Is Strong Leadership in Business Organizations a Good Thing - Essay Example

Leadership in Management Name: Course: Course Instructor: Date of Submission: Is strong leadership in business organizations a good thing? Introduction Leadership is the influence someone has on the thoughts and attitudes of others. Good leadership makes a business have a successful life. The single most important business objective of a business is maximization of profit. Only through this good leadership can this objective be attained by the organization. The other most important objective of a business is continuity. This means that the business strives to be present in the future. The business phase is changing, and in order for a business to remain significant it requires the spearheading of a good manager. Strong leadership is, therefore, a good thing. Leadership is about change, according to philosopher Fayol. He defines the main functions of a manager in an organization. He further lays out that the most important of all their functions is the leadership task. He should be a good and contrite leader who will help in the attainment of organizational goals and the mission as a whole. In trying to exhaustively answer the question of the importance of good leadership in an organization, I will also look into certain theories that have been developed to try and explain the key functions of a good manager and the importance of the leadership quality of a good manager. Leadership Theories Philosophers have identified various theories that attempt to reveal the major roles that management should play while trying to act as leaders in their various institutions. The Great Man Theories take a stand praising the role of leaders as intrinsic. It holds a stand that in deed, leaders are not made but rather are born with their gifts. Since it is an ancient theory, it portrays that leaders are heroes in the positions they hold in the organization and that nobody else was fit for the job. In this era, man was deemed the stronger sex and that no woman would rise to take the place of man (Fiedler, 1967). The trait theories assume more or less the same stand as the Great Man Theories. In these theories, certain characteristics are evident in all the leaders. This more or less implies that leaders hold certain characteristics that make them visible from their early age. It stands fro inherent leaders rather than developing the character of a leader. These two theories are disputable in that if a person is born a leader, then how come we have people who possess these characteristics yet do not hold leadership positions throughout their lives? The development of the contingency theory assumes that particular leadership characteristics suit certain particular positions. That there are certain variables existent in different situations in order to have a most appropriate leader fit. Most of these variables are environmental and may also vary depending on the type of followership behind the leader and their traits themselves. The situational theory suggests that leadership qualities are circumstantial. It suggests that a leader will be determined according to the particular situation that faces them. Additionally, a leader will only be one in the case scenario that faces them then (Charlene, 2010). The behavioral theory has formed some basis in the way leadership is deemed in the current times. The basis of this theory states that people can learn to be leaders. It therefore does away with the Great Man Theories and the Traits Theories. People can actually acquire leadership skills through appropriate observation and teaching. The participative theory does not root its claims from the development of a leader. However, it suggests more on the favorable qualities of a leader. It advises that a good leader is one who encourages the participation of other members of a group in their decision making process (Vroom, & Arthur, 1988). According to the theory, the leader reserves the right to regulate the input other people in the group make regarding the question being handled. They can however, choose to ignore the participation of other certain individuals in the group at their discretion. The final theory to be developed sought to introduce the role of different level management in the organization and how much leadership was important to each of their positions. In its development, the management theory, otherwise the transactional theory bases its stand upon the power for leaders to punish and remunerate subordinates. Additionally, it mainly associates with lower level management such as supervisors. It also focuses on performances of groups. After consultation from these various theories, philosophers developed their own views on the attributes that leaders should have. The result was a list of evident features that leaders possess. Additionally, they insisted that only ten percent of the leader is inborn (Kouzes & Posner, 2007). More so, every human is born with this percentage level of leadership traits in them. Attributes of a leader On looking at the leading business schools in the world today, their emphasis is evidently placed on the leadership quality. For instance, the head of the business school at Harvard University is noted to have said that their primary goal through the instilling of appropriate leadership qualities in their students so as to make good managers of them in the ever industrializing world. The most reckoning forces that have hit the world are the evolution of man and the transition to industrialization from agriculture. This is a great drive for institution like Harvard to empower their students become good leaders as they try to remain relevant in an ever growing world. In this regard, it is important to look into attribute qualities of a good leader. Communication is an important element of leadership. While being a leader, one therefore has to have people following him. The followership topic is not relevant in this essay, but all are born from the single essence of leadership. In order to be a good leader, one should be able to communicate with those who re behind him. Good leadership ensures to talk to the relevant followers in a way that they understand and that they can relate with and thus become the organizational followers; as outlined by Aristotle. However, it is important to note that not all good managers are good leaders, but all good leaders are good managers. The great philosopher Aristotle further denotes that these good leaders are primarily inclined to communicate with their subordinates and also to their clients. For instance, a sales manager sitting in their office and making very outstanding posters for the clients and actually being able to draw them into the organization are good leaders. Additionally, it is also very important to have business logos as they draw people to the business as a sign of their interest to be identified with the organization. Only through this communication does one get to know the people who are actually following them. Integrity is the ability to stand by what is right. It is also the ability to be trust worthy. A good leader possesses integrity. That someone can actually take their words for it. Fayol denotes that a manager is the figurehead of the organization. As a result, they are entrusted with the organization’s assets and possessions. They are entrusted to carry out business contracts and procurements on behalf of the company. They should ensure to act in the best interest of the company. When placing them in their respective authoritative seats, it is important to evaluate their past records as a way of ensuring their integrity. The current competition in the business environment has hampered the sustenance of integrity in many leaders. Corruption has been the course of the day in many organizations, especially when it comes to certain routine practices as procuring or contracting. For instance, the situation in many governments has been that corruption is a looming problem in day to day life. This has been a sign of just how bad leaders we have running a primary businesses and institutions in the world today. A leader should be able to tell hard truths. This is good show of endurance. When a manager tells an employee that they are fired, it is not that they are bad but because they need to make the organization the best they can. In avoiding setbacks, they are not being insensitive to employees rather are working towards their key objective that is meeting the requirements stipulated in the mission of the business enterprise. Many managers are not able to deal with this truth. If a company is not performing or is headed towards closure, it is up to the manager to lay this out in black and white with no shades of grey whatsoever. However, the complexity to cope with this problem lingers in the management of most organizations today. In case they have the chance to make a critical judgment call, they are assigned this particular task and they should take it gladly, since it is part of their job. They should face problems they encounter head on. A leader should be able to embrace changes that occur in their surrounding. A leader is able to accept change in and out of the organization. A change is as good as a rest and should therefore be a chance for people to accept the changes that occur in their organizations. If for instances there needs to be a change in an particular department in the organization, it is up to the manager in charge to implement those changes to their subordinates and ensure that all attributes of the change introduced are adhered to. Those who do not accept the changes that occur and do not work towards their fulfillment are simply working in their individual interests and not in the best interest of the organization they are entrusted to lead. A leader is one who has enough knowledge of the processes that occur in their departments or organizations. Some managers simply entrust their employees to work on the processes that surround their organizations. They bear little interest in knowing what is being done. No matter ho complex the processes might be, a good leader will always ensure to have sufficient knowledge of what is happening and not necessarily be the most knowledgeable in the organization. One cannot lead unless they know what and who they are leading in. This is crucial in the fulfillment of organizational objective and also ensures that all employees of the organization have congruent goals in the benefit of the organization. A leader is creative. He sees the possibility of other alternatives from a single file of form. The possibilities that occur from a single question may not be visible to others in the same situation. When they see a certain pattern, they are able to disarrange and then arrange the patterns to produce other alternative different results. Creativity is core in dealing with the decision making role of the leader. An effective leader does not see impossibilities. Mahatma Gandhi used to weave his own clothes using a loom. Through this practice, people realized that he was simply portraying what people in India should do in order to gain liberation from the British rule. This made him a tremendously gifted leader, who had followership of millions of people. He had to get through to the minds of Indians and prompt them towards the fight for independence and subsequent liberation from Her Majesty’s Rule. His methods of motivating the Indians went a long in the attainment of independence for the country. Leadership is about passion. Many people tend to believe that certain renowned leaders’ personalities such as Gandhi and Winston Churchill were born leaders. To their correction however, most part of leadership qualities are add-ons. Every person possesses some leadership quality in them. Many do not develop theirs to become leaders eventually while some work towards becoming prominent leaders in future. About ninety percent of a leader is an add-on. When someone attends an administration class, they will most likely not develop into leaders by simply sitting in the lecture hall through the countable sessions. However, they gain the fundamentals of leadership qualities which they should then ensure to develop further. They simply gain the guide to becoming a good leader eventually. A leader cannot be made out of nothing (Blake & Mouton, 1964). A business leader, some may express, should have a strong character. The making money for the shareholders part of a manager is important but the ethic stipulation part in the organization is the leadership quality of a manager. This in other words is corporate citizenship, representing the organization to outsiders. Max Webber developed a theory on the functions of managers in the organization. The manager is the figurehead of the organization. He represents the organization to the surrounding and it is therefore very important that they possess character and prioritize the needs of the organization. In addition to these traits, leaders should also be honest, humble, committed, courageous, passionate, wise, determined, positive, sensitive and confident (DuBrin, 2010). In order to be a leader, one should possess primary qualities that make them viable leaders among the audience of their followers. Their qualities should be a show of just how good they work towards positively representing their followers. That makes them have great multitudes following them. In the business organization however, it is up to the leader to lead the employees. This is very important because as a result, the employees believe in what their leader is saying consequently favoring the performance of the business enterprise. Charisma is the end product of acquiring these key qualities of a leader. The Significance of leadership in management Leadership is not always good leadership (Hemphill, 1949). When the proper form is implemented in an organization, the effect can be felt in the management and results the company lays out at the end of the day. The notion that leadership is attained by simply running in front of an entire parade and matching with the rest has long been done away with. One can actually be in the frontline of a parade, but they are not giving the direction of where the parade is headed. On the other hand, it is not merely assumed rather attained. When people do not follow, it is the leader who is not leading. In the organizational set up, a manager should as well be a leader. The administration of a premise requires the participation of not just the managers at the top but also the followers. Leadership does not exists without a multitude to lead. When employees listen to managers, then there most definitely will be congruent realization of roles in attainment of business objectives. More often than not, the organization requires that certain people be placed in a particular place to accomplish a certain task. If they do not listen to the leader for their own reasons about believing in the leadership qualities he possesses, then there will not be smooth running of the organization. The key functions of management are organizing, controlling and planning (Miner, 2005). In strategic management, it is equally important to have appropriate leadership qualities to ensure a ‘listening’ followership. A leader simply motivates their multitudes towards attainment of a certain common goal at the end of it all. They should express their visionary tactics to their followers. This is done through an implementation of strategies into the organization that is the planning. A good leader should have good management skills, while also a good manager should have outstanding leadership qualities. Management draws out strategies to be followed in the organization. These strategies should then be implemented into the work environment in a tactical manner so that they illuminate their intended results in the benefit of the organization. In view of developing countries where resources are scarce and limited, the management (that is government) should be headed by a good manager who will also have articulate leadership qualities in distributing resources fairly throughout the country. This should also be the case in an organizational setting. As is evident, an organization should have a vision and a mission stipulated in their constitution and should be key drive in day to day running of the businesses of the organization. In writing down the vision and the mission, the management should ensure to employ their leadership qualities, more so in the implementation of strategies through which these fundamental organization stipulations should be worked towards. The views stipulated should be clear guideline of the core objective of the organization. As is such, these views should be reciprocated adequately in the delivery of services to outsiders as it will eventually lead to smooth running of business around the organization. Leadership in ethics Ethics is an integral part of the governance of the organization environment. The formulation of a code of ethics to govern the conduct of employees in the organization is very important. The formulation of this code of ethics is primarily governed by a sober integration of favorable qualities from those drawing it up. Ethics is a critical matter and should be treated with precaution. When management is drawing up this article for workers at the organization, it is important to look into the various preferences of people as well as make appropriate judgments when it comes to governing people around the workplace. Leadership has well to do with values. It is therefore advisable to include good leadership in the formulation of the code of ethics for the organization. The contentious issue however occurs when there is difference between good and bad leadership. It is really hard distinguishing the two when they are in operation. Authority does not necessarily mean that the leadership qualities are favorable. Also, lack of authority does mean absence of leadership qualities. If the inclusion of people without good leadership traits was done, then there would be a real big problem with the listing of the code of ethic for the organization. It is critical that those included in the stipulation of the ethics code for an organization is under scrutiny to avoid any adverse effects that would affect the organization negatively. Conclusion Leadership is a primary factor in the management of an organization. In trying to understand leadership, philosophers have identified various theories that explain what people think of leaders and their special power to lead. Some have set their bases on wrong assumptions while some have been used considerably to come up with the closest answer. Leadership is about change. According to the renowned philosopher Fayol, he defines the main functions of a manager in an organization. He further says that the most important of all their functions is the leadership task. He should be a good and contrite leader who will help in the attainment of organizational goals and the mission as a whole. The most fundamental solution is that every human has a ten percent inborn quality to lead. The rest is acquired from teachers, experiences, observation and from others (Van, Katherine, Besthorn, & Keefe, 2007). Good leadership is essential for the prosperity of an organization. It is the work of a manager to lead the employees and other stakeholders of the organizations in the most appropriate direction. Through this, the organization setting can run smoothly and also have a congruent direction for all members to follow while trying to meet the objective of the organization. The manager should also be a good leader helping his followers towards the objectives of the business enterprise. Bibliography Hemphill, K. 1949. Situational Factors in Leadership. Columbus: Ohio State University Bureau of Educational Research Fiedler, E. 1967. A theory of leadership effectiveness. McGraw-Hill: Harper and Row Publishers Van W., Katherine S., Besthorn, H. & Keefe, T. 2007. Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Groups, Communities, and Organizations. NJ: Oxford University Press Miner, B. 2005. Organizational Behavior: Essential Theories of Motivation and Leadership. NJ: Sharpe. Vroom, H. & Arthur G. 1988. The New Leadership: Managing Participation in Organizations. NJ: Prentice-Hall. Blake, R. & Mouton, J. 1964. The Managerial Grid: The Key to Leadership Excellence. Houston: Gulf Publishing Company Charlene, L. 2010. Open Leadership: How Social Technology Can Transform the Way, New York: John Wiley & Sons Kouzes, J. & Posner, B. 2007. Contemporary Leadership. John Wiley & Sons, New York: John Wiley & Sons DuBrin, J. 2010. Leadership: Research Findings, Practice, and Skills, Massachusetts: Cengage Learning Read More