Distributed leadership in Retail Industry
1. The essay is a reflective one that discusses about the impact and implications of distributed leadership, strategic leadership, followership, worldly leadership, leadership and culture, ethics in leadership, leadership as purpose, and the art and leadership in retail industry. The essay puts forward thoughtful and critical application of subject learning along with a mention of the newer approaches of leadership at industry level both now and in the future. The essay ensures thoughtful and critical application and discussion of the new approaches towards leadership both now and in the future. The essay also draws in focus towards the distributed leadership through the demonstration of thoughtful approaches towards leadership. The essay also tries to articulate on how the leadership is approached in varied context.
According to the information put forward by Harris (2014), I learnt that distributed leadership puts forward an analytical and conceptual approach in understanding the work of the leadership that takes place amongst people and within the context of complex organization. I also came to know that initially it found application in the education research but later, it found application in other domains like the business and tourism. I also came to know that the new approach of leadership had various advantages like the increase of creativity, initiative and spontaneity that encourages the individuals in influencing the event both in the present and in the future. In this case, as the accountability stays with leader so the individuals remain shielded from both the rewards and risk. The method also considered equivalent to collective working approach and therefore needed for achieving a clearer vision in the retail industry.
On the other hand, the research conducted by Schoemaker, Krupp & Howland (2013) stated that strategic leadership referred to the potential of managers in expressing strategic vision for the organization and thereby persuading and motivating others in acquiring the vision. In other words, I found strategic leadership also referred to the utilization of strategy in managing the employees. Besides, I also learnt that in retail industry, the application of strategic leadership would not only help in distributing responsibility but also remain open and honest regarding any information present and future information. I further learnt that this method of leadership led to the creation of multiple paths for testing and raising ideas that acted safe in enduring failure in the present. I came to learn that through this leadership, future retailers would have access to the other strategists who will help in developing opportunities for learning based on experience. Strategic leadership also ensured in hiring by bringing about transformation and at the same time recognizing the leadership development as the ongoing practice.
In contrast to this, Dodson (2011) tried to provide some insight into the worldly leadership that tried to under appreciate and dismiss the need for the internal change and thereby create solutions and programs aimed at the external behaviour. In other words, the concept of the worldly leadership helped me in understanding the challenges of the present thinking regarding the global leadership. I also came to know how it drew its concept from the literature that concerned worldliness and ‘worldly mindset’. The concept of worldliness differed from idea portrayed by globalization since it involved in taking closer look towards the world. I further learnt that the worldly leadership addressed the entire shortcoming and saw different worlds from a closer perspective with the aim of collaboration and unity with the help of shared humanity. In other words, worldly leadership represented dispersed, shared power, flexible network and integrity, stewardship with an emphasis on the sustainable world for both the present and the future. Thus,when applied to retail industry, I found that worldly leadership can help in the development of the broader theme based on investigating leadershio withim the indigeneoeus culture
Strategic leadership and its importance in Retail Industry
Clemens (2014) stated that followership referred to the actions of a person within a subordinate role. This helped me in understanding that this represented a specific set of skills that not only complemented the leadership, but also the role within the hierarchical organization, social construct integrated to leadership proceduress or the behaviors involved in interacting with the leaders in the effort of meeting the organizational objectives. In other words, it is defined as the intentional practice for enhancing synergetic interchange between the leader and the follower. I further came to learn that followership would gradually becoming an emerging area within the field of leadership both in the present and in future that helped in explaining outcomes. Also, ehen applied to the retail industry, followership played the role of relational, individual and collective roles that helped in defining the success and failure. Besides, I found them to provide a realistic touch to the vision. Besides, they can also be represented either as personality type or position in hierarchy or role or set of behavior and traits.
In context of culture and leadership, Whitehurst (2016) put forwardd that they represented the two sides of the same coin. In this context, Ican to know that within an organization or group, the leaders always have a preferred manner of doing things which were imposed on the members of the group. Employers were threatened for dismissal if they disobyed the instructions. I also came to know that the preferences and values of the leader acted as the initial means through which organization or group operated. On being succesful such means defined the culture of the group. Thus, the leaders and founders were responsible for creating culture both for the present and the future. In this regard, I can say that leaders can contribute in defining the culure of the retail firm.
Premuzic and Sanger (2018) stated that individual purpose of impacting plans helped them in staying true to the shorter and the longer term goals, defining focus and commitment that inspire goals. This helped me in understanding that this individual perspective allowed the leaders in creating value and thereby having a significant impact. These leaders operated under exceptional leadership purpose. I also learn that leadership represented the key to the communination. Moreover, I found that when the concept is applied in the retail indutry it became necessary for observing whether the personal sense of the purpose of the leader aligns with the organizational purpose that would helps in not only building the relationships but also communicate a vision.
However, when it comes to ethics, (Caramela, 2018) stated that ethics in leadership is a crucial factor. A leader is able to influence and drivev the sufbordinates through common goal. Be it in terms of the organizational quest, team work or any project, ethical job of a leader helps in treating the subordinates with required amount of respect. Here, I came to learn that in retail industry too, the ethical environment is developed and built by the leader who plays an influencial role within the organization but also plays a key role in the development of the organizational values. I also understood that the characteristics and traits of an ethical and effective leader includes respectfulness and dignity, justice, serving others, honesty and community building.
Worldly leadership approach for Retail Industry
Malley (2012) put forward there exists a connection between art and leadership which is an means of singling out specific propertiess of arts that carries over to the leadership. An example in this context could be the ability of the jazz musicim in creating leadership through improvisation. Athough the analogies might seem compelling but the questions remains in leadership is not metamorphical but an actual art. Here, I came to learn that the attributes that distinguishes the great from the mediocre artists is the same that distinguishes the exceptional from the counterparts. It is the best artist and the leaders that help in providing a perspective to the social conditions along with greater appreciation of the world in both the present and the future. I came to learn that in the retail industry, they not only helped in forging sense of community and shared experiences thereby bringing about a change in the way in which we live our lives.
2. I found that various companies are making a move from the old structures that involves following a top down leadership style in favor of the new approach primarily known as the distributed leadership. I also came to know that the addition of the elements of the distributed leadership towards the organizational ways of getting the things done will help in revolutionilizing the manner in which the company functions. I also came to know that distributed leadership helped in spreading the ability of decision making across a team specificically those within front lines of operations. I also understood that through encouraging collaboration and initiative, the technique allowed those closer to action in making decision that will impact their success . Although it is a common phenomenon in viewing a single individual as the organizational leader who is represented as the president or the CEO. They however do not do so single handedly. Actual leadership leads to the involvement of the various individuals at all the levels specifically in the complicated present day work place that involves independent and smalll functioning teams.
Therefore, I came to learn that distributed leadership thus represented alternative to standard top down structure that the business followed for decades (Gustavson, 2015). However, I have found that there exists no single playbook or roadmap for distribution of leadership but with increasing number of companies, experimenting with the concept with varied amount of success and failure we remain pointed towards the right direction. The distributed leadership thus boils down to the situation where it allows smaller individuals or teams in deciding how they would prefer in accomplishing the objectives in opposition to the execution of the commands of single superior. I also came to learn that arguments stated that it is the leadership is defined by method and style. Further, I found that this leadership style concerned less about the leader and follower and more about the stakeholder contribution. It represents the crucial part of the daily interactions and activities between every individual of within the organization despite the position. This helped me in over viewing some of the benefits of the distributed leadership that included being more responsive towards the requirements of the customer/ market along with maintaining quality decision making. Besides, I also found this form of leadership style in enhancing the financial transparency along with more ideas and initiatives for not only the present but also the future. There is also generation of the improved levels of enthusiasm and motivation and put forward a convenient means in managing enthusiasm and motivation.
Followership’s role in defining success and failure in Retail Industry
In addition, I came to learn about the disadvantages of this leadership style. It is where I found work to be fragmented provided there existed no core mission and values. I also came to know that distributed leadership also resulted in the financial devolution with the richer or the poorer departments as there will be some who will be more successful in securing funds. This resulted in the rise of internal competition and a lack of clarity regarding the responsibilities and roles. Besides, the involvement of the increased number of people results in a slower decision making process. In other words, distributed leadership represented situations where decisions were made already leading to the breakdown of communication and trust.
I believe distributed leadership is one of the thoughtful approaches of self-leadership that depends on the four aspects, which includes self-management, self-awareness, other management and awareness. The other management referred to the ability of motivating and growing other people for developing their potential or fulfilling the objectives of the organization while the other awareness referred to the ability of acknowledging and recognizing the strengths, weaknesses, passion and the needs of the others.
I believe great leaders adopt self-management, self-awareness who then proceed to the other awareness thereby resulting in the aspect of other management. It does not represent a linear but is an interactive effect amongst all the factors. Although there are some leaders who remain conscious of their personalities, competencies and motivations but is unable to manage them when it comes to dealing with their weakness and emotions. They not only lack self-control, behave inappropriately, become critical and are unable to keep them in check.
According to information put forward by Steenbarger (2015), I came to know that self-leadership holds importance as it allows appreciating others. On knowing the inner weakness and strength, I am in a position to appreciate the others. Since leaders’ remains anchored by the appreciation of their dignity, they gradually develop appreciation for the potential, aspirations and the dignity of the others. This helps in bringing about a transformation in the ways they look at the others. I have learnt that self-leadership also resulted in the prevention of the derailment. Many rising stars and hot shot were unable to achieve early potential due to lack of self-leadership. I have however discovered in an extensive study put forward by Daniel Goleman that when a comparison between the star and the average performers were made, close to 90 percent of the differences attributed to factors related to emotional intelligence rather than the cognitive abilities. Self-leadership also results in ensuring longer-term success. In this regard, I will say that a leader who practices consistent leadership helps in determining long-term success. Until the leader possess a keener sense of self leadership they are unable to focus on what is important.
This allowed me in drawing conclusion based on two relevant observations related to self-leadership. The first observation reflected the ongoing process of the self-reflection. It did not represent a onetime subject but represented the opportunity of measuring life against the goals and the principles. The second observation lay in the continued self-leadership as the mark of the leadership maturation. Personal leadership represented a work in progress that ensured continually drawing in matured self-understanding. Few people do not mature as leaders and remains self defeating and aberrant in the development of leadership.
References:
Caramela, S. (2018). How to Be an Ethical Leader: 4 Tips for Success. Retrieved from https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5537-how-to-be-ethical-leader.html
Clemens, D. (2014). Leadership vs. Followership: Do We Really Mean “Versus”?. Retrieved from https://www.thindifference.com/2014/04/leadership-followership-really-mean-versus/
Dodson, J. (2011). Worldly Leaders vs Spiritual Leaders: 3 Key Differences. Retrieved from https://churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-how-to/154498-wordlly-leaders-vs-spiritual-leaders-3-key-differences.html
Gustavson, E. (2015). A Better Approach To Training Your Engineers: Distributed Leadership. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2015/12/17/a-better-approach-to-training-your-engineers-distributed-leadership/#788acf65678b
Harris, D. (2014). Distributed leadership. Retrieved from https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/articles/distributed-leadership
Malley, M. (2012). Every Leader Is an Artist. [online] Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2012/08/every-leader-is-an-artist [Accessed 31 Oct. 2018].
Premuzic, T. and Sanger, M. (2018). What Leadership Looks Like in Different Cultures. [online] Available at: https://hbr.org/2016/05/what-leadership-looks-like-in-different-cultures [Accessed 31 Oct. 2018].
Schoemaker, P., Krupp, S., & Howland, S. (2013). Strategic Leadership: The Essential Skills. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2013/01/strategic-leadership-the-esssential-skills
Steenbarger, B. (2015). Self-Leadership And Success. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/brettsteenbarger/2015/05/15/self-leadership-and-success/#4e6d92292a81
Whitehurst, J. (2016). Leaders Can Shape Company Culture Through Their Behaviors. [online] Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2016/10/leaders-can-shape-company-culture-through-their-behaviors [Accessed 31 Oct. 2018].
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