LEADERSHIP PROCESS (CONTD.):Qualities of Leaders, Self-Confidence, Integrity

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Leadership & Team Management MGMT 623

Lesson 08

LEADERSHIP PROCESS (CONTD.)

Dear students in lecture number eight our focus is still on leadership process. Let's start with the

qualities of Leaders.

Qualities of Leaders:

Real leaders have certain qualities which make them different from rest of the team members/followers.

Few of those qualities are given in the following slide.

Qualities of Leaders

Vision

Self-Confidence

Ability

Persistence

Enthusiasm

Vitality

Stability

Charisma

Concern for Others

Integrity

I will try to explain all these qualities one by one.

Vision: A leader has to have some ideas about his/her organization, about how the future could be

different. A leader requires strong sense of purpose and should be clear in concept of collective Vision

(Organization) and recognizes what must be done and how to makes strategies for the accomplishment

of their vision. Clear concepts about vision can make a leader more focused and effective. Vision about

what is happening, what needs to be done and what is coming in future.

Ability:

Leaders must know about his or her Job and keep knowledge updated and have ability

to understand information, formulate strategies, and make the decisions. If leader fails to do all these,

employees do not respect him/her, and ultimately leader loses faith and trust. That will be failure of a

leader. Followers always look toward leaders when making decision, when they are in problem, or

stuck or when things are not working. They will look toward leaders. Even for technical issues, they

will look toward leaders for solution. So a leader must have the ability to handle all such issues.

Enthusiasm: This is also an important trait of leaders. Leaders always create excitements, which

causes others to become interested and willing to accept the challenges. Leaders always generate

enthusiasm in followers so that this excitement can trigger the goal oriented actions and ultimately

followers get motivated and involved in the achievement of the organizational goals.

Stability: Stability is another important quality of leaders. Leaders need to be emotionally stable in

handling challenges, in decision making and during the time of pressures. During the process of

leadership plus and minuses do come and leaders need to face them with courage and unless they have

stability in their personality, this will become very difficult. Leaders should possess objectivity, should

not bring personal problems to work and be emotionally stable.

Leadership & Team Management MGMT 623

Concern for Others: Leaders must be concerned always for their followers, with their welfares and

don't treat them as machines. It is always the responsibility of the leaders to think about the welfare of

the employees. A leader must have a humble and caring attitude towards employee/followers. So that if

he/she always puts the interest of others first, the loyalty will be built, and ultimately the employees will

work with more devotion and commitment.

Self-Confidence: Self confidence is very important quality one should have. For leaders this will

become even more important. All we discussed different leaders qualities above, these are all linked

with the self concept. With self confidence, leaders can mange and handle even difficult situations. That

is the trait/quality which is appreciated by all concerns. Successful leaders stay calm and confident and

show confidence in their actions.

Persistence:

Determination of a leader is also very important for business success. So, a leader

should have the devotion and commitment for business and continuously motivate the employees for

achieving the organizational goals. The outgoing approach and persistence approach is always paying

and pushing the followers for the accomplishment of goals.

Vitality: Leaders need strength/energy and stamina. Effective leaders are electric, vigorous, active, and

full of life, regardless of age or disability. These qualities energize followers too. To achieve goals,

leaders need stamina, energy, health, and vigor. Same is true for followers.

Charisma: A Personality Trait. A quality that generates others' interest and creates followers. To

influence others, charisma plays very important role.

Integrity: The most important quality of leader is honesty, strength of character, and courage. Leaders

need to have strong integrity. So leader must have loyal, honest with his/her work and also with his/her

team too. It will also lead to trust and respect. Honesty, strength of character, and courage will always

lead to trust building, creating loyalty.

What Leaders Can Influence?

Leaders influence others' behavior, attitude and actions. They influence mostly the work related

attitudes and behaviors of followers. The Importance of a great leader is the development and growth of

followers. Same way Importance of a great follower is the growth of leaders.

The Situation

The element of "the situation " may be the most ambiguous aspect of the leadership framework because

it can refer to anything form the specific task a group is engaged in all the way to broad situation

contexts.

Task

Environment

Stress

A Brief History of Leadership

Before the 20th century leadership was the exclusive domain of royals or military people. Following

were the focus of leadership during different time frames.

1901-1914:

Prosperity

Key role of government

Leadership emphasis on public officials

1914-1945:

Leadership & Team Management MGMT 623

Two world wars and great depression

Greater emphasis on coordination, consistency, strength and stability

Use of statutory authorities

New talent

Promotion by efficiency

Relationship with politicians is servant-oriented

Organizational context dominates follower relationships

1945-1970s:

More statutory authorities and greater international focus and role

Indigenous and environment policy

Equal opportunity

Concerted emphasis on training

Educated work force

Rotation and exchange began

Shift in gender in the Service

1975-2000:

Economic transition to cope with economic globalization

Privatization, efficiency and microeconomic reform

Multiculturalism/Globalization

The Purpose of Leadership in the 21st Century is more economic empowerment and empowerments of

followers. More freedoms to make decision and focus on creativity. Globalization, merging of

businesses for sharing of resources, responsive to change and stake holders etc are the purposes of

today's leadership.

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