Leadership
A: I’ve heard of a interesting viewpoint I’d like to share with you.
S: Really, what is it?
A: Effective managers are not necessarily true leaders.
S: That’s interesting, but why?
A: The secret lies on the ability to lead effectively, which can set the excellent managers apart from the average ones. Many managers focus on superficial activities and worry about short-term profits and stock prices, too few have emerged as leaders who foster innovation and attainment of long-term goals.
S: I see, that means true leadership includes effectively orchestrating important change. While management requires structuring the organization, staffing it with capable people, and monitoring activities; leadership goes beyond these functions by inspiring people to attain the vision. Great leaders keep people focused on moving the organizaion toward its ideal future, motivating them to overcome whatever obstacles lie in the way.
A: That’s right. And there are two kinds of leadership supervisor and strategic leadershi p. Supervisory leadership is behavior that provides guidance, support and corrective feedback for the day-to-day activities of work until members. Strategic leadership gives purpose and meaning to organizations. And it needs to be an activity performed by people throughout the organization, not just by a few people at the very top.
S: Yes, leadership is very important to a organization. But organizations succeed or fail not only because of how well they are led but because of how well followers follow.
A: I agree with you. The most effective followers are capable of independent thinking and at the same time are actively committed to organizational goals. As a manager, you will be asked to play both roles. As you lead the people who report to you, you will report to your boss.
S: Do you know what is the important factor of effective leadership?
A: It’s power----the ability to influence other people. In organizations, this often means the ability to get things done or accomplish one’s goals despite resistance f rom others.
S:That’s right.
A: Do you know what are the sources of powers?
S: There are 5 sources, authority, control over rewards, control over punishiments, appealing personal characteristics, and expertise. Do you know traits the leaders have can distinguish effective leaders from other people?
A: I think the first one is drive. It refers to a set of characteristics that reflect a high level of effort. Drive includes high need for achievement, constant striving for improvement, ambition, energy, and initiative. Second is leadership motivation.Great leaders not only have drive; When the power need is exercised in moral and socially--constructive ways, rather than to the deteriment of others, leaders will inspire more trust, respect and commitment to their vision.
S: Yes, besides that, integrity , self-confidence, and knowledge of the business are also important. Integrity is the correspondence between actions and words. Self-confidence allows a leader to overcome obstacles, make decisions despite uncertainty, and instill confidence in others. Leaders must have the intelligence to interpret vast quantities of information. Advanced degrees are useful in a career, but ultimately less important than acquired expertise in matters relevant to the organizaion.
A: All in all, leadership means being able to assess others, evaluate the situation, and select or change behavior to more effectively respond to the demands of the circumstances.
S: Yes, I agree with you.。