Analysis of leadership qualities
Leaders are the personalities who do the things right and leadership is the art of making a person to do thing or a work which the leader wants to be done. The term can also be referred as the act or an activity through which leading of a group is made possible or it can also be considered as the ability to do this. The term leadership is a broad concept which comprises a number of operations and activities and which are required to be essentially done. Leadership involves developing a clear and vision for the team mates and also sharing the same vision so others can also follow willingly, also the leaders are the authorities who provide the knowledge and relevant information to get the work done from sub-ordinates and also managing the conflicts or issues if any between the team members and the stakeholders etc. The leaders are the authorities who provide guidance, inspire and motivate which proves beneficial for the team mates and also for the other employees. The leaders are the motivators who develops success path for the members so as to aid them in the attainment of their personal goals and targets. The concept aids a business entity as it has been considered as complementary to the management but both are included under complementary skills. The term leadership is a soft skill and revolves around the terms like stimulating, motivating, driving and other unquantifiable skills. The below executed report will be made focused on the analysis of the leadership qualities by making use of appropriate theories or models. The further report will be focused on the evaluation of the leadership qualities of Steve Jobs.
Leadership theories are the mechanisms which are being basically adapted by the leaders so as to develop their leadership styles, these models can also be used for establishing an understanding the effects of situations on the style, it can also bring effectiveness in the working as a leader etc. The main motive leaders are to stimulate the actions, beliefs and feelings of the team mates. And the leadership theories work as the image builder for any of the leader and it also makes the leaders to stand apart from the mass. The leadership theories have made large contributions in the business environment by contributing and providing great leaders. The below presented is the analysis done over the leadership qualities by making use of a leadership model and also the recent developments made in the field of leadership:
The concept of transformational leadership has been emerged as a recent addition to the literature, but then also more analysis has been executed on this theory as compared to the theories of probability. This concept has been differentiating between the transformational and transactional leaders. In the theory of the transformational leader makes the alignment of the goals and the targets of the individuals with the leader’s goals. And this also develops a sense of working for the business corporation first, it means that the individual start focusing on the organization’s well-being instead of thinking for own profits and benefits.
Transformational leadership
There are number of tools and mechanisms which are being adopted by the leaders in transformational leadership style. These tools are utilized by them for making their work more effective and in an efficient manner. Basically there are four major tools which are being possessed by the leaders in this approach and which are being used by the leaders for influencing the employees and also they will be more omitted for the company goals. The below mentioned are the description of the major tools which are being utilized by the leaders:
Charismatic: The term charisma refers to the behavior and the workings of the leaders presents and which aids the employees as it inspires them, develops a level of confidence, commitment towards the work and tasks and also admiration toward the leader. The leaders with a Charismatic personality are very much “magnetic” that is very much appealing to the team-mates and the followers. The below mentioned are some the examples of the leaders who are also viewed as charismatic personalities, such as Barack Obama, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Mahatma Gandhi, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who is the founder of the Republic of Turkey, and Winston Churchill.
Inspirational and motivational: The second trait which is possessed by the transformational leaders inspirational motivation or they have a vision which aids in the development of an inspiration into others. Inspiration and motivation generates a zeal in the individuals which tends them and motivates them to work harder, this also develops and enhances their efficiency and productivity. And hence this trait in the leader will be proven very much beneficial for the team and business entity as the tasks will be completed more efficiently.
Using intellectual stimulation: This term refers to the challenges which are accepted by the leaders against the norms and the status quo, and they also motivate and encourage the individuals for working harder by thinking creatively. By stimulating the employees the leaders can also bring an enhancement in their performance level and efficiency which will aid them in attaining their tasks with q high quality.
Considering the individuals: One of the most significant trait of a leader is giving importance to their team mates and sub-ordinates, considering their work and their feedbacks as important. Showing consideration means that the leaders are showing personal care and concern for the well-being of the team members and the other employees. Three are some of the great examples of transformational business leaders, which comprises of Steve Jobs of Apple; Lee Iacocca, who transformed Chrysler in the 1980s; and Jack Welch, who was the CEO of General Electric for 20 years. The both of the above mentioned leaders are very much charismatic and are also held very much responsible for the turnarounds of their business organizations.
On the basis of the executed survey it has been observed that transformational leadership is a leadership style in which the leader makes identification of the needs for a change and then develops a vision for guiding the change through inspiring the individuals and at last executes the change implementing and involving the commitment of the team. The above presented are some of the positive aspects or traits of the transformational leadership but there are some negative traits for this style which are discussed as below:
Positive aspects or traits
Communication issues: It is the basic duty of a leader to reinforce the vision and set targets that too on continuous basis and also empower the team mates and the followers to do their utmost to attain the same. And this could be made possible by developing a close and regular communication with the team members which will establish and a personal touch will be maintained. This leadership style develops the need of being considered as significant for the organization and also meets the same which makes the followers to feel that they are an important part of something good. But if the individuals begin to feel that their part is not significant then there will be chances of losing interest. And to not making so happen the leaders are required to take frequent feedback on progress made and their performance.
Negative transformational leadership: On the basis of the research executed by Air Force Colonel Mark Homrig, it has been noted that transformational leadership is a sharp, but double-edged sword. Pseudo-transformational leadership is the leadership which have some negative aspects such as it has a potential immoral and unethical dimension which can be exploited by a corrupt leader which is exposed on sincere and innocent team mates. According to the author, Hitler was a great leader who addressed to the values of the German people, was a very charismatic personality, and also offered a abstract vision and was into encouraging frequently his followers. But his goal resulted in ruining his followers rather than the enhancing or developing their qualities and capabilities. There is another example of a negative transformational leader, who was Jim Jones of the People’s Temple. He was also considered as very much charismatic personality and expressed a towering vision that became the biggest reason behind the murder-suicide of over 800 followers in 1978.
Over emphasis over some employees or biased behavior: Transformational leaders are proven very good guide and mentors for their team mates and other employees within the organization so as to work together which enhances the performance level and productivity and they also try to focus on individual needs. The team leaders offer the individuals with number of training and internships so as to bring development and enhancement in the skills, knowledge and expertise which is essential and aids the organization transition and establishing into a new state. But sometimes the leaders fail to maintain or in offering equal opportunities amongst the all employees and which leads issues and conflicts among the workforce. This will develop a negative image of the leader in the mind of the workforce and will also affect his abilities and skill and this will also influence the other employees and also the productivity of the business entity will be negatively affected. Moreover the leader is also required to be fair on the grounds of the salary or rewards offered to the team mates. They should be offered on the basis of the performance with an un-biased nature which will motivate the team members to work with greater efficiency.
Negative traits
Effective and great leadership skills are considered as very much significant in the today’s competitive business environment. It aids in the development and creating differentiation in the failure and success of the personal and the organizational goals. Leadership style comprises of different traits, characteristics and behaviors of the leader which has also been considered as the style of giving direction, guiding implementing the tactics and strategies and also motivating the team members. There are numerous types of leadership styles which have been adopted by the leaders for pursuing their work and for providing guidance to their team mates. It has been considered as very much essential factor which also defines the development throughout the ages. Leadership can be termed as the process, behavior or trait, by which a leader stimulates others or team mates by directing them in a right direction for attaining a collective objective and which makes the organization more coherent and organized. The below mentioned are the qualities and the traits which are being adopted by Pol Pot in his leadership style:
The real name of Pol Pot was Saloth Sar and his birth date was January 1925. After being in power there were many senseless human destructions and sufferings which predisposed the public in the economy and which also empathized and developed strong feelings in the minds of the individuals against a man whose workings were proven very much negative with his deeds and that were nothing but an utter minimization in the economy of seven million people by converting the same into a mass killing fields. The predominant human reactions toward the brutal dictator’s rule was expected and held responsible for the deaths of Cambodians of over one million people in the late 1970s. Moreover the crimes created horrors on his own people and the sort of disgrace he exposed on his victims have all been well documented. This analyzed report has been made focused on the notion of Pol Pot as a charismatic political leader. Apart from his crimes and brutal kills he has been proved and emerged as a charismatic leader for his followers. His political career seemed to an end when he was driven out of the power in the year of 1979 and also the crimes did by him came known to his people, but then also he continued to earn respect form his core followers virtually until his death in 1998. He was also every much famous as a charismatic leader and as observed by the author .i.e. Weber, social actions are something which are traced and directed by a general belief by the society that a consistent social order exists. Moreover it has also been considered that charismatic leadership forms a part of the expression of heretic tendencies in a social community. Charismatic authority has also been compared in contrast with the legal or traditional authority considered as the antithesis of routine operations which also dictates the desire for interruption and change of the prevailing social order. Also the charismatic leaders are considered as very much distinct from rational or traditional leaders in that it is generated not from established orders or traditions, but it is developed by the special trust which this type of leaders bring about in his followers, and this can also be done by the peculiar powers he displays, and also the distinct skills and capabilities which he possesses. Further the authors have also stated that, maintaining the authority has been found very much difficult for charismatic leaders as because of followers should continue to legitimize this authority. There is also a regular need for the charismatic leader to develop a habit of constantly exhibiting the performance level of leadership towards his followers so as to build up the legitimacy of his authority. On the basis of the above executed analysis it has been inferred that Pot Pol has adopted Charismatic leadership style during his career and the same has been presented as follows:
Evaluation of Steve Jobs’ Leadership Qualities
The concept is concerned with the process which develops an interaction between the skill and qualities of the charismatic leader, moreover it also comprises of the followers and identification of their needs. But mainly the concept is focused on the qualities of charismatic leaders, and also the emphasis has been made focused on how they communicate to followers and also whether the leaders are able in attaining the trust the followers and also able to influence and persuade them to follow, Pol Pot was clearly proven as an effective speaker, as he was having an ability of uniting the people against the Western powers and the Cambodian governing authorities and which proven very much vital in the road to his success. And without this quality, it would not have been possible for him to begin his rebellion in the first place. The below mentioned are some of the characteristics of Pol Pot as a charismatic leader:
Apart from having a very powerful personality, Pot pol also required to have a charismatic leader by having a high level of maturity. He doesn’t believe in empty showmanship, but they draw on their wisdom and knowledge which have been developed and accumulated by struggling over years of life and career. Moreover there are number of significant ways in which the charismatic leader can be proven beneficial to his followers and his team members and the economy or the region and this can be made possible by his abilities to mentor, inspire and motivate the members. As defined it can be understood that a charismatic leader is an individual who tends to have an almost magnetic personality to which the team mates and the followers are attracted. Pot Pol as a charismatic leader possessed a reputation for having high energy level and was also a real “go-getters.” This quality usually inspired his followers. He was also a great communicator and had a set of extraordinary skills in communication. This aided him while motivating his followers and also influencing them was very much easy for him. This also helped him in tough times and also aided him in stay grounded when things are good. This leadership style made him to reach a position and aided him to develop a position of a role model for his core followers
Strength
A Great communicator: As mentioned above Pol Pot possessed a set of extraordinary skills in communication. This aided him while motivating his followers and also influencing them was very much easy for him and this proved as the biggest strength for his career. This ability helped him in other number of aspects and areas and he was very much able of influencing his followers.
High level of maturity: As charismatic leader he had a great level of maturity which guided him in his career and also develop his image as a great personality after being involved in held responsible for the deaths of Cambodians of over one million people in the late 1970s. This has ben considered as one of the major trait of his qualities and also one of his strength of his leadership style.
Strengths of Steve Jobs’ Leadership
Weakness
Impolite and brutal by nature: As mentioned above there is a very big example of the tragedy of the deaths of Cambodians, in which the region experienced a heartless nature and behavior towards his followers of Pol Pot and which resulted in deaths of over millions of people in the region. So this can be considered one of the weaknesses of Pol Pot.
Conclusion
In the limelight of the above executed summary it has been analyzed that leaders are the personalities who guide, stimulates inspire, motivate and develops a zeal in the team mates and the followers so as to make them work harder with greater interest. This tends and results in better outcomes and increase in productivity and also increase in their performance level. The individuals will be more focused and will attaining the goals and targets with greater speed which proves beneficial for the team. The above report has been made focused on the transformational leadership style which is a contemporary style and has been attained by some of the great leaders. Moreover as per the requirement a prominent leader and thee leadership style and the qualities of the same has been evaluated. The chosen leader is Pot Pol who adopted charismatic leadership style and who was a political leader, a communist and a charismatic political leader. Further the report also consists the strengths and weaknesses of the above mentioned leader.
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