Understanding Management

CHAPTER 11 – LEADERSHIP * The attitudes and behaviors of leaders shape the conditions that determine how well employees can do their jobs; thus, leaders play a tremendous role in the organization’s success. * Leadership is the ability to influence people toward the attainment of organizational goals. * Many different styles of leadership can be effective. * A significant influence on leadership styles in recent years is the turbulence and uncertainty of the environment. * Humility and will have recently emerged as important leadership qualities. * One effective approach in today’s environment is level 5 leadership, which is characterized by an almost complete lack of ego ( humility), coupled with a fierce resolve to do what is best for the organization (will). * Having humility means being unpretentious and modest rather than arrogant and prideful. * A servant leader is a leader who serves others by working to fulfill followers’ needs and goals as well as to achieve the organization’s larger mission. * Authentic leadership refers to leadership by individuals who know and understand themselves, who espouse and act consistent with higher order ethical values, and who empower and inspire others with their openness and authenticity. * Women leaders typically score significantly higher than men on abilities such as motivating others, fostering communication, and listening- skills that are based on humility and authenticity and are particularly suited to today’s organizations. * Interactive leadership is a leadership style characterized by values such as inclusion, collaboration, relationship building, and caring. * Although interactive leadership is associated with women’s style of leading, both men and women can be effective interactive leaders. * Leadership and management reflect two different sets of qualities and skills that provide different benefits for the organization. * Management promotes stability