What Is Leadership?
Leadership is a multifaceted process that is aimed at the effective guidance of the team toward certain objectives. The fundamental constituents of the management are the leader, the followers, and the exchange between them. At the present time, leadership is presented in various forms; however, the primary objectives of the model generally include the improvement of organizational performance and the enhancement of the relationships between the members (Oc, 2018).
Qualities of a Leader
Ability to Influence Others
The leader should be charismatic and have the ability to guide people.
Objective-Oriented Mindset
The leader should clearly distinguish short-term and global objectives and act accordingly.
Communication
Communication competencies are essential to maintain healthy relationships among team members.
Ethics and Morale
A good understanding of ethics and cultural norms might significantly improve organizational performance (Newstead et al., 2019).
Continual Self-Improvement
The leader should set an example for the followers by constantly learning and improving.
Flexibility and Adaptability
Organizational development is frequently a chaotic process; therefore, the leader should have a considerable degree of adaptability.
Sense- and Decision-Making
The ability to make a quick judgment and perform accordingly takes a special place among the necessary qualities of the leader. While decision-making is one of the central characteristics of the supervisor, recent research demonstrates the increasing significance of sense-making (Sandberg & Tsoukas, 2020). This term takes various forms but generally refers to the development of the team members according to the activities they perform and consequent reflection on their responsibilities. Therefore, the leader should be conscious of sense-making to invoke positive connotations among the followers and continually work on the framework to guide the team toward the designated objectives.
Leadership Theories
Innate Leadership
The strategies focus on the innate qualities of an individual that might be beneficial for the position of the leader. Such models generally assume that a person is born with a certain set of characteristics that contribute to leadership potential. At the present time, these frameworks are slightly outdated; however, they are not completely irrelevant.
Great Man Theory
This theory emphasizes innate talent and presumes that only certain individuals can become leaders (Khan et al., 2016).
Trait Theory
This theory is less radical and states that an individual born with certain qualities is more likely to become a leader (Wyatt & Silvester, 2018).
Behavioral Leadership
The current form of leadership generally focuses on the followers and their behavioral patterns. Having acknowledged the unique traits of each member of the team, the leader is able to act accordingly.
Primal (Emotional) Theory
This theory acknowledges the paramount significance of human relationships and emphasizes the emotional state of the followers. The leader utilizes the concept of emotional intelligence to invoke positive feelings among the members of the team (Kang & Oh, 2017).
Behavioral Theory
This theory focuses on the behavioral patterns of other prominent leaders and attempts to critically observe and analyze their methods (Oberer & Erkollar, 2018).
Adaptable Leadership
According to this model, it is not reasonable to utilize only one leadership management paradigm for every situation. Therefore, the leader should display a substantial degree of adaptability, be proficient in sense- and decision-making, and correctly estimate the capabilities and inclinations of the followers.
Contingency Theory
The current framework is focused entirely on the versatility of the leader and their capability to make crucial decisions depending on the situation (Thompson & Glasø, 2018).
Chaos Theory
The theory acknowledges the chaotic nature of the world and, similar to the contingency theory, proposes flexibility and adaptability as the primary qualities of the leader (Watkins et al., 2017).
Authoritative Leadership
The authoritative model emphasizes the leader as the central figure of the management, allocating complete control over the members of the team and their tasks. According to this framework, the followers have limited independence in their decision-making and have to consult the leader concerning most assignments. Nevertheless, this model might operate exclusively well in high-risk settings, such as emergency management (Kanwal et al., 2019).
Transactional Leadership
The transactional theory is one of the two dominant frameworks in contemporary organizational leadership and is generally indicated by direct and transparent commands from the supervisor. This model does not apprehend creative thinking and is more suited for a stressful environment where the members of the team must follow regulated protocols.
Transformational Leadership
Contrary to the transactional model, the transformational framework is indicated by designating broad objectives and allocating the followers’ independence in their decision-making. By focusing on global goals, the team transforms the organization, and the leader supervises the process, ensuring the high morale and motivation of the members (Delegach et al., 2017).
What Is the Best Leadership Framework?
Consider the Industry
The first step is to evaluate the industry, including risk assessment of the processes and the primary mission of the company.
Consider the Audience
Secondly, it is essential to assess the subordinates and critically analyze what framework would meet the requirements.
Consider the Objectives
Lastly, it is necessary to identify the global purpose of the organization and specific short-term objectives.
Span of Control
In general, the term indicates the ratio between supervisors and subordinates and is one of the central concepts in organization management. Therefore, the optimal span of control is the primary objective during the development of the company. Furthermore, to properly balance the ratio between supervisors and subordinates, it is essential to evaluate the capabilities of the leaders since they play a vital role in the process.
How to Incorporate Theory into Pedagogical Practice?
It is possible to utilize the notion of leadership in the pedagogical context since the figure of the professor is comparable to the position of the leader in several ways. Similar to the organizational structure, every class is unique are requires a particular approach. The professor needs to critically evaluate the students and the purpose of the course to propose an appropriate pedagogical strategy and learning techniques. Furthermore, the teacher needs to maintain the leadership position since it is proven to have positive effects on the performance of the students (Hunzicker, 2017).
Leadership Development Techniques
The implementation of leadership development is not exclusive to a business setting and might also be utilized in a wide array of classes for the personal growth of the students. Some of the techniques are the following:
- Team-Building Exercises;
- Diversity Training;
- Conflict Resolution;
- Peer-Coaching Learning;
- Case Enactment;
- And many more (Turner & Baker, 2017).
Implications for the Future of Terrorism
The notion of leadership might also be utilized as a response to terrorism. According to recent research, effective leadership development might have a profound impact on how sovereign power responds to terrorism (Jones et al., 2019). Terror act is a subject of emergency management; therefore, requires particular attention and a substantial degree of adaptability and decision-making from the leaders. Considering the nature of terrorism, it is essential that the leader holds the authoritative position in the team to take immediate action in case of an emergency.
References
Delegach, M., Kark, R., Katz-Navon, T., & Van Dijk, D. (2017). A focus on commitment: The roles of transformational and transactional leadership and self-regulatory focus in fostering organizational and safety commitment. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 26(5), 724-740.
Hunzicker, J. (2017). From teacher to teacher leader: A conceptual model. International Journal of Teacher Leadership, 8(2).
Jones, O. S., Jones, S. S., & Grint, K. (2019). Understanding sovereign leadership as a response to terrorism: A post-foundational analysis. Organization, 1-20.
Kang, K. C., & Oh, Y. H. (2017). Effects of emotional/primal leadership on job satisfaction and organizational commitment through mediating role of organizational culture in the food service industry. The Leadership Quarterly, 8(7), 245–251.
Kanwal, I., Lodhi, R. N., & Kashif, R. (2019). Leadership styles and workplace ostracism among frontline employees. Management Research Review, 42(8), 991-1013.
Khan, Z. A., Nawaz, A., & Khan, I. (2016). Leadership theories and styles: A literature review. Journal of Resources Development and Management, 16, 1–7.
Newstead, T., Dawkins, S., Macklin, R., & Martin, A. (2019). We don’t need more leaders – We need more good leaders. Advancing a virtues-based approach to leader(ship) development. The Leadership Quarterly, 101312.
Oberer, B., & Erkolar, A. (2018). Leadership 4.0: Digital leaders in the age of industry 4.0.International Journal of Organizational Leadership. Web.
Oc, B. (2018). Contextual leadership: A systematic review of how contextual factors shape leadership and its outcomes. The Leadership Quarterly.
Sandberg, J., & Tsoukas, H. (2020). Sensemaking reconsidered: Towards a broader understanding through phenomenology. Organization Theory, 1(1).
Thompson, G., & Glasø, L. (2018). Situational leadership theory: A test from a leader-follower congruence approach. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 39(5), 574–591.
Turner, J. R., & Baker, R. (2017). Pedagogy, leadership, and leadership development. Performance Improvement, 56(9), 5-11.
Watkins, D., Earnhardt, M., Pittenger, L., Roberts, R., Rietsema, K., & Cosman-Ross, J. (2017). Thriving in complexity: A framework for leadership education. Journal of Leadership Education, 16(4).
Wyatt, M., & Silvester, J. (2018). Do voters get it right? A test of the ascription-actuality trait theory of leadership with political elites. The Leadership Quarterly, 29(5), 609–621.