3-LeadingLeadership.docVIP

3 – MAnagement functions: Leading Leadership Leading/Leadership (p16): Is the ability to influence people toward achieving organizational goals Leaders need to possess initiative (the willingness to take action) in order to lead Is ‘people’ oriented: a leader needs followers Is power based – positional (reward, coercive, legitimate), personal (expertise, character) Managing is doing the job of management/leading is the style in which management is done Discussion: “People want to be led.” - For people in general, do you agree or disagree? What about you personally? Do you think leaders are born or trained? LEADERSHIP STYLES (p17): Activity: What is your leadership style? Psychologist Kurt Lewin identified three major leadership styles: Authoritative (Autocratic) Method of communication: Telling Leader retains full authority for all decisions – little or no employee input Requires very little communication between manager and workers Employees are discouraged from being creative Employees who desire responsibility will become frustrated by this style Commonly found in unskilled/low-tech/labor intensive environments or where following orders is important Very effective when in a crisis/when quick decisions are needed Offers clear decision making Decisions are only as good as the person making them More difficult to move from being autocratic to democratic than vice-versa Participative (Democratic) Method of communication: Persuading Generally considered to be the most effective leadership style Employees output may be lower than under Authoritative leadership but is of a much higher quality Encourages group participation in decision making process but leader retains authority to make final decision Requires lots of communication between manager and workers Employees tend to be skilled, well paid and educated - capable of thinking about a problem creatively. High-tech, high skill environments Very effective in a team working environment Decision making is better as