Leadership has been defined in different ways by different sets of scholars. In very simple terms leadership can be defined as the skill of a person to influence an individual or a group for achievement of a goal in a given situation. One can use different dimensions and perspectives to define leadership. Through the evolution of leadership thought, leadership has been defined in various ways discussed here.
“A leader is one who has followers”; is a too simple a definition and this description does not clearly define what other attributes are associated with leadership. One can use different dimensions and perspectives to define leadership. Through the evolution of leadership thought, leadership has been defined in various ways with following perspectives:
According to MacIver and Page Leadership is the capacity to persuade or to direct man that comes from personal qualities apart from office. It indicates the difference between leadership and office. An individual does not become a leader only by occupying an office which carries responsibility. It is a matter of secondary importance that his important office is of assistance to him in his endeavor to become a leader.
According to Philip A. Woods (2005) leadership is not just a set of free-standing actions i.e., it is not a linear process flowing from leader to the follower but it is a collective entity which comprises of the impetus and direction that emerges from the group which is more than the sum of its parts (the individuals) who make up a group or organization. .
Warren Bennis’ definition of leadership is focused much more on the individual capability of the leader. He defined leadership as a function of knowing oneself, having a vision that is well communicated, building trust among colleagues, and taking effective action to realize one’s own leadership potential.
Leadership can also be called the catalyst that transforms potential into reality. The concept of leadership in itself covers all interpersonal relationships that influence the working of' the organization towards achieving its business objectives and growth.
Leadership is the art of influencing others to direct their will, abilities and efforts to the achievement of leader’s goals. In the context of organizations, leadership lies in influencing individual and group effort toward the optimum achievement of organizational objectives.
Keith Davis observes that, “without leadership, an organization is but a muddle of men and machines…Leadership transforms potential into reality. It is the ultimate act which brings to success all the potential that is in an organization and its people”.
Leadership is often defined as the art of influencing others (people) to strive willingly; to do what the leader wants them to do (often to do the mutually compatible objectives) with zeal and confidence.
According to Dayal (1999) leadership is development of people, not the task. A leader creates conditions for the development of individuality and enhancement of inherent capability of individuals.
The leader is the inspiration and director of the action. He is the person in the group that possesses the combination of personality and leadership skills that makes others want to follow his direction.
Leadership focuses on “people” aspect of management and is based on the assumption that organizational effectiveness significantly depends on their motivation, effort and abilities.
According to Pigors, “Leadership is a process of control in which by the assumption of superiority a person or group regulates the activities of others for purposes of his own choosing.”
In 1938, Chester Bernard gave a new definition of leadership and stated that, “leadership is the ability of a superior to influence the behaviour of subordinates and persuade them to follow a particular course of action”.
A recent theorist on leadership, Williams (2005), states that, “leadership is an interactive art in which the leader is dancing with the context, the problem, the faction, and the objective”.
It is encouraging and inspiring individuals and teams to give their best to achieve a desired result.
Leadership is an attribute of the person who is an ideal for the other members of the group.
Leadership is the behavior that affects the behavior of other people, more than their behavior affects that of the leader.
Leaders work with and through people to accomplish goals.
In the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John Maxwell sums up his definition of leadership as “leadership is influence - nothing more, nothing less.”
Anyone who acts as a model to others is often called a “leader”.
Leader leads, suggests, orders, and also guides. Other people follow him. We can say that leadership and domination are not the same meaning.
Peter Drucker defined a leader as someone who has followers.
It is difficult to qualitatively define leadership. Leadership involves various dimensions and attributes. A simple definition of leadership is that leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal. It is a psychological process of providing guidance for followers. To lead is to guide, conduct, direct, and proceed.
The ten most important qualities that define a good leader are self-awareness, interpersonal and communication skills, ethical values, organizational consciousness, self-confidence, adaptability and flexibility, imagination and creativity, focus & result-orientation, continuous self-development and accountability and ownership for his actions. These ten qualities of leadership every good leader should possess to a certain extent and must continually strive to develop them.
In today's innovation-driven economy, understanding how to generate great ideas has become an urgent managerial priority. Managers need to encourage and champion ideas and need to help their organizations incorporate diverse perspectives, which spur creative insights and facilitate creative collaboration by harnessing new technologies. Innovation is the embodiment, combination, and/or synthesis of knowledge in original, relevant, valued new products, processes, or services.
Certain generally accepted truths or principles of communication are important to consider when communicating with others. These principles hold true for all people in every culture. By understanding these principles, you will experience greater communication effectiveness. An effective communication system is one that achieved its objectives. Communication is effective where there are no barriers to communication.
Process & Stages of Creativity
Creative ideas do not come just like that. There is a process to it. There are a number of techniques of creativity to support the generation of ideas but the widely practiced ones are brainstorming and lateral thinking. Most innovations are not so much the product of sudden insights as they are the result of a conscious process that often goes through multiple stages. The creative process can be divided into four stages of preparation, incubation, evaluation, and implementation.
Productivity is defined not in terms of the number of goods produced, but in terms of value-added per employee. Customers don’t really buy goods and services but in fact, they buy a value - something they value. The future is all about tangible products fulfilling intangible needs. Ideas like this can transform a business and provide them a competitive advantage to thrive in the future.
There are four characteristics of leadership that help us to understand the character of leadership as a concept. 1. Leadership is a process, 2. Leadership involves influence, 3. Leadership always occurs in a group context and 4. Leadership involves goal attainment. These are the four components that make up the character of the 'leadership' term and help us to define the leadership concept. All of these components of leadership have common characteristics.
McClelland's Theory of Needs is a human motivation theory which states that an individual's specific needs are acquired over time through our culture and life experiences. As per the three needs theory, these acquired needs significantly influence the behavior of an individual. The three main driving motivators are the needs for achievement, affiliation, and power.
Theory Z also called the "Japanese Management" style is a leadership theory of human motivation focused on organizational behavior, communication, and development. It assumes that employees want to enter into long term partnerships with their employers and peers. Offering stable jobs with an associated focus on the well-being of employees results in increased employee loyalty to the company.
Management theories are the recommended management strategies that enable us to better understand and approach management. Many management frameworks and guidelines were developed during the last four decades.
At different points in your professional career, it is helpful to identify your core values. Values are the qualities considered to be the most important guiding principles that determine the priorities in your life and greatly influence your career choices. Your career brings happiness when it is in agreement with the beliefs you have about what is important and meaningful to you. Awareness of your values will help you develop a clearer sense of what's most important to you in life.
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