Leadership

What is leadership?

Leadership is important in the workplaces. 

Leadership is the declared desire and commitment to leads the group of subordinates to achieve their goals and success. Leaders may establish the experiences, wisdom and discernment to build the trust and influence the subordinate to make the right decision.

According to Peter F.Drucker (1995), the only definition of a leader is someone who has followers, some people are thinkers, and some are prophets but both roles are important and badly needed. If without followers, there can be no leaders. Therefore leadership is not rank, privileges, titles, or money. It is responsibility.

Leadership is a function of knowing yourself, having a vision that is well communicated, building trust among colleagues, and taking effective action to realize your own leadership potential. (Warren Bennis & Goldsmith, 1994). In their view, the definition of leadership is focused on the individual capability such as interpersonal and intrapersonal communication skill, positive attitudes, and so on. As a leader they must have a strong influence on their subordinates. When subordinates face the problem, they should help subordinates to solve the problem or give some opinion on the issues.

Types of leadership

A good leadership can avoid the confusion of the subordinates.

Charismatic leaders have a wide knowledge about their field, a self-promoting personality, a high energy level and a willingness to take risk and use unconventional strategies. Leaders are encouraging their subordinates to think independently and ask questions.  They tend to create high job performance and positive work attitudes among their subordinates. In addition, charismatic leaders are maintaining an open communications and freely share the recognition with their subordinates. They are the ones who initiate the new organization, direct organizational change, and gain the subordinates’ productivity. They can be insensitive to the needs of their subordinates and act only for personal gain.

Transformational leaders have more flexibility in their behaviour. These kinds of leaders are not limited by their subordinates’ perception rather than act in accordance with their subordinates who expect of them. Transformation leaders are transforming or change their subordinates’ needs and redirect their thinking on the job task. These kinds of leaders tend to challenge and inspire their subordinates with a sense of purpose and the excitement of what can be accomplished. Leaders build a corporate culture and communicate among the employees to avoid misunderstanding and given everyone a change to speak out their opinion and feedback.

Transactional leaders lead their subordinates by identifying their needs. Leaders have a right to award them for satisfy their needs in exchange of a certain level of performance. They are focus on increasing the efficiency of established routines and procedures and more concerned about existing rules than making changes to the structure of the organization.

Subordinates will cooperate when the leader leads them correctly.

Written by Leow Bee Lian