Introduction
Leadership style refers to the manner in which a leader interacts with subordinates to influence and encourage them to achieve the organization’s goals. The primary function of a leadership institution is to establish and effectively manage organizational culture, enabling it to achieve its strategic goals and objectives.
As a person works to accomplish a greater goal, leadership arises from within. This goal is not for my own selfish benefit, but for the greater good. As much as a leader benefits from guiding others, the most essential thing for them is to see others’ lives improved. A leader’s abilities are utilized, and his character is shaped within his group and society at large.
Application of Leadership Approaches to Contemporary Events
It is no longer enough to be well-educated and capable of organizing people to be a leader in today’s society. Finding the ideal team leader or senior manager is a challenge for recruiters and HR managers (Northouse, 2021). Since corporations want more than simply a skilled employee, they also require someone who can inspire, encourage, assist, and manage the team. To develop these abilities, the specialist must first study the methodologies and various leadership ideas.
They must also identify which ones are most appropriate for them to begin using in practice. Applying various perspectives and theories to current events is also becoming increasingly essential. This is because to understand how certain businesses or organizations function, it is necessary to comprehend the approaches and theories that drive them.
Trait Approach
The trait hypothesis evolved from the “Great Man” theory, which posits that exceptional individuals are born with inherent leadership skills. According to this, leaders possess a set of characteristics that enable them to maintain their positions and make informed decisions on behalf of others. A recent publication from the Vanguard news portal highlighted the issues of leadership in Sub-Saharan Africa. The author explored various leadership concepts and their impact on the growth of leaders (Okogba, 2023).
The Gandhi family in India, the Bhutto family in Pakistan, the Kennedy clan in the United States of America, and the Bush family were all referenced by the author. According to trait theory, these individuals from these families have inherited certain leadership qualities. Gandhi is often referred to as the spiritual leader of the nation due to his ideology of nonviolent resistance, and his works continue to be widely used today.
Skills Approach
The personal attributes approach suggests that a set of specific traits is necessary for effective leadership in all contexts. Later, the approach’s hypothesis was discredited, and the opinion was advanced that no such set of personal attributes is found in all effective leaders. This finding is frequently cited as proof that leadership effectiveness is situational. Different situations necessitate different skills and attributes.
The author of the Human Resource Executive news item emphasizes multiple times that great communication skills are becoming a characteristic of leadership prospects. The writer also promotes the services of a coaching firm named Torch in his article (Lavoie, 2023). The skills approach to leadership can be applied by assessing the services that this agency emphasizes.
Behavioral Approach
The behavioral approach served as the foundation for categorizing leadership styles, also known as behavioral styles. It has made a significant contribution and served as a valuable tool for comprehending the complexity of leadership. According to the behavioral approach to leadership, a leader’s efficacy is defined by their behavior towards subordinates rather than by personal traits.
The Forbes news story highlights how understanding and applying this behavioral psychology theory can shift leadership from management to transformational leadership (Laker, 2023). When behavioral theory is applied to reinforcement theory, it is possible to infer that the behavioral approach is the dominant method. This is because it facilitates the analysis and categorization of leadership styles, or how a leader interacts with their subordinates.
Situational Approach
Additional variables can significantly impact leadership effectiveness. These situational aspects include the requirements and personal traits of subordinates, the nature of the work, the demands and effects of the environment, and the information accessible to the leader (Northouse, 2021). As a result, contemporary leadership theory has adopted a situational perspective.
According to the CBT News article, situational leadership is an effective approach for leaders committed to team success. Using this approach to adaptable leadership, as the author also mentions, may be an effective way to achieve organizational success (Iyanu, 2023). Furthermore, by integrating the findings of other researchers into the article, it is possible to infer that the situational approach is the best method for understanding leadership theory.
Path-Goal Theory
The goal-path theory posits that it is the leader’s role to support their subordinates in achieving their objectives, as well as to provide direction or guidance to ensure that the subordinates’ goals align with those of the group or organization. The phrase “path-to-target” refers to the concept that good leaders provide their subordinates with a clear way to accomplish their work objectives and aim to assist that path by removing any obstacles and hazards. Mary Beard’s piece attempts to relate present leadership with that which existed a long time ago (Beard, 2023).
For example, there were multiple times in Roman history when there were joint emperors. The author emphasizes that the Romans recognized, at least to some extent, the need for cooperation and that it was sometimes more effective to do things jointly. When we apply the path-goal theory to the Roman Empire, we may infer that the long-term leaders made great use of it. They were excellent leaders who directed their followers and gained great achievements as a result.
Leader-Member Exchange Theory
The interaction between employees and executives typically determines the effectiveness of an organization. Member leader theory tries to analyze these relationships and provide methods for optimizing them. Applying this principle in the workplace can boost morale and capitalize on each employee’s unique strengths. Leader-employee exchange theory is a concept that examines the relationship between leaders and employees. It assesses the efficacy of these partnerships and examines how they affect each employee’s growth and performance.
An HRMAsia news story examines how, contrary to common assumptions, workplace favoritism may have a beneficial influence on team performance (Tan, 2023). Using the Leader-Member Exchange Theory to explain this occurrence, it is possible to infer that developing a positive connection between the employee and the leader is beneficial to both the team and the firm as a whole. Such teams do not waste time arguing; everyone is at ease. This generates a conducive climate for productive work and considerable results.
Leadership Styles
Transformational Leadership
Transformational leadership is one of the most effective leadership styles, frequently employed in businesses and organizations. Transformational leaders inspire and can effect positive change at all levels, from individuals to large groups, to achieve significant goals (Northouse, 2021). The Nigerian Tribune article examines the types of leaders currently present in Nigeria. The author focuses on the advent of transactional leaders, who perceive leadership through the limited lens of self-aggrandizement, self-interest, short-termism, and suppression of public will (Aare Afe Babalola, 2023).
The transactional style of leadership involves using rewards and penalties to motivate followers. Transformational leadership is a style in which the leader uses their charm and zeal to inspire their followers. There will be an opportunity to address many of the country’s problems by adopting the transformational leadership theory in place of the transactional approach for the situation at hand. The author contends that a transformative leader will commit to adopting all fiscal, constitutional, and institutional principles of federalism in Nigeria’s political, economic, social, and educational realms.
Authentic Leadership
Being an authentic leader is a process of self-discovery and in-depth examination of one’s purpose, beliefs, fears, attitudes, behaviors, and leadership style. This transformation does not occur immediately; it is a process that might last a lifetime. The primary notion of authenticity is trust, which is comprised of four components: competence, honesty, fairness, and upholding commitments. Authentic leaders strive to think beyond their personal interests, work towards sustainability, and make work enjoyable for their employees. According to the FastCompany article, a real leader must be able to display emotion (Cooper, 2023).
However, there are occasions when emotional restraint is not just desirable but sometimes vital (Cooper, 2023). When addressing these phenomena with authentic leadership, the leader must first consider their team. As a result, to lead a team to success, a real, authentic leader must be able to regulate their own emotions. This is especially critical during times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Keeping emotions in check will help create a comfortable environment within the team and assist in minimizing the already high strain caused by global events.
Servant Leadership
The efficacy and coherence of the management work of state and local self-government organizations are primarily influenced by the individual who leads these bodies, as well as their experience, professional expertise, and natural or acquired leadership skills. A public office technically provides management with the required conditions to be a team leader, but it does not automatically make them one. A leader in the military must be accountable, unselfish, and concerned, first and foremost, with the people of the country they represent.
The recent announcement of the resignation of freshly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson demonstrates the importance of leadership in public service (Keene, 2023). The main tasks of the new speaker are the formation and development of the senior corps, the establishment of institutional preconditions for civil service reform, the sustainability and continuity of the public administration system, as well as its prompt response to the requirements and challenges arising from the country’s social transformation and economic development processes.
Adaptive Leadership
Adaptive leadership is a leadership concept developed by Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky. Heifetz describes it as the act of mobilizing a group of individuals to tackle complicated challenges and ultimately emerge triumphant (Northouse, 2021). Leaders are often pressured to adapt to the conditions of today’s volatile and uncertain business world. It is vital to perform very effectively to survive and grow in business. The goal of adaptive leadership is for corporate executives to adopt new methods and approaches to solve any obstacles that occur.
Shrinath Sridharan, a consultant with years of expertise, presents adaptive leadership as a successful problem-solving strategy in a recent BusinessWorld news item (Sridharan, n.d.). Adaptive leadership is a priority in today’s environment, where digitization is becoming a fundamental element of every organization. Such leaders will help a firm respond rapidly to changing conditions and become more competitive.
Psychodynamic Approach
According to proponents of the psychodynamic approach, people are fundamentally illogical entities. The unconscious drives the selection of a leader based on the deep desire for a protector and a strong personality. Thus, according to this perspective, the processes apparent to a person occurring within their psyche are governed not by external circumstances, nor by a person’s reason or will, but by autonomous dynamics, interaction, and conflict of forces within the psyche (Plakiotis, 2023).
Using a psychodynamic approach to this issue, it can be concluded that only a leader who has come to terms with their identity and understands their aims and biases will be able to successfully lead the team to success. Such a leader must be aware of their ideals and regulate themselves on both conscious and unconscious levels. With this technique, followers will be able to trust their leader, creating a favorable climate for success.
Leadership Ethics
Ethical leadership is a management style that adheres to a code of behavior and establishes expectations for others. They set a good example by demonstrating their ethical beliefs and values both within and outside the workplace. The prevalence of corruption and the increase of ethical transgressions in organizations make studying ethical leadership relevant nowadays. According to a recent Vatican News article, on June 9, business and religious executives, scholars, and officials from interested organizations convened at the Vatican Academy of Sciences (Wells, 2023). They planned to discuss how they might incorporate ethical leadership into their roles.
Using this approach, they must incorporate ethics and stewardship into their objectives and performance assessments, while also promoting involvement and holding themselves and others accountable. These steps will help the Summit achieve its objectives and attract additional professionals. It will also help gain public trust, which will contribute to the Summit’s success.
Team Leadership
Most individuals believe that CEOs make strategic decisions behind their employees’ backs, with little consideration for their input. However, since self-managed teams are common in many organizations, it is more difficult for leaders to be accountable for ensuring that their ideas are implemented by their staff. Instead, team leaders must provide the resources for team members to achieve their individual goals in their own unique ways. Leaders do not take on all of the responsibility but rather assist their subordinates in becoming accountable for their jobs. This means that the function of team leaders differs dramatically from the conventional “command and control” position.
An illustration of how leadership influences a team was provided in a recent IndiaTV editorial (Gupta, 2023). They praised the Indian sportsman Rohit, who plays cricket selflessly and sets the tone for future players. According to team leadership philosophy, Rohit’s role is to maintain team spirit and trust, rather than issuing directives to his subordinates. This may be accomplished by fostering interaction among all team members while playing a team game.
Gender and Leadership
The growing number of women employed in various organizations in developed countries has generated interest among contemporary researchers in the similarities and differences between the two sexes in the area of leadership. Despite the social equality of the sexes officially proclaimed in most countries and the ongoing democratization of society on a global scale, attitudes towards women leaders are full of prejudices.
A recent Drone Life publication reported that at the Women in New Aviation Technology seminar, the leading advocacy group, the Commercial Drone Alliance, announced a new initiative to support the development of women in leadership positions (McNabb, 2023). Applying gender and leadership perspectives to this event, one can conclude that equality is advancing rapidly worldwide. Many human rights groups and organizations are focusing on gender inequality. This suggests that women will soon be able to enter leadership positions worldwide without any obstacles.
Culture and Leadership
The use of leadership styles as a guide to action is critical to the development of an organization’s culture. Company leaders can influence the organizational culture by exhibiting specific leadership behaviors that align with the culture. According to a recent BVM Sports release, UNC Football will face the Georgia Institute of Technology on the road (BVM Sports, 2023). The team’s culture will be extensively evaluated during this game. Applying culture and leadership to this example, it is possible to conclude that organizational culture is critical. It shapes the team’s general image from the outside and contributes to its success.
Conclusion
Thus, a person who can dominate people can, first and foremost, rule themselves; they can take charge of any circumstance. The words and deeds of a leader engender trust and respect. It is crucial to understand that a leader clearly understands what they want out of life and from each specific scenario. Any businessman’s career requires purposefulness, self-confidence, and resilience. A leader is always the mind of the system that they have expertly established, so that all aspects revolve around them.
A leader continually strives for moral, spiritual, and physical perfection. Understanding the techniques and diverse leadership theories, as well as being able to apply them, is essential to determining the best path to proceed. This will help in understanding how leadership functions and determining which leadership style is best suited for a particular circumstance.
References
Aare Afe Babalola, O. (2023). Nigeria: Restructure or reconfigure (9). Tribune Online.
Beard, M. (2023). Business leadership lessons from the emperors of Rome. Google.
BVM Sports (2023). UNC football faces challenging road game against Georgia Tech: Culture and Leadership In Focus. BVM Sports.
Cooper, G. (2023). The role of emotion in leadership. Fast Company.
Gupta, E. (2023). Important to hear everyone out: Rohit Sharma on leadership, importance of man-management in team environment. English.
Iyanu, J. (2023). How situational leadership can elevate your entire team. CBT News.
Keene, H. (2023). Republicans celebrate newly minted House speaker Mike Johnson’s gavel ascension: “Servant leadership.” Fox News.
Laker, B. (2023). Harnessing the power of reinforcement theory as a leader: A deeper dive. Forbes.
Lavoie, A. (2023). Driving leadership development forward with a focus on relational skills. HR Executive.
McNabb, P. B. M., (2023). Commercial Drone Alliance Launches Women’s Leadership Development Task Force. DRONELIFE.
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Plakiotis, C. (2023). Psychodynamic leadership in healthcare settings. Research Handbook on Leadership in Healthcare, 150–168.
Sridharan, S. (n.d.). CEOS & Adaptive Leadership in 4th IR era. BW Businessworld.
Tan, J. (2023). The upside of having a favourite employee, or two. HRM Asia.
Wells, C. (2023). Church and corporate leaders reflect on principles of Business Ethics at Vatican Summit. Vatican News.