2. Meaning of Leadership
Leadership is the ability to influence the behavior and performance of an individual or
group of individuals towards the achievement of common objectives in a given situation.
It is the art of influencing and inspiring the behavior of others in accordance with
requirements.
Leadership is the personal quality of an individual who organizes the efforts of the
individuals and directs them to achieve common objectives. It is an important and
necessary skill for achieving group performance.
A leader is one who has the ability to influence and persuade the behavior of his group
members enthusiastically for the attainment of common goals. A leader must have the
quality of guidance, inspiration, persuasion, influence, direction, motivation,
communication, creativity, etc. A successful leader is someone whose followers accept
his guidance undoubtedly.
A leader may be a political leader, a spiritual leader, a person elected by team members,
or a person will be a leader who has knowledge and wisdom, and a willingness to lead
but remember leadership is a choice, not a responsibility because it possesses personal
qualities of a leader. It is not about size but it is about knowledge and wisdom. And
personal qualities can not be robbed but they can be shared.
3. Definitions of Leadership
1. George R. Terry – Leadership is the activity of influencing people to strive
willingly for mutual objectives.
2. Stephen P. Robbins – Leadership is the ability to influence a group of people for
the achievement of goals.
3. Koontz and Weihrich – Leadership is the art or process of influencing people so
that they will strive willingly and enthusiastically towards the achievement of
common goals.
4. Keith Davis – Leadership is the ability to persuade others to seek defined
objectives enthusiastically. It is a human factor that binds a group together and
motivates it towards goals.
4. Nature of a Good Leadership
Good leadership is consists of following nature and characteristics:
Interpersonal Influence
It is a process of interpersonal influence. A leader influences behavior and activities
of subordinates through power, inspiration, reward, motivation, and other tools. A
manager is said to be a leader when he is able to influence his subordinates in
accordance with organizational requirements.
Leaders and Followers
Leadership is a combination of leaders and followers. There should be a mutual
relationship between a leader and followers. Followers are supposed to follow their
leader’s footsteps only by getting inspiration from his conduct, ability, and behavior.
Similarly, followers influence the leader through their performance, effort, and
behavior. They influence the behavior of each other through mutual wishes and not
by the use of authority.
5. Common Goals
It aims at the pursuit of common goals, in other words, a leader and followers must have common
objectives. The leader directs and guides the followers to gain planned objectives. Followers also
perform their activities in accordance with the direction of the leader.
There is no meaning in leadership if the objectives of the leader and follower are different. Thus,
the interests of individuals and those of organizations should be the same.
Continuous Exercise
It is a continuous managerial process. It continues till the existence of the organization. Managers
have to influence the behavior and performance of subordinates on a regular basis.
Whenever leadership becomes poor, the performance of people turns into a mere routine function
and organizational effectiveness may decrease. Hence, it is the responsibility of managers to guide
and direct subordinates regularly.
Leaders are also followers
6. Leadership is Situational
It is a situational activity. The role of leadership assumes significance in critical situations. It is the
duty of the leader to inspire subordinates to overcome critical situations and help them to lead to
the destination in a successful way.
Thus, a leader must be innovative and creative to handle difficult and unexpected situations.
Rest on Power
It rests on power rather than formal authority. Here, power focuses on the personal outstanding
qualities of a leader through which he influences the followers.
In the context of the manager, some formal authority is rested due to managerial designation. But,
at this stage, there is little value of formal authority in comparison to power i.e. personal quality.
Blend of Inspiration, Motivation, and Communication
Leadership is a blend of Inspiration, motivation and communication. It is a process of influencing
the behavior and performance of followers by inspiring them. A leader has to employ suitable
motivational devices such as incentives, and bonuses to stimulate subordinates.
7. Importance of Leadership
1. Leaders provides task support and creates effective planning.
2. Leader provide psychological support
3. Leader provides motivation
4. Maintain discipline
5. Leader builds the team spirit
6. Initiates Action
7. Providing guidance to followers
8. Creating Confidence among the workers.
9. Builds Work Environment.
10. Helps in solving conflict situation
11. Helps the followers in fulfilling their needs.
8. In Class Room
1. The class room leader should posses the qualities of participative leadership.
2. It Encourages the classmates to participate and share their ideas .
3. No Dominating Character.
4. Create health environment.
5. Promote mutual understanding, love and support.
6. Accept the ideas of others
7. Act as a mediator between teacher and classmates.
