Concept and Functions of Leadership

Leadership is an essential component of management's directing function.

Wherever there is a well-organized group of people working toward a common goal,

some form of leadership is required. "The power of integration is the power of

leadership." The leader brings out the best in us, uniting and concentrating what we

feel only gropingly and shatteringly. The person who has the most influence on me is

not the one who does great deeds, but the one who makes me believe that I can do

great deeds." Marry Parker Follet. Leadership is the ability to instill confidence and

zeal in others and to instill in them a desire to be led. A manager must have

foresight, drive, initiative, self-confidence, and personal integrity to be a successful

leader. Different types of leadership may be required in different situations.

ROLE OF LEADERSHIP

To lead means to guide or influence someone into action. In today's highly

competitive world, having a good leader is critical for organizations. According to the

well-known book "In Search of Excellence," every company that has maintained its

excellence over the years has done so because it had "a leader or two" who gave it

structure. This conclusion has since been supported by a recent Stanford Research

Institute study. It came to the conclusion that "12% of effective management strategy

is knowledge and 88% is dealing appropriately with people." Indeed, dealing with

people appropriately is a sign of leadership.

We instinctively understand that every human activity involving a group of

people necessitates the guiding hand of a leader. Since the dawn of human history,

the head of a family has been the most prevalent leader. It is widely acknowledged
that the family's progress and fortunes are dependent on the quality and

effectiveness of this leader, whether he or she is a father or a mother.

In today's complex society, thousands of people are appointed or elected to

positions of leadership at the junior, middle, and senior levels in factories and farms,

schools and colleges, business and financial institutions, dispensaries and hospitals,

civil and military organs of the state's scientific and research institutions, and so on.

The strength, prosperity, and happiness of society are dependent on their quality and

effectiveness. An effective leader has always been a 'force multiplier' throughout

history.

Leadership, as a behavioral dimension, aids in the strategy's successful

implementation. It is critical to keep in mind that leadership cannot be taught. A man,

on the other hand, has the ability to perform himself/herself—to reprogrammed

his/her personality. And it is here that the most exciting aspect of human endeavor

can be found.

According to some researchers, if executives have good leadership qualities,

the nation's productivity can increase significantly without the need for additional

funding or new technology. It is important to note that the theoretical leadership

approach taught in classrooms is less effective than the practical approach. In the

current Indian environment, it is frequently argued that things can only improve if the

country's top leadership sets a good example. Alternatively, the educational system

should be reformed so that things gradually improve over time, perhaps in 50 years.

Both points of view have some theoretical merit, but they do not appear to be

practical.
 As a result, the only way forward is to find a way to improve the leadership

potential of those who are already in positions of leadership and those who are

preparing to enter the field of leadership in any field. This is the basic philosophy of

the practical and holistic approach to leadership—"it is perfectly possible to improve

myself; I can only hope to improve others by personal example," it says. As a result,

the key to effective Strategic Management is to ensure that leadership runs like a

thread through all management functions, integrating them into a culture of

excellence.

FUNCTIONS OF LEADERSHIP

In practice, a leader must complete the task (mission, objective, or goal). To

do so, s/he must build his team as a cohesive unit and develop each individual in the

team to give his or her all. As a result, he or she must balance and integrate the

needs of the task with those of the group he or she leads and the individuals in the

group. This is best illustrated diagrammatically by depicting these requirements in

three interconnected circles, as shown in Figure-1.

Figure -1: Functions of Leadership

Following are the important functions of a leader:

1. Setting Objectives: A leader is expected to perform the creative function of

outlining goals and policies to persuade subordinates to work with zeal and

confidence.

2. Organizing: The second function of a leader is to create and shape the

organization on scientific lines by assigning roles appropriate to individual

abilities to ensure that its various components work sensitively toward the

achievement of

enterprise goals.

3. Taking the First Step: The next role of a leader is to take the initiative in all

matters of group interest. He should not rely on the decisions and judgment of

others. He should come up with new ideas, and his decisions should be based

on his original thinking.

4. Co-Ordination: A leader must reconcile the interests of the group's members with

those of the organization. He must ensure the group's voluntary cooperation in

achieving the common goals.

5. Motivation and Direction: A leader's primary function is to guide and direct his

group and motivate people to do their best in achieving desired goals; he should

instill confidence and zeal in the workgroup.

6. Management-Employee Relationship: A leader serves as a vital link between

management and workers. He interprets management policies and programs for

his subordinates and represents their interests in front of management. He can

only be effective if he can act as the true guardian of his subordinates' interests.

Importance of Leadership in Management

The importance of leadership in any group activity cannot be overstated. Wherever

there is a community of individuals working together as a team, some form of

leadership is required. According to Lawrence A. Appley, the time has come to

replace the word management with the word leadership.

Although concern for leadership has existed since recorded history, it has

become more acute in recent decades as a result of the complexities of production

methods, high levels of specialization, and social changes in modern organizations.

A good dynamic leader is likened to a "dynamo generating energy," which charges

and activates the entire group in such a way that near miracles can occur. The

success of a business is heavily reliant on effective leadership.'

The importance of leadership can be highlighted from the following:

1. It boosts morale and motivation: Managers can improve their subordinates'

motivation and morale by demonstrating dynamic leadership. A good leader

influences an individual's behavior in such a way that he works voluntarily toward

the achievement of enterprise goals.

2. It serves as a motivator for group efforts: Leadership acts as a motivator for

group efforts. Through its consistent efforts and impact on human relations, it

propels the group to a higher level of performance.

3. It serves as an aid to authority in the following ways: The exercise of authority

alone does not always produce the desired results. By influencing, inspiring, and

initiating action, leadership assists authority.

4. It is required at all management levels: Leadership is critical at all levels of

management because, without effective leadership, no management can achieve

the desired results.

5. It corrects the flaws of informal organizational relationships: There is no

organizational structure that can provide all types of relationships, and people

with similar interests may collaborate outside of formal relationships. Such

informal relationships are more effective at controlling and regulating subordinate

behaviour. Effective leadership leverages informal relationships to achieve

enterprise goals.

6. It serves as the foundation for collaboration: Effective leadership promotes

cooperation among subordinates and management by increasing understanding

between them.