Functions, Traits, and Styles of Leadership

College of Public Administration

[ PA7 ] HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN ORGANIZATION

GROUP 7:L E A D E R S H I P

1

Reported By:

DIMARUCOT, OMAR N. ( BSPA – IIIB )

Functions of Leadership

Functions of a Leader

a) Establishing direction • Giving the proper direction to the

followers where determining the destination.

b) Aligning people• Keeping the followers within the control

of leader.

c) Motivating and inspiring• Motivate them and try to be inspired by

the leader.


d) Change management• Manage any type of organizational

change convincing the followers, creating trust to the management.

e) Coordination• Coordinate where necessary

f) Determining goal• Determine both long and short-term

goals and objectives to be achieved

g) Representing organization• Manager represents on behalf of the

organization.


h) Making quick and rational decision• Leaders should be able to make

immediate and rational decisions.

i) Environmental adaptation• Make the change according to the

environmental change to to it.

j) Communication• Effective communication to its

stakeholders.

Traits, Attributes & Qualities of a

Leader

Definitions

Leadership TRAITS • a set of stable characteristics• potentially lasting throughout one's

entire life

Leadership ATTRIBUTES• are inner or personal qualities that

constitute effective leadership;• a large array of characteristics such as

values, character, motives, habits, traits, competencies, motives, style, behaviors, and skills.

Definitions

Leadership QUALITIES• Leadership qualities are demonstrated

in a leader’s behaviour, not their position.

• “Leadership is not just one quality but rather a blend of qualities”.

Leadership TraitsPersonality Traits of a Leader

1. Physical proficiency and resiliency

2. Intelligence

3. Character

Character Traits of a Leader1. Judgment 2. Unselfishness3. Decisiveness4. Enthusiasm5. Loyalty 6. Dependability7. Integrity8. Courage9. Knowledge10. Bearing11. Initiative12. Tact13. Endurance14. Justice15. Humility16. Sympathy17. Empathy18. Force19. Humor20. Wit

Leadership Attributes

• Technical Competence

• Conceptual Skills

• Track Record

• People Skills

• Taste

• Judgment

• Character

• Vision

• Entrepreneur

• Inspires Others

• Sets Standards

• Orchestrator

• Understands People

• Measures Results

• Action

• Attitude

• Open Mindedness

and Judgment

• Individuality and Liberty

• Ethics

Leadership Qualities

• Integrity (Action matches words)

• Courage (take risks)

• Initiative (Act on ideas)

• Energy

• Optimism

• Balance (work, reflection, play)

• Ability to handle stress

• Self-Awareness

Personal Traits of a Leader

• It enables the leader to quickly recover under times of exceptional stress and immediately continue his work.

Physical Proficiency & Resiliency

• Ability to Gather, Analyze, Interpret, create visions, Solve Problems, and make correct decisions.

• It enables the leader to thoroughly understand his job and his people, as well as anticipate critical problems.

Intelligence

• It strongly determines the individuality of the leaders and his attitudes toward his responsibilities.

Character

Character Traits of a Leader

• It is the power of the mind to weigh various intervening factors affecting a problem and arrive at a sound decision with due care and prudence.

Judgment

• It is the avoidance of providing for one’s own comfort or advantage at the expense of others.

• A leader must show some degree of magnanimous considerations to subordinates without prejudicing the interest of others who are in need of help.

Unselfishness

• A Leader should have the ability to decide promptly and correctly at the proper time and to announce/express his decision clearly and briefly with authority.

Decisiveness

“In matters of style, swim with the current;

In matters of principle, stand like a rock.”

- Thomas Jefferson, 3rd U.S. President

• A Leader must posses a higher degree of interest and sensitivity in responding the needs of the organization and performance of all duties .

Enthusiasm

• It is the quality of faithfulness to superiors, subordinates and to the ideals organization where the leaders belong.

Loyalty

“Repeat business or

behavior can be bribed.

LOYALTY has to be

earned.” - Janet Robinson, NewYork Times

• A Leader must demonstrate a higher degree of initiative in the performance of his duty even with or without supervision.

Dependability

• It is uprightness of moral character and the quality of honesty and truthfulness.

Integrity

“In looking for people

to hire, you look for three

qualities: integrity,

intelligence, and energy. And if they don't have

the first, the other two

will kill you.”

- Warren Buffet, Berkshire Hathaway

• It is the physical and mental ability which recognizes but enables the individual to accept or meet challenges with calmness and fearlessness.

Courage

“Courage is fear holding on a minute

longer.”- General George Smith

Patton

• A leader must have a thorough knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of his subordinates.

• A leader should be endowed with superior intelligence and have the necessary professional know-how of the job.

Knowledge

• A Leader dignified in appearance and behavior to earn respect.

• It is the act of creating a favorable impression in personal conduct at all times.

Bearing

• It is the quality of seeing what needs to be done and initiating a course of action.

• A Leader should have the ability to start or originate an idea or a work concept leading to action when others are absent or passive.

Initiative

• It is the ability to deal with others without giving offense. This is a keen feeling and a sense of what is appropriate, tasteful, and aesthetically pleasing.

Tact

• A Leader must have a physical and mental endurance to continue relentlessly in pursuing the goals and objectives of the organization for the common good.

• It is the leader’s mental and physical stamina moved by the ability to stand pain or hardships.

Endurance

• It is the ability to be impartial and consistent in dealing with subordinates.

• A Leader must be able to render judgement which conforms to principles of reason, to genarally accepted standards of right and wrong, and to the stated terms of laws, policies, and rules.

• A Leader should be impartial in rendering punishment and giving credit where credit is due.

Justice

• A Leader must possess the virtue of humility – the state of being reasonably modest and not proud, assuming, arrogant, and boastful.

Humility

“The general who advances

without seeking fame and retreats

without fearing disgrace,

whose only thought is to protect his

country and do good service

for his sovereign, is

the jewel of the kingdom.”

- Sun Tzu

• A Leader must be able to understand and to share the feelings of another, especially in time of sorrow or adversity.

Sympathy

• A Leader must show some intellectual and emotional identification with feelings, thoughts, and attitudes to the employees affected by pain because of misfortune.

Empathy

• A Leader must be able to demonstrate efficacious power within the bounds of law to compel obedience among his subordinate.

Force

• A Leader must posses a good sense of humor which is a mental disposition to appreciate and narrate amusing incidents of everyday life in a comical way.

Humor

"A sense of humor is

part of the art of

leadership, of getting along with people, of

getting things done."- Dwight D.

Eisenhower, 34th U.S. President

• A Leader must posses a keen percepcion and appropriate expression of amusing words and ideas which awaken amusement and pleasure.

Wit

Leadership Styles

Leadership Styles

• Leadership style is a manner and approach of providing direction, implementing plans and motivating people.

• Leadership style in traditional leadership theory is how you relate to your subordinates.

Leadership Styles

1) AUTOCRATIC

2) PARTICIPATIVE

3) DEMOCRATIC

4) LAISSEZ-FAIRE

Autocratic Leadership

… also known as Authoritarian, Directive, Monothetic, Centric, or “boss-centered” style.

The Leader exerts high levels of power over his or her employees or team members.

The Leader structures the complete situation for his/her employees, centralizes decision making power in himself/herself and issue orders/instructions.

The Leader functions with high concern for task accomplishment but low concern for the people who perform these tasks.


The Leader has no confidence and trust in his or her subordinates. No suggestions – No considerations

The threat of punishment and penalties make the workers obey their orders.

May also offer rewards(positive motivation) to their followers for their good performance. In such cases the leaders are termed as BENEVOLENT AUTOCRATIC LEADERS.


3 Categories of Autocratic Leadership

1. STRICT AUTOCRAT The Leader follows in a very strict

sense. His method of influencing subordinates behavior is through negative motivation, that is, by criticizing subordinates, imposing penalty etc.



2. BENEVOLENT AUTOCRAT The Leader centralizes decision-making

power in him, but his motivation style is positive. He can be getting efficiency in many situations.

Some people like to work under strong authority structure and they derive satisfaction by this leadership.



3. INCOMPETENT AUTOCRAT Sometimes superiors may adopt

autocratic leadership style just to hide their incompetence because in other styles, they may be exposed before their subordinates. However, this cannot be used for a long time.


ADVANTAGES Quick decision-making due to

centralized authority.

Less competent and less skilled employees can also be hired.

Can prove to be successful in short-run.

Reduced stress due to increased control.

A more productive group while the leader is watching.

Improved logistics of operations


DISADVANTAGES Leadership may be negative because

followers are uninformed, insecure, and afraid of the leader’s authority.

Negative impact on organizational productivity and efficiency due to strict leadership and lack of motivation as frustration, low morale, dissatisfaction amongst the members, and conflict develop in the organization.

There is more dependence and less individuality in the organization. As such, future leaders in the organization do not develop.


DISADVANTAGES Usually leads to high levels of absenteeism

and staff turnover.

Inhibits the innovative power of the members: People within the team are given few opportunities for making suggestions, even if these would be in the team's or organization’s interest.

Team's output does not benefit from the creativity and experience of all team members, so many of the benefits of teamwork are lost


When it is Effective?1) Short term projects with a highly technical,

complex or risky element.2) Work environments where spans of control are

wide and hence the manager has little time to devote to each employee.

3) Industries where employees need to perform low-skilled, monotonous and repetitive tasks and generally have low levels of motivation.

4) Projects where the work performed needs to be completed to exact specifications and/or with a tight deadline.

5) Companies that suffer from a high employee turnover, i.e. where time and resources devoted to leadership development would be largely wasted.

Participative Leadership A participation is defined as mental and emotional

involvement of a person in a group situation which encourages him to contribute to group goals and share responsibility in them.

This style is also known as consultative, or ideographic.

These leaders (one or more) do not centralize the decision making authority with them; rather they decentralize it to their followers.

Participative Leadership Though the ultimate responsibility continues to vest with

the leaders, they take all decisions in consultation with their followers and based on their followers’ suggestions & ideas.

The followers thus develop a sense of involvement and contribute positively towards the group goals.

The participation may be real.

Participative Leadership

ADVANTAGES Highly motivating technique to

employees. Employees productivity is high. It provides organizational stability by

raising morale and attitudes of employees high and favorable.

Increase in followers’ job satisfaction and cooperation with management

Reduction in employees’ turnover and absenteeism.

Improved communication

Participative Leadership

DISADVANTAGES Mismatch between the desired and

actual participation

Lengthy and ‘boring’ decision making.

Like the other styles, the participative style is not always appropriate. It is most successful when used with highly skilled or experienced employees or when implementing operational changes or resolving individual or group problems.

Democratic Leadership It is a step further than the participative leadership.

Democratic leadership is people oriented. it focuses on human aspects and builds effective teamwork.

Democratic Leadership is the leadership style that promotes the sharing of responsibility, the exercise of delegation and continual consultation.

Interaction between the leader and subordinates is open, friendly and trusting.

Democratic Leadership The decisions are made in groups through group

discussions, by the formation of various committees. It is also called as ‘group dynamics’ approach to participation.

It can be most suitable where team working is essential, and quality is more important than speed to market or productivity.

Democratic Leadership

ADVANTAGES Positive work environment

Successful initiatives

Creative thinking

Reduction of office politics

Reduced employee turnover

Overall development of the subordinates

Democratic Leadership

DISADVANTAGES Lengthy and ‘boring’ Decision making Suggestions given by subordinates may

sometimes be better than what leaders could have thought of. Leaders , in such cases, may not feel happy inviting suggestions.

Danger of pseudo participation: Employees may not always be willing to participate

Suggestions which are not acceptable to the entire group may invite resistance from some of the group members.

Participative Leadership& Democratic Leadership

When it is Effective?1) It is most successful when used with highly

skilled or experienced employees or when implementing operational changes or resolving individual or group problems.

2) It is applied to an extent in the manufacturing industry, to allow employees to give their ideas on how processes can become leaner and more efficient.

3) It is effective in professionals organizations where the emphasis is clearly on training professional & leadership development .

Participative Leadership& Democratic Leadership

When it is Effective?

4) Non profit organizations also tremendously benefit from drawing upon the creative energies of all their staff to bring about cost cutting techniques or fund raising ideas.

5) As previously mentioned, creative industries such as advertising and television enjoy a lot of benefits from the free flow of ideas that democratic / participative leadership brings.

Laissez-Faire LeadershipThis French phrase means "leave it be," and it

describes leaders who allow their people to work on their own.

This style of leadership is also called “Hands-Off” , Free-Rein, Delegative or Permissive.

Laissez-Faire Leadership The leader is ultra liberal: It means giving complete

freedom to subordinates. In this style, the leader once determines policy, programmes and limitations for action then the entire process is left to subordinates.

Group members perform everything and the leader usually a on-looker who plays a minor role in affecting the group-goals and maintains contacts with outside persons to bring the information and materials which the group needs.

Laissez-Faire Leadership

ADVANTAGES Increases morale of employees and they

strive for higher job satisfaction as they hold the responsibility for framing and achieving their group-goals.

The employees’ satisfaction is exploited to the fullest possible extent.

The subordinates train their own group members and motivate them to work. The results are likely to be more productive.


DISADVANTAGES It makes employees feel insecure

at the unavailability of a leader.

The leader cannot provide regular feedback to let employees know how well they are doing.

Leaders are unable to thank employees for their good work.

The leader doesn’t understand his or her responsibilities and is hoping the employees can cover for him or her.



1) This style of leadership is effective in highly motivated professionals (outside experts, such as staffs or consultants) where independent thinking is rewarded. It is not useful in organizations that are highly structured.

2) This type of style is suitable to certain where the leader can leave a choice to his group. This helps subordinates to develop independent personality.



4) Employees are highly skilled, experienced, and educated.

5) Employees have pride in their work and the drive to do it successfully on their own.

6) Employees are trustworthy.

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Education

Functions, Traits, and Styles of Leadership