Abstract
A good leader is someone who is able to effectively use human resources in order to accomplish a specific goal. The ability to motivate and empower subordinates is a mark of a good leader. However, the effectiveness of a leader can be enhanced by the use of an appropriate leadership style.
The best leadership style is the combination of a coaching and military style of leadership. By using both frameworks the leader can motivate people by showing them how to accomplish a particular task. At the same time, the combination of these two leadership styles will enable the leader to instill discipline and to compel his or her subordinates to give their best efforts.
Leadership Style
Awareness of self enables the leader to lead people under his sphere of influence. It is therefore important for a leader to know more about his leadership style. It has to be made clear that there is no particular leadership style that can substitute true leadership. IN other words, the adoption of a particular leadership style cannot guarantee success.
Consider for instance the following statements, “Power is the capacity or potential to influence. People have power when they have the ability to affect others beliefs, attitudes, and courses of action” (Northouse, 2010, p.7). A good leader must possess the intrinsic qualities that will make him effective in a corporate setting or the battlefield.
A good leader must have competence and earns the trust of the people working under him. A particular leadership style cannot cover the incompetence of a leader. It is also not enough to hide certain moral failings (Daft, 2008, p.170). A good leader must first develop his reputation and certain skills before his subordinates will be willing to work with him in a corporate setting or fight with him in the battlefield.
Once the primary requirements of good leadership had been satisfied, a leader can develop an appropriate leadership style that is best suited to his skills and personality. The best leadership style is the effective blending of the coaching and military style of leadership. A coaching style is effective because it helps the subordinate to know areas that requires improvement.
A coaching style of leadership can be very personal and it may even entail one-on-one interaction with the leader and the subordinate. However this leadership style can be problematic if the leader is not assertive when it comes to meeting deadlines. It is also a problem if there is no urgency to accomplish critical goals.
A military type of leadership is effective when it comes to critical assignments. The adoption of this style of leadership can force subordinate to push their limits and in the process the subordinate will discover that he has the talent to accomplish a difficult task. The problem with a military style of leadership is that it can crush the spirit of the subordinate especially if the leader is unable to motivate people. It is also a problem if the leader oftentimes uses criticism to compel his men to act.
Conclusion
A good leader offers more than a leadership style. A good leader has all the necessary qualities that will enable him or her to influence and persuade people to accomplish a specific task. But once the primary requirements had been satisfied it is important to develop a particular leadership style that suits the personality and skills of a leader.
References
Daft, R. (2008). The leadership experience (5th ed.). OH: Thomson Learning.
Northouse, P. (2010). Leadership: theory and practice. CA: Sage Publications.