How a team operates can significantly impact organizational success, and leadership plays a vital role. The approach that a person in charge takes can either positively or negatively influence motivation, productivity, and commitment among team members. Therefore, a leader’s effectiveness depends on their ability to inspire, motivate, and engage their team. In this paper, we present the insights of an interviewee who shares their perspective on what leadership means to them and how their outlook on leadership has changed over time.
The interview with the person in charge offers insight into the changing perspective of leading and its significance in establishing a successful organization. Initially, the individual viewed leadership as oppressive and restrictive, aligning with the conventional approach where one individual possesses all the authority and makes every decision. However, their stance presently emphasizes the necessity of a cooperative method, where the person in charge creates a vision and motivates others to pursue it. This aligns with the transformational leadership style, where the leader is a visionary and inspires their team to reach their full capabilities. Purwanto et al. support that transformational leadership involves inspiring and motivating followers to achieve their full potential (2020). This leadership style emphasizes collaboration and encourages leaders to create a vision that inspires and motivates others to pursue it. This aligns with the leader’s current view of leadership.
The crucial moments of the person in charge emphasize the value of gaining insights from situations and adjusting to new conditions. Recognizing that the team lacked motivation despite accomplishing their goals stresses the significance of attentive listening and establishing a cooperative atmosphere. This aligns with the approach of servant leadership, where prioritizing the needs of others and fostering a nurturing environment for growth and progress is essential. Discovering servant leadership represented another turning point in the individual’s journey, indicating the necessity of continuing education and leadership growth. Northouse’s book “Leadership: Theory and Practice” supports the idea that leaders should be flexible in adapting their style to fit the situation. The leader’s realization that their team was not motivated despite their successes emphasizes the importance of adjusting to changing circumstances. Furthermore, the book introduces the concept of servant leadership, which resonates with the leader’s strategy of creating a supportive environment that nurtures growth and development.
The leader’s inspiration from Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. emphasizes the significance of authenticity, vision, and servant-mindedness in guiding others. These renowned leaders motivate and inspire individuals to work towards a shared goal and positively impact society. This aligns with the charismatic leadership style, in which the leader has a clear vision and motivates followers to work towards it. The emphasis on trust, respect, and communication when working with others reflects the importance of creating a positive and supportive environment. This approach is aligned with the relationship-oriented leadership style, which prioritizes building strong relationships and fostering a supportive work environment. Additionally, giving people autonomy, ownership, and accountability for their work reflects the importance of empowering others, consistent with the empowerment leadership style. The conclusion drawn by the interviewee that leadership requires a continuous process of learning, growing, and improving underscores the significance of self-awareness and personal development. The emphasis on leading by example and being a role model for others also signifies the importance of ethical leadership, in which an individual sets a precedent of ethical behavior and nurtures a culture of integrity and honesty.
The perspective of the interviewed individual regarding leading is commendable and conforms to contemporary approaches that prioritize collaboration, growth, and development. The leader’s recognition of the significance of listening and establishing a supportive work environment is particularly noteworthy. I believe such an approach could lead to higher motivation, productivity, and job satisfaction, as evidenced by Vögele et al.’s research on servant leadership (2020). Hence, I agree with their views and am convinced their strategies could yield positive results for their organization.
Leadership should prioritize creating a conducive work environment and empowering individuals to reach their full potential. This is consistent with the transformational and relationship-oriented leadership styles, where leaders focus on inspiring and motivating others by creating a vision and building strong relationships based on trust and respect. Transformational leadership is linked to increased job satisfaction and organizational commitment among employees (Irshad et al., 2021). Moreover, ethical leadership, which emphasizes integrity and honesty, is critical in fostering a culture of accountability and trust.
The interview has reinforced my opinions on the importance of collaboration, growth, and development in leading. The emphasis on servant leadership and self-awareness, and personal development has underscored the importance of continuous learning and improvement. Additionally, the strategies for establishing a supportive work environment align with my beliefs on the significance of building strong relationships and empowering individuals. Overall, the interview reinforced my perspectives on modern leading approaches prioritizing collaboration, growth, and development.
In conclusion, the interview with the leader provides valuable insights into contemporary leadership approaches and their significance in establishing successful organizations. The leader’s evolving perspective on leading highlights the importance of continuous learning, self-awareness, and personal development. Creating a supportive work environment based on trust, respect, and communication aligns with modern leadership styles such as transformational, relationship-oriented, and empowerment leadership. Ethical leadership is also essential in nurturing a culture of integrity and honesty. The interview reinforces the belief that the administration should prioritize collaboration, growth, and development. This approach could lead to higher motivation, productivity, and job satisfaction. The interview has underscored the importance of leading contemporary practices prioritizing collaboration, growth, and development and their significance in establishing successful organizations.
References
Irshad, M., Majeed, M., & Khattak, S. A. (2021). The combined effect of safety specific transformational leadership and safety consciousness on psychological well-being of healthcare workers. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 688463. Web.
Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.
Purwanto, A., Kusumaningsih, S. W., & Prasetya, A. B. (2020). Did transformational leadership elitist and antidemocratic? A literature review. International Journal of Social, Policy and Law, 1(1), 1-11. Web.