Leadership Essay

Submitted By rickpluma
Words: 2139
Pages: 9
Open Document
Term Paper on Leadership
Added March 26, 2013.
The paradoxical issue of leadership has been such long subject of speculation and much has been focused on the determinants s of leadership effectiveness. Much of the leadership has been centered on the different concept of leadership, different ways of evaluating its effectiveness, and different approaches for studying leadership and how it forges and affects the effectiveness and the efficiency of a particular organization.
According to The Webster Dictionary, a leader is defined as a person who by force of example, talents or qualities of leadership plays a directing role, wields commanding influence, or has a following in any sphere of activity or thought. It defines leadership as that ingredient of personality that causes people to follow. Leadership is also conveniently defined as the ability to get things done through others, the process by which a leader exerts influence over others to move towards a vision. Leadership is distinguished from management, in that leadership implies a vision, or some sense of a higher and purpose beyond the day to day task of managing the work production of an organization or agency.
According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (2000), efficiency is defined as “the quality of doing well with no waste of time or money” meanwhile effective is defined as “producing the intended result or a successful result”. As such, Leadership is an act of securing, attaining results for the organization and with the optimum utilization of its resources. This entails very imperative and a high quality of traits or characteristics that leaders should possess that contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of the particular organization.
Leadership can also be defined as the process of influencing people to direct their efforts toward the attainment of some particular goal or goals (Hodgetts and Kuratko, 1986).
Invariably in a similar note, Leadership is defined as process used by the individual to influence group of members toward the achievement of group goals, where the group members view the influence as legitimate (Howell, and Costley, 2001).
According to Howell and Costley, careful studies in organizations show that executive leadership can account for 45 percent of an organization’s performance. Leadership also tends to make a difference in follower’s satisfaction and performance and persevere the effectiveness and the efficiency of the organization.
The core characteristics of the definition of the above stated leadership are, firstly, leadership is a process or a reasonable systematic and continuous series of actions directed toward group goals. As such, leadership today should be referred as the pattern of behaviors that leaders exhibit rather than the individual or the properties or traits or qualities of the individuals. Secondly, leadership is the designed act to influence people to influence people to modify their behavior. Thirdly, leadership is characterized as a single individual who usually fulfills the role for a group. Fourthly, leadership influence is viewed by followers as reasonable and justified. Fifthly, leadership influence is directed towards achieving group goals.
Current leadership experts agree that effective leadership behavior depends on situational and follower characteristics. To be effective leaders means to be able to diagnose the situation and follower’s characteristics and this will determine the pattern of leadership behavior that will result in high performance. This suggests that leader’s behavior differ from leadership traits or skills. Nevertheless, behavior and traits or skills interact to determine a leader’s effectiveness.
Certain situational or followers characteristics can increase or decrease the effectiveness of a leader’s behavior. Nevertheless, leaders have important roles to play in organizations, and effective leaders need to be aware of three tasks the effective leadership process:
Show More

Related Documents: Leadership Essay

Importance Of Leadership In Leadership

To accomplish this, I need to maintain a positive outlook every day and believe that every problem or obstacle can be overcome. This is not an easy take, however by adopting some of the leadership approaches I learned from this course it is possible. By evolving and making changes to the way I am currently live, I can improve my circumstances. For example, by planning and scheduling better I will procrastinate less both at work and as a…

Words 1353 - Pages 6

Leadership: Leadership and Transformational Leadership Essay

Leadership Executive Summary Leadership is to influence organizational environment and people so as to enable effective use of organizational resources and productive working of people with contentment for accomplishment of organizational objectives. A modern managerial leader should be well-versed about cultural peculiarities in which he or she performs and lives, exposed to cultural surroundings, alert, and able to implement the appropriate leadership style for the particular cultural…

Words 6887 - Pages 28

Essay on Leadership: Leadership and Transformational Leadership

Leadership: Leadership is about leading a group of people or an organization. In its essence, leadership in an organizational role involves establishing a clear vision. Sharing that vision with others so that they will follow willingly. "It is the process of influencing the activities of an organized group in its efforts toward goal setting and goal achievement". (ch.19 pg 596)Leadership is about influencing the behavior of the others. "one cannot be a leader without followers, and followers…

Words 1173 - Pages 5

The Importance Of Leadership In Leadership

Leadership is the process of influencing relationships between leaders and followers by the leaders motivate, persuade the followers try to work to their full potential in order to make the changes and achieve the desired goals. The sources of influence of the leader may come from official positions (supervisor, manager, director, etc.) or from other sources (knowledge, expertise, social skills, communication, etc.). These positions derive from an authority based on the rules and laws. Therefore…

Words 749 - Pages 3

Leadership: Leadership and truly Inspirational Leadership Essay

Leadership Leadership is the action of leading a group of people or an organization. In my short two years in the army I’ve seen good leadership and bad leadership. A leader is a motivation for others that inspires individuals to aim high and attain that aim. However a boss only supervises over his subordinates. There are many different types of leadership styles some are effective in different ways some are not. in world war II a man came who’s leadership style was similar to today’s army he believed…

Words 496 - Pages 2

Essay on Leadership: Leadership and Situational Leadership Theory

LEADERSHIP Leadership • Leadership Perspectives/Theories • Trait theories • Behavioral theories • Contingency theories • Leader-Member Exchange theory • Charismatic Leadership • Transformational Leadership • Challenges to the Leadership Construct • Attribution theory • Substitutes and Neutralizers What Is Leadership? • Leadership • The ability to influence a group toward the achievement of vision or goals • Management • Use of authority inherent in designated formal rank to obtain…

Words 927 - Pages 4

Leadership: Leadership and Subordinates Essay

responsibilities concurrent to their position to earn their title of Sergeant, and be a true leader of soldiers. Field Manual 6-22 Army Leadership (2006) defines leadership as “the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation while operating to accomplish the mission and improving the organization.” In my own words Leadership is mentoring soldiers, setting the example for your subordinates to emulate, training to accomplish the mission, and being available to assist…

Words 924 - Pages 4

Importance Of Leadership Skills In Leadership

individual assignment is to measure the leadership skills learned from my internship in Building Department of Hong Kong Government. Leadership skill is kind of thing that build with time and tasks in order to develop that can learn from school such as joining the academic or interest society in University. However, I think the real working environment will give you an opportunity of real-time training so that I would like to measure the achievement in leadership skill in this internship. In this assignment…

Words 948 - Pages 4

Leadership and Transformational Leadership Essay

Comparison Matrix Article 1 Article 2 Article 3 Title/Author(s) Transformational Leadership in the Public Sector: Does Structure Matter? Wright & Pandey The Effect Of Transactional and Transformational Leadership Styles on the Organizational Commitment and Job Satisfaction of Customer Contact Personnel Emery & Barker Systems Collaboration with Schools and Treatment of Severely Emotionally YeeLee, Teater, Hsu, Greene, Fraser, Solovey, and David Grove Persistent GCU Library Link http://library…

Words 981 - Pages 4

Leadership: Leadership and Decision Making Essay

Leadership is found in every day life events, inside and out of a formal work organization. As part of a managing organization, the concept of leadership is one of the four most important. Leadership is not just a simple concept, it has many ramifications and styles. Not every leader can lead, but those who can grasp the leadership credentials can be most successful at leading others. Leadership does not always mean that the person in the position has the right of maltreatment for whom they believe…

Words 1053 - Pages 5