individuals fail to finish what they start, they feel frustrated. Setting goals helps in minimizing the frustration since individuals are able to understand that they are getting closer to their goals. These benefits can only be achieved if the manager of an organization is a good leader. Effective Administration Support is a Major Quality of Good Leader In order to build a productive workforce which meets the requirement of professional ethics and interests of the organization, a good leader provides effective administrative support. Good leaders usually have a clear vision so as to enable staffs to get acquainted with roles that they need to play in order to achieve the vision. As a result, a good manager needs to be visionary and cheerleader who see beyond the normal daily routine to a vision of what should be attained. According to the article of Building effective teams (2008), good leaders also participate in development and operational activities in order to be aware of problems which are experienced by staffs. In this regard, a manager with the qualities of a good leader will always understand the issues being faced by employees thus being in a position to handle them in the right time and in the right manner. Administrative support is an important aspect which needs to be employed within an organization in order to achieve the desired goals. Good leaders normally gain respect from their followers because they take responsibility in areas which the managers fail to take. Good leaders take the blame on behalf of the group if the group does not achieve a certain goal. Moreover, good leaders are normally happy with the group achievements even if they are minor hence motivating their followers. Accordingly, good leaders give credit to its followers where it is due. These are qualities which are very crucial in enhancing motivation and innovation spirit in an organization. Thus a manager who possesses these qualities is likely to be a good leader according to Braun (1954, p. 97). A Good Leader Embraces Teamwork Spirit Good leaders are normally followed by members through their own choice. Though leaders may fail to possess organizational skills, their vision unites and encourages people behind them. Leaders view other members of the group as followers who need to be directed in order to achieve the group’s desired goals. A good leader always aims at establishing and maintaining a vitalizing team spirit which is very crucial for success of an organization. Teamwork spirit within an organization is a major factor which contributes to effective achievement of organizational goals. Team spirit enables employees to feel like a significant part of an organization. As a result, high team spirit enables employees to put more efforts to achieve the goals of the organization. This ensures that teams within an organization are successful and successful teams definitely lead to organizational success as asserted by Jolet (2009). Vitalizing team spirit is a major factor to ensure the effectiveness of teams within an organization. Setting up a group of employees to work as a team does not necessarily guarantee that employees will feel like a team. Conflicts are likely to occur within a team due to different cultural backgrounds, working styles and personalities of team members. As a result, cycles of negativity and complaining can be triggered thus weakening morale and team spirit. Productivity of a group depends on the feelings of group members towards the group and how well the managers of the group execute their duties and handle conflicts. A good leader always solves conflicts among employees amicably without favor as put across by O’Brien (2006, p.75). As good leaders, managers are required to prepare to vitalize team spirit by acting proactively to establish management styles and work environments that are favorable to the employees. Humor is one of the most powerful tools used by good leaders to vitalize team spirit. Humor is very significant because group members work effectively to attain a common goal especially where there are expectations for high performance. In various work settings where managers initiate humor, the managers have resulted integral part of socially cohesive groups. As Bass (2006, p.49) puts it, the status difference of members of groups is normally reduced by humor of the managers. A Good Leader as a Risk Taker Good leaders are usually risk takers though they are not blind thrill seekers. When leaders are pursuing their vision, they consider it normal to encounter problems that must be overcome. Good leaders are comfortable with risk hence they view routes that managers have avoided as potential opportunities which need to be utilized in order to attain the organizational goal effectively. Opportunities which promise high incomes in future are usually accompanied by high risks. As a result, managers who are good leaders are likely to evaluate opportunities positively without fearing the risks involved. For instance, business operations are usually accompanied by various risks thus a manager who is not a risk taker is likely to fail. However, as a good leader, a manager is likely to prosper in the competitive market surrounded by many risks as described by Bass (2006, p. 55). A Good Leader uses Transformational Leadership Style Besides, according to Bass (2006, p.56), good leaders use charismatic or transformational style to lead their followers in order to achieve the groups’ desired goals. Leaders believe that telling followers on what to do does not encourage them to follow but one must appeal to them by showing them on how the actions will satisfy a desired objective. Charismatic people find it easier to attract others to their cause. In order to persuade others, leaders promise transformational benefits such that those who follow will not only receive extrinsic rewards but also become better people. In order for a team to be successful, flexibility of their leader in handling matters is very crucial. A good leader is always flexible and considers environmental factors prevailing and interests of its followers before ruling on a certain issue. In addition, a good leader knows how to deal with problems arising due to different ideas portrayed by different members. Humor helps to ease the tension and increase the vitality of employee bonds. Managers are entitled to encourage employees to view the difference in ideas among group members as opportunities but not threats. This can only be attained within an organization if the managers are good leaders since good leaders possess these crucial qualities as McGhee (n.d) argues. Though humor is an effective method of breaking the barriers existing within a team, it can have negative impact if not effectively applied. A manager needs to possess the qualities of a good leader in order to apply humor in the most productive manner. For instance, if a manager utilizes jokes to extend that he/she fails to utilize his/her authority in situation where necessary; the employees may fail to respect such a manager. In order to avoid such an incidence, as good leaders, managers should ensure that only positive forms of humor are utilized within a team. The general rule for managers to motivate employees through humor is to avoid any form of taunting humor in working environment as asserted by Wueste (1994, p.101). As McGhee (n.d) puts it, “Even though you know you’re only joking, it’s just a matter of time before someone is offended. And this immediately begins to disrupt smooth team performance.” A good leader is usually aware of boundaries of which he/she should not cross in order to maintain respect and motivation among employees. Motivation among employees is very crucial in an organization since it boosts the output of employees thus resulting to increased productivity within the organization. Conclusion It is evident that a good leader will always make a good manager. The qualities possessed by a good leader are crucial in boosting the productivity of an organization while considering the interests of other major stakeholders such as employees. Good leaders usually develop realistic and well communicated goals and vision. Good leaders also provide administrative support to their followers and build teamwork spirit to enhance the productivity of their organizations and create a good working condition. Being a risk taker and use of transformational leadership style is very crucial in enhancing competitiveness of an organization. For a manager to be successful, he must possess the qualities of a good leader. Thus a good leader will always make a good manager. References Bass, M 2006, Transformational leadership, Routledge, London. Braun, C, 1954, Management and leadership, Braun & Co, New York. Building effective teams, 2008, Viewed on January 12, 2010, . Jolet, D 2009, The importance of goals Viewed on January 12, 2010, . Fenton, J 1990, ‘101 ways to boost your business performance’, Mandarin Business Journal, vol. 31, no.2, p.113. Kotelnikov, V 2001, To lead or to manage, Viewed on January 12, 2010, < http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/leadership_vs_mgmt.html>. Mathis, R 2006, Human resource management, Thomson, ISBN 0324289588. McGhee, P 2004, Humor strengths a team identity or team spirit Viewed on January 12, 2010, . O’Brien, K 2006, Team Building: How to overcome the obstacles, Oxford University Press, New York. Wueste, D 1994, Professional ethics and social responsibility, Rowman & Littlefield, London. Read More