LEADERSHIP: NATURE AND FUNCTIONS OF LEADERSHIP

• LEADERSHIP
  NATURE AND FUNCTIONS
• MEANING

1. LEADERSHIP IS CONCERNED WITH INFLUENCING THE ACTIVITIES OF AN INDIVIDUAL OR A GROUP FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF GOAL IN GIVEN SITUATION. IT INVOLVES A PROCESS BY WHICH A MANAGER GUIDES AND INFLUENCES THE WORK OF ITS SUBORDINATES.
2. LEADERSHIP IS THE ABILITY TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND ZEAL AMONG PEOPLE AND TO CREATE AN URGE IN THEM TO LEAD. TO BE SUCCESSFUL LEADER, A MANAGER MUST POSSESS THE QUALITIES OF FORESIGHT,DRIVE,INITIATIVE AND SELF CONFIDENCE AND PERSONAL INTEGRITY.

• DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP
• KOONTZ AND O’ DONNEL,” LEADERSHIP IS THE ABILITY OF A MANAGER TO INDUCE SUBORDINATES TO WORK WITH CONFIDENCE AND ZEAL.
• GEORGE R. TERRY:-LEADERSHIP IS THE ACTIVITY OF INFLUENCING PEOPLE TO STRIVE WILLINGLY FOR GROUP OBJECTIVES.

•  NATURE AND FEATURES OF LEADERSHIP

1. PERSONAL QUALITY
2. EXIST ONLY WITH FOLLOWERS
3. WILLINGNESS OF PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THAT MAKES A PERSON LEADER
4. HELPS OTHER IN ATTAINING SPECIFIC GOALS
5. CONTINUOUS PROCESS OF INFLUENCING BEHAVIOR OF PEOPLE
6. EXERCISED IN A PARTICULAR SITUATION
7. PROCESS OF GUIDING, DIRECTING AND INFLUENCING

• LEADERSHIP FUNCTIONS

1. SETTING UP OF GOALS AND POLICIES TO PERSUADE THE SUBORDINATES TO WORK WITH CONFIDENCE AND EXCITEMENT.
2. ORGANIZING:-BY ASSIGNING ROLE APPROPRIATE TO INDIVIDUAL ABILITIES WITH A VIEW TO ACHIEVE THE ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
3. INITIATING ACTION:-TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN ALL MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE GROUP
4. COORDIANTION:-A LEADER HAS TO RECONCILE THE INTERESTS OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WITH THAT OF ORGANIZATION.
5. DIRECT AND MOTIVATION:- GUIDE AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO THE FOLLOWERS
6. LINK BETWEEN THE MANAGERS AND WORKERS:-WORK AS NECESSARY BETWEEN THE MGMT AND THE WORKER. HE INTERPRETS THE POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES OF THE MANAGEMENT TO HIS SUBORDINATES AND REPRESENT SUBORDINATES’ INTEREST BEFORE THE MANAGEMENT

• IMPORTANCE

1. IT IMPROVES MOTIVATION AND MORALE
2. IT ACTS AS MOTIVE POWER TO GROUP EFFORTS
3. IT ACTS AS AID TO AUTHORITY
4. NEEDED AT ALL LEVELS OF THE MANAGEMENT
5. EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP USES THE INFORMAL RELATIONSHIP TO ACHIEVE THE ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
6. PROVIDES THE BASIS FOR CO-OPERATION

• PROCESS OR TECHNIQUE FOR EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP

1. THE LEADER SHOULD CONSULT THE GROUP IN FRAMING THE POLICIES AND LINES OF ACTION AND RADICAL CHANGES THEREIN
2. SEEK VOLUNTARY COOPERATION FROM SUBORDINATES IN ACHIEVING THE GOALS
3. GIVE CLEAR,COMPLETE AND INTELLIGENT INSTRUCTIONS
4. USE AUTHORITY WHENEVER NECESSARY
5. BUILD UP CONFIDENCE AND ZEAL IN THE FOLLOWERS
6. CARE AND LISTEN TO THEIR SUBORDINATES
7. COMMUNICATE PROPERLY
8. FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLE OF MOTIVATION

• QUALITIES
• PERSONAL TRAITS

1. DYNAMIC PERSONALITY
2. INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY
3. FORESIGHT
4. EMOTIONAL STABILITY
5. FLEXIBILITY
6. SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY
7. CHARACTER

• QUALITIES
• MANAGERIAL TRAITS:

1. TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE
2. ORGANIZING ABILITY
3. ABILITY TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE
4. ABILITY TO JUDGE AND DECIDE PROMPTLY