An enterprise consists of various individuals grouped together to achieve common objective. Every individual is different from others, so we need a dynamic and dominating personality to bind individuals together and motivate them to contribute their best efforts for achieving cherished goal of the business. The person doing it is leader. Manager must possess the qualities of the leader, so that he may motivate, stimulate, inspire, enthuse direct and lead the workers in the interest of enterprises.
Now, leadership may be defined as an art of extracting, co-ordinating and channelising the best energies and efforts of subordinates towards attaining the desired goal of the business.
Leadership is an exercise of inter-personal relationship. It creates, sustains and develops relationship between the manger and the subordinates. It leads the group efforts towards attaining the objectives of the business. It has got the following important features.
Important Features of Leadership
Leadership is the personal quality of the manager : It is the personal ability, tact and competence of the leader show leads, directs co-ordinates and channelises the group efforts towards desired goal of the business. To some extent, it is an inherent capability but it can be developed also. Different managers will lead the subordinates differently in the same situation.
Leadership is the continuous process of influencing behaviour : Business has to work in the challenging situation, so it becomes, necessary that there should be continuous efforts of the managers to lead subordinates in all situations. In the routine business activities, effective and continuous motivation, direction, co-ordination and leadership is required.
Leadership develops relationship and confident : The manager has to build close and cordial relation with the subordinates. He is also required to gain confidence, otherwise he will be changing his decisions, which will be very difficult to be implemented.
Leadership is related to particular situation : Leadership qualities refer to particular situation. These qualities are tested in extraordinary situations. Manager, as a competent leader should be able to lead the activities of his subordinates in all the situations. Manager, as an effective leader must prove to be friend, philosopher and guide of his subordinates.
Qualities of a leader
Leadership is an essential quality of a manager. As a leader he must possess the following qualities.
Intelligence : The manager as an effective leader must posses mental ability to analyse problems scientifically and offer its solution immediately. He should be mentally alert and competent enough to understand and tackle the difference problems.
Handsome Physical appearance : A successful leader must possess sound health and physique. It is rightly said that there is sound mind in a sound body. He must possess average height, weight and impressive physical construction.
Self-confidence : The leader must have self-confidence. Whenever he initiates any course of action, he should have sufficient confidence to motivate his subordinates and boost their morale.
Vision and foresight : The leader is required to possess higher degree of imagination. He must foresees, what is likely to happen. He should be able to visualise the future events and prepare himself accordingly to face them.
Maturity : Emotional stability and cool temperament are other qualities of a leader. He should not be disturbed with unusual events. He should also have patience and tolerance. Social adjustment is another quality.
Dynamic and Dominating personality : The manager as a leader should be capable of taking right decision at the appropriate time in the ordinary or even extra-ordinary situations. He should influence his subordinates with his views and dominate in the individual and group discussions.
Positive attitude : A leader should have positive attitude towards problems. His action must be initiated in the interest of the institution. The negative attitude spoils the future prospects of the business, whereas positive attitude builds the sound structure of the enterprise.
Human touch : The manager, as a leader must accord humane treatment to his subordinates. He must honour emotional and psychological needs of workers. He should not be exploiter in his dealings. The quality of human touch will bring subordinates closer to employees, who will offer their best services to the enterprise.
Importance of leadership
Leadership is an essential and indispensable quality, which a manager should possess for the proper direction of the subordinates under his command. Absence of this quality will mismanage the resources of the organisation and cause the collapse of the business structure.
Developing team spirit
Leadership develops an atmosphere of co-operation, co-ordination and friendliness among staff. Employees side-track their individual approaches and work like a member of a team. Leadership drives every individual efforts towards achieving the goal of the business. Management, no doubt is group activity and a team work.
Establishing relationship between top management and subordinates
A leader modifies the behaviour of individuals under his command and establishes close relationship. He develops fellow feeling. The leader enthuses the workers to dedicate their efforts and energies for the attainment of the goal of the business.
dynamic direction
Real situations of the business go on changing. The leader has to face sometimes unusual, extraordinary and challenging situations. His importance lies in effective direction of workers, efforts in every situation, howsoever odd it may be.
Workers’ friend and guide
A competent leader should befriend with the subordinates. He should think over their problems and suggest measures to tackle the problems. In this way, he will develop sense of belongingness towards the enterprise among workers and guide their efforts towards achieving the goal of the business.
Modifier of behaviour
There are individual differences. Every worker is different from the other workers as regards his attitudes, likes, dislikes, preferences and behaviour. An effective leader modifies their behaviour and drives them towards achieving the objectives of the business. Management is a team work, so it requires team spirit from every individual. The efforts of every worker must be co-ordinated and channelised towards achieving the objectives of the business.
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