...Bridgewater Review Volume 24 | Issue 1 Article 6 Jun-2005 The Importance of Leadership Dorothy J. Mulcahy Bridgewater State College Recommended Citation Mulcahy, Dorothy J. (2005). The Importance of Leadership. Bridgewater Review, 24(1), 7-10. Available at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/br_rev/vol24/iss1/6 This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The Importance of Leadership by Dorothy J. Mulcahy Why is the topic of leadership important? History is rich with stories of leaders who have shaped the course of nations, the economy, and society. It is well recognized that effectively run organizations are more productive and successful while poorly run organizations suffer at the hands of ineffective leaders. Compounding the need for effective leadership is the unethical and illegal behavior of numerous business and public sector leaders that has led to the failure of many organizations. The scandals at Enron, WorldCom, HealthSouth, OfficeMax, Tyco, Marsh & McLennan, Putnam, and Boeing, to name just a few, have focused on the importance of strong, effective, and ethical leadership. Dissatisfaction on the part of stockholders and boards of directors has increasingly led to the termination of high-profile CEOs. The recent termination of HewlettPackard’s CEO Carleton (Carly) Fiorina has focused considerable attention on the qualities a leader needs to have in order...
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...Leadership is the foundation of an organization, be it private, governmental or public. It is a top down process. It is a big responsibility upon which an organization is based on. More than 400 definitions of leadership exist in the literature, (King & Cunningham, 1995), and numerous frameworks have been developed for understanding leadership styles and approaches, (Merson, 2011). There are different leadership attributes, some good and some bad. Good leadership attributes are not inherited but developed through self-discipline and through time and pressure. They are the result of instruction, commitment and deep concern for what is right for the benefit of others. They are modelled on a daily basis, tested and proven in times of trial and...
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...| The Importance Of Leadership | Theory & Concepts | | The definition of leadership and a look into the classical leadership theories and concepts. | | Toni James | 10/29/2012 | | Contents Introduction p.2 Defining Leadership p.2, 3 Introducing Theory and Concepts p.3 Traits Theory p.3, 4 Behaviour Theories p.5, 6 Contingency theory p.5 Transactional and Transformational Theory p.5, 6 Conclusion p.6, 7 Reference List p.8, 9 Bibliography p.9 Appendix 1 p.10 Introduction The following report will focus on defining leadership, research and comparison into leadership theories and concepts. It will look at appropriate leadership concepts that can be applied to Paragon Software in order to help grow market share. Defining Leadership Leadership is viewed in a number of different ways and there are many interpretations of its meaning. Leadership may be exercised as an attribute of position, or because of personal knowledge or wisdom. Leadership may be based on a function of personality, or it can be seen as a behavioural category. It may also be viewed in terms of a leader’s ability to achieve effective performance from others. (Mullins, 2009) Stogdill (1974, p.259) concluded that there are almost as many definitions of leadership as there are persons who have attempted to define the concept. (Stogdill, 1974) There lie two fundamental difficulties in defining leadership. Firstly, leadership is open to subjective interpretation...
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...Taking the constantly changing world into consideration, it is extremely crucial to set certain leadership training programs concerning to instruct and promote leadership skills. Actually, leaders play a crucial role in setting a vision for the whole organization. An effective school leader together with his/her constant preparations can positively impact not only teachers, but also the student achievement. Based on some scholars, Johnson (2016, p.3) states that qualified leaders significantly influence the student outcome. Consequently, the leader’s empowering the followers of the organization by his/her improved skills serves as a key factor in the success of the whole school. As a result of it, there must be confirmed basics for those who...
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...Nothing makes me happier than inspiring others, motivating them to develop their skills, and help them to work towards an organization’s goals (Batool, 2013). What are my leadership objectives? - Having social skills and social awareness is one of my strong points; I have a large amount of empathy towards others’ feelings, emotions, wants and needs. I like to think I can sense employees’ feelings about their work environment, or get them to open up about it. (Even just writing this now is motivating/inspiring me to perhaps consider one of the recommended career paths for ENTJs – Human Resources!) - Motivate; I constantly motivate friends, family and colleagues, inspiring them to better themselves, and constantly believe their goals, aspirations and dreams are possible. - I lead how I would want to be led; with respect, trusting and believing in talents, by example, etc. How do I take advantage of my strong points...
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...Administration is interpreting policies and making them effective. Leadership, however, includes establishing a clear vision, communicating the vision to others and persuading them to follow you. The purpose of leadership in administration is to produce and sustain a business culture, keep members of the organization knowledgeable, and promote progressive change within the organization (Daft, 2008). Leadership in administration is essential because it creates a general culture that everyone shares and is a part of. The absence of the clear structure that administrative leadership provides will result in a lack of clarity and different teams of people following different directions. In order to properly demonstrate my strategy, I will utilize the five practices of exemplary leadership, model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act and encourage the heart. In order to improve our current structure, we must first create a culture that models the vision of the organization. Creating a culture means that specific values and guidelines will be practiced (Kouzes & Posner, 2007). Personal traits such as integrity, honesty and trust worthiness are traits that illustrate effective leadership. More significant than personal traits are visible behaviors. These behaviors include displaying concern for others while maintaining dignity and respect, listening, being attentive and accepting of questions and concerns, as well as making impartial decisions...
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...ABSTRACT At the time scholars have to develop conceptual foundations of leadership, few attempts have made to unify the plethora of existing definition. The lack of precise, rigorous and commonly accepted definition of global leadership limits the field’s conceptual and empirical progress. The recommended practice for construct definitions, they first review and critique existing definitions of global leadership. Second, one they specifically focus on explicating the global construct by global leadership occurrence and propose three magnitudes with this sub-construct can analyzed: complexity, flow, and presence. At last, they offer refused construct definition and concluded with implications for research and practice....
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...The Importance of Feedback One of the characteristic of great bosses is the ability to improve, in several different ways, characteristics of their subordinates, in order to do so a lot of communications skills are required and one particular tool is extremely valuable at this point, the feedback. According to Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen: "Feedback is how we learn about ourselves from our experiences and from other people", it has been used by great leaders to point out opportunities of improvement and qualities of employees therefore increasing their selfknowledge. The ability to dialogue though listening and communicating, where feedback is included, was even listed as one of the 8 Tenets of Good Managers proving that the subject is deeply connected with best practices of leadership. Providing helpful informations during the feedback is also important for improving workers that are performing low. Adam Bryant describes in it's article Google’s Quest to Build a Better Boss a case study about a manager that had a terrible performance and, after the appropriate feedback and training had been provided to him he were able to be a better professional. He did not became one of the top professionals, but his performance undoubtedly improved. One of the most popular way of applying feedback in companies is using the 360 technique. One employee receive and provide feedback from the entire team members or coworkers, after the process finishes...
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...Successful teams have a balance of effective leadership and attentive followership. Every team is made up of both leaders and followers both are essential for success. The idea of being a leader and leadership, in general, is complicated. Is someone a leader because of the position that they hold? Or do certain traits designate a leader? I do not know if there is a correct way to define a leader. Just because you can be a leader at one company does not automatically mean you are able to lead in a different company. The idea that all leaders share the same specific traits is too farfetched to believe. The answer may be somewhere in the middle, a position should not define your leadership ability and not exhibiting a specific trait shouldn’t...
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...organizational goals. As an employee to a successful organization this is disheartening to know that no matter how hard you work some leaders just do not value their employees. This is a problem in many organizations that must be addressed to prolong employee affective commitment and keep servant leaders to help eliminate toxic organizational cultures. Their positive attitudes and selfless ability to help others eventually rub off on those they serve and grow servant leaders that not only practice this philosophy in the workplace but out in the communities and churches as well. This leadership practice makes employees proud to be a part of an organization that is concerned with meeting their needs and...
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...Part A While developing my leadership skills, I have to soon ask myself, “What leadership styles are best-fit to me and my team?” To answer this question, the moment I assumed myself as a team leader, I’d decided to not only achieve team’s goals but also enhance my skills progressively. Tuckman (1965) explained that a team or/and a group usually develops smoothly over several stages: Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing.1 Thereby, as soon as we had received a case-study from lecturer, I started to construct my own procedure, which is based on Tuckman’s stages, the given deadline, and my teammate’s individual differences. Situation & Solution For this case-study, we’re asked to analyse and give a solution for IKEA’s eventual future...
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...Self-leadership in its simplest term is the leadership of oneself. However, how one leads themselves and if they do so effectively determines whether their leadership journey will become a transformational one or not (Neck, Manz, & Houghton, 2017). This transformational journey of self-leadership must begin by discovering one’s vocation, mastering mindfulness, and feeding one’s curiosity as these three tools lay the foundation from upon which to build. Self-Leadership Self-leadership, grounded in behavioral and cognitive strategies, “addresses not only how but also what and why” to aid in positivity and productivity (Neck et al., 2017). By focusing one’s attention on behavioral and cognitive strategies, you are shaping and reshaping yourself....
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...the link concerning leadership and organisational performance which is supported by some researchers concluded that by paying little care to an estimated organisational performance relationship, it was found that their discoveries are unsettled and hard to understand. From the review of related literature, they said that it was obvious that even if a few researchers accept that leadership improves organisational performance however, there are many others who doesn't believe it’s actual. However by making direct examinations is for all intents and purposes unimaginable in light of the fact that diverse ideas of initiative have been utilized as a part of distinctive studies. 2.1.1 TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE Leadership may have numerous definitions and different criteria for achievement, it is characterized by the thought that it is an impacted process that in numerous examples is situational. The success of a leader depends on his or her ability to accomplish a goal through the actions of those involved in the team. The accomplishment of a leader therefore relies on his or her capacity to perform an objective through the activities of those enclosed in the group. Lee and Chuang (2009), expressed that a remarkable leader moves subordinate's capability to support productivity as well as meets their basics needs during the time spent accomplishing organisational goal. It is claimed by many researches that transformational leadership performances will...
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...The Importance of Leadership in Project Management Leadership is defined by Merriam-Webster as the capacity to lead (Merriam-Webster n.d.). How do you lead? Being able to lead is a tough task usually taken on by the most confident, most qualified, most organized or most experienced individual available for the task at hand. In the world of Project Management all the qualities previously listed are helpful to be effective and efficient in accomplishing the project goal. Leadership abilities take on a very important role and are vital to the completion of the project. Leadership per say is not one person running the show; that’s the project manager, but leadership is the cultivation of the people involved in each process. Each phase of a project usually has a person or group that specializes in that area and they take on the leadership role in said area or process. Again I state that leadership is vital and the one(s) in the position need to be task oriented and use the five process group to complete the project. The project manager is an essential factor, because it all begins with that individual. The project manager’s responsibilities are to delegate tasks within each process to the staff based upon their strong points and abilities. The project manager is also responsible for relaying information and the status of the project to management and the administration (Bunin 2009). Acting as a liaison the project manager’s leadership abilities are crucial to the success of the...
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...Bryant Devine August, 2012 The Importance Leadership Traits and Virtues In the reading's I found several traits that continually repeat. Even past reviews continually repeat there traits; i.e., Self-confidence, integrity, sociability, emotional control and maturity: Even the six traits in Kirkpatrick and Locke relate to the "Big Five" in Judge, Ilies, Bono, and Gerhardt research on personality and leadership. Nonetheless, these trait help an emerging leader understand their role in leadership, and assists them in developing these traits. In order that we may understand the significance of these traits, we must seek comparisons the six traits and "Big Five". We can first compare Neuroticism, from the "Big Five", with Emotional control and maturity. "Neuroticism represents the tendency to exhibit poor emotional adjustment and experience negative effects, such as anxiety, insecurity, and hostility" (Judge, Ilies, Bono, Gerhardt, pg. 81). Conversely, with emotional control and maturity, leaders "generally do not become angry or enraged… leaders remain composed upon hearing that an employee made a costly mistake" (Kirkpatrick, Locke, pg. 76). Nonetheless, what is learned is that the best leaders can remain calm under-pressure, and help those around them stay calm as well. We can also compare self-confidence with Neuroticism. If there is a lack of self-confidence, one will positively reflect the trait of Neuroticism. Nonetheless, self-confidence along with emotional...
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