Leadership Styles

LEADERSHIP qualities, duties, characteristics & styles By Sr. Vinaya Annese KP Professor cum Principal, Kasturba Nursing College, Sevagram.

DEFINITION :“Leadership is the process of empowering beliefs and teaching others to tap their full capabilities by shifting the beliefs that have been limiting them”. (Robins) ‘Leadership may be defined as a process of persuading and influencing others towards a goal and is composed of a wide variety of roles’.

QUALITIES OF A LEADER 1. PURPOSEFULNESS (WHY ARE YOU A LEADER)

2. CONFIDENCE

(SELF-CONFIDENCE, CONFIDENCE IN OTHERS)

3. SENSE OF COMMITMENT (TO PERSONS, CAUSES)

4. INTEGRITY (OPENNESS, SINCERITY)

5. CREATIVITY (TO TAKE INITIATIVES)

6. COURAGE

(TO TAKE RISKS)

7. INVOLVEMENT (SOCIAL SKILLS)

8. FLEXIBILITY (ADAPTABLE TO SITUATIONS)

9. COMPETENCE (ABILITY + DESIRE)

10. CO-OPERATING (WORKING TOGETHER)

11. OBEDIENCE

(CO RESPONSIBILITY)

12. SACRIFICING (HARDWORKING)

13. ORGANIZING (CO-ORDINATING)

14. EFFICIENT (TASK ORIENTATED, RELATIONSHIP-ORIENTED)

15. UN –SELFISH (EXTROVERT)

A PERSON OF RIGHT VALUES “A LEADER IS AT HIS BEST WHEN THE SUBORDINATES

SCARCELY KNOW THAT HE EXISTS”

duties OF A LEADER 1. ORGANIZE (CO-ORDINATE)

2. CLARIFY THE GOAL (COMMUNICATE THE PURPOSE)

3. KNOW THE GROUP

(RECOGNIZE THEIR ABILITIES)

4. INSPIRE (HELP TO GET MOTIVATED)

5. ENCOURAGE

(ACKNOWLEDGE APPRECIATE AND REINFORCE)

6. BE SENSITIVE

(ATTEND TO THEIR NEEDS AND PROBLEMS) 7. HAVE COURAGE (TO TAKE RISK)

8. TAKE INITIATIVE (IF THE GROUP LACKS COURAGE)

9. GET INVOLVED

(USE THE SOCIAL SKILLS)

10. BE GENUINE

(HAVE INTEGRITY AND OPENNESS) 11. HAVE CONFIDENCE (IN SELF AND IN THE GROUP)

ALWAYS ACT WITH THE SENSE OF COMMITMENT

SOCIAL SKILLS (FOR A SMOOTH AND EFFECTIVE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP)

GREETING SKILLS (WELCOMMING OTHERS “GOOD MORNING,” “I AM SO AND SO,” “HOW ARE YOU?”)

POLITENESS SKILLS

(EXPRESSING ONE’S CO-FEELINGS BY GOOD WISHES AND HELPING OTHERS)

LISTENING SKILLS

(OPENNESS TO OTHERS) 1. ATTENDING PHYSICALLY WELCOMING, INTEREST IN, PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDS OF OTHERS 2. UNDERSTANDING SPOKEN WORDS (CONTENT), FEELING, BODYLANGUAGE

OBSERVING SKILLS

(SENSING NON-VERBAL MESSAGE)

BEHAVIOUR, SILENCE, NONCOOPERATION

SKILL OF GRATITUDE

(UNDERSTANDING, ACKNOWLEDGE, APPRECIATE, THE GOOD IN OTHERS) THANK YOU”, “VERY KIND OF YOU”, “EXELLENT”

SKILL OF HUMOUR

(TAKE IT EASY STRATEGY) CREATING A PLEASANT ATMOSPHERE JOKES WITHOUT HURTING OTHERS READINESS TO BE LAUGHED AT BUT NOT LAUGHING AT OTHERS

SOCIAL SKILLS LISTENING SKILLS

1. BE INTERESTED AND SHOW IT (Have genuine concern with suitable expressions)

2. TUNE IN TO THE OTHER PERSON (Viewpoint, assumptions, needs and beliefs of the speaker) 3. HOLD YOUR FIRE (Avoid jumping into conclusions)

4. LOOK FOR THE MAIN IDEAS (Focus on the key issue details may distract)

5. WATCH FOR FEELINGS (Feeling, not facts, may be main message)

6. MONITOR YOUR FEELINGS & VIEWS (Beware of your own attitudes, reactions)

8. READ NONVERBAL LANGUAGE (A smile, a nervous laugh, gestures, facial expressions etc.)

9. GIVE THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT (Prejudices can block new messages)

10. WORK AT LISTENING (Hearing is passive, listening is active)

11. GET FEEDBACK (Confirm your understanding)

The Golden rule of listening

Listen to others as you would like to be listened to

GOD ALONE IS THE PERFECT LISTENER

Leadership styles I. Scientific

Leaders Styles:-

This theory was developed by F.W.Taylor. He relied on scientific study of time and movement spent and used for a job to improve the performance of the worker and recommended careful selection and training of workers, who could meet the established work standard. The leader utilizes this Taylor’s principles. He will be the most competent individual in planning and organizing the work of subordinates.

II. Trait Theory of Leadership:Trait theory has a belief that leaders were born with certain qualities that determine leadership ability and success and relies on research that relates various traits to the success of leader. According to this theory, leader is gifted with or develops certain physical, intellectual or personality.

Characteristics of a leader:     

A Forceful personality Ability to persuade people to a cause of action Efficiency Integrity Ability to get along people

A broad classification of six characteristics of Traits Theory Physical characteristics of a leader – e.g. Age, height, weight. 

Background characteristics education, experience

–

e.g.



Personality – e.g. alertness, confidence, independence.

self



Task oriented characteristics responsibility, initiative

e.g.

1.

Intelligence – e.g. ability, judgment, knowledge

6. Social characteristics – e.g. cooperativeness, popularity.

III. Behaviour Theory of Leadership Style:-

A leader behaves according to the role expectations of the group. This theorist believes that leadership style like other behviours can be learned, regulated and developed. Research has identified four style of leadership.

I. Autocratic Style:In this style, leader takes all decisions and assigns all responsibility to himself, he is firm insistent, self assured and dominating. Such a leader stresses prompt, orderly and predictable performance from employees or followers. The authoritarian leader may also be “Benevolent autocratic”

The autocratic style the leader is characteristics 3.

Strong control is maintained over the groups

5.

Others are motivated by coercion

7.

Communication flows downwards.

9.

Decision making does not involve others

11.

Emphasis on difference and status

13.

Criticism is punitive

II. Democratic Style:In this type of leadership, the leader values the individual characteristics and abilities of each subordinate. This style is a people centered approach. The democratic leader uses personal and positional power and cooperative decision methods. To draw out ideas from employees and motivate them to set their own work goals, develop their own plans, control their own practice.  It

is a creative leadership, here leader delegate authority to subordinate.

In democratic style leader exhibits following behaviour:

Less control is maintained



Economic and ego awards are used to motivate.



Others are directive through suggestions and guidance.



Communication flows up to down.



Decision making involves others



Emphasis in “we” rather than I & you.



Criticism is constructive

III. Participative Style:Here the leader allows subordinates to participate in decision making, consequently the subordinates have the feeling of satisfaction and freedom. IV. Laissez faire style/ Freedom style:The leader leaves all decision making and responsibility to the group

It is characterized by the following behaviours •

He is permissive with little or no control

•

Motivate by support when requested by the group

•

Little or no direction is provided

•

Communication is between members of the group and upward and downward

•

Decision making is dispersed throughout the group

•

Emphasis is on the group

Situational Theory of Leadership:In this style a leader is the product of a given situation and the behaviour may in fact vary from one situation to another. This theory includes the traits of man i.e. qualities and motivation, the role expectations of the group and the social forces at the work i.e. external fact is that bring forth and shape the leadership potential.

According to this theory there are five kinds of leaders •

Natural Leader:Here the person becomes a leader in spite of himself. Eg. Mahatma Gandhi.

•

Charismatic Leader:- the person is an authentic hero in the eyes of the followers for he can do no role. Ex. Netaji Subhaschandra Bose.

•

Rational Leader:-

Here the person is

•

Consensus Leader:The leader is perceived as acceptable to all. Ex. President of India

•

Leader by Force:- He dominates other to fear suppresses the opposition. Ex. Hitler, Napoleon

In situational leadership the leader adopts four methods •

Directing:- The leader provide specific instructions and supervises the accomplishment of task. There is high direction and low supportive behaviour.

•

Coaching:Leader monitors the accomplishment of tasks, explain decisions asking for feed back or suggestions. There is high directive and high supportive behaviours. The leader and staff jointly develop work plan.

•

Supporting:- Leader support efforts of others. Facilitated their goal accomplishment and shares responsibility for decision making. There is high supportive and low directive behaviour.

•

Delegating:Leader gives the responsibility for decision making and problem solving to mature staff who have demonstrated their competence. There is low supportive and low directive behaviour. The leader recognize that there are more than one right way to do things and gives authority to staff that matches their level of responsibility. This leads to staff empowerment.

The corner stone of the situational leadership is the flexibility of the leader in adapting to the needs of the individual or group. Characteristics of a leader Realize the dignity of the people 6. Should not manipulate human beings or use them to achieve his own purpose 7. Set examples for others 5.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Promote happiness among members Should be able to speak well and write well Able to motivate others Able to influence others Posses all the human qualities

LEADERSHIP 14 STEPS TOWARDS BECOMING A LEADER

1. BRODEN YOUR VISION (Have a high dreams)

2. WIN, DON’T REPEL (Never force any one challenge and warm up)

3. COMMUNICATE (Clarify, remove obstacles, improve)

4. LISTEN

(Understand, acknowledge, appreciate)

5. KEEP LEARNING

(Search for truth is a life long journey)

6. BE YOURSELF

(No imitation, no pretension)

7. GIVE AS YOU WOULD GET (Abide by the golden rule)

8. SHOW COURAGE

(Do good, the power is within)

9.

DON’T JUMP INTO CONCLUSIONS (Be patient, don’t judge)

10. TAKE TIME TO THINK

(Stop think. Pray Cry a little. Smile a little. Then go on)

11. DON’T BE IN SUCH A HURRY

(Slow but steady. Haste makes waste)

12. PRAY

(Prayer unites you with the almighty it brings power within)

13. SAY THANKS (Everyone is worthy of it)

14. PONDER ON “WHAT IS TRUE LEADERSHIP?” (Remember the sole commandment: “Love one another”)

LIFE IS A CALL TO SHARE IN THE WORLD’S MAKING