Leadership :Leadership


A Leadership Story: :A Leadership Story: A group of workers and their leaders are set a task of clearing a road through a dense jungle on a remote island to get to the coast where an estuary provides a perfect site for a port. The leaders organise the labour into efficient units and monitor the distribution and use of capital assets – progress is excellent. The leaders continue to monitor and evaluate progress, making adjustments along the way to ensure the progress is maintained and efficiency increased wherever possible. Then, one day amidst all the hustle and bustle and activity, one person climbs up a nearby tree. The person surveys the scene from the top of the tree.


A Leadership Story: :A Leadership Story: And shouts down to the assembled group below… “Wrong Way!” (Story adapted from Stephen Covey (2004) “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” Simon & Schuster). “Management is doing things right, leadership is doing the right things” (Warren Bennis and Peter Drucker)


Leadership :Leadership


Types of Leadership Style :Types of Leadership Style


Types of Leadership Style :Types of Leadership Style Autocratic: Leader makes decisions without reference to anyone else High degree of dependency on the leader Can create de-motivation and alienation of staff May be valuable in some types of business where decisions need to be made quickly and decisively


Types of Leadership Style :Types of Leadership Style Democratic: Encourages decision making from different perspectives – leadership may be emphasised throughout the organisation Consultative: process of consultation before decisions are taken Persuasive: Leader takes decision and seeks to persuade others that the decision is correct


Types of Leadership Style :Types of Leadership Style Democratic: May help motivation and involvement Workers feel ownership of the firm and its ideas Improves the sharing of ideas and experiences within the business Can delay decision making


Types of Leadership Style :Types of Leadership Style Laissez-Faire: ‘Let it be’ – the leadership responsibilities are shared by all Can be very useful in businesses where creative ideas are important Can be highly motivational, as people have control over their working life Can make coordination and decision making time-consuming and lacking in overall direction Relies on good team work Relies on good interpersonal relations


Types of Leadership Style :Types of Leadership Style Paternalistic: Leader acts as a ‘father figure’ Paternalistic leader makes decision but may consult Believes in the need to support staff


Factors Affecting Style :Factors Affecting Style


Factors Affecting Style :Factors Affecting Style Leadership style may be dependent on various factors: Risk - decision making and change initiatives based on degree of risk involved Type of business – creative business or supply driven? How important change is – change for change’s sake? Organisational culture – may be long embedded and difficult to change Nature of the task – needing cooperation? Direction? Structure?