Leadership

Concept

Any organization's growth depends greatly on its leaders and their leadership abilities. The process of influencing people's behavior so they work voluntarily and enthusiastically to attain group goals is referred to as leadership.

A leader must be able to inspire their followers or subordinates to work toward the organization's goals while maintaining positive interpersonal relationships with them.

Leadership is the process through which an individual persuades others to achieve a goal and guides the organization in a way that makes it more rational and ordered. A leader is someone who motivates a group of people to work toward a common objective.

Human existence and organizational survival both depend on effective communication. To come to a mutual understanding, people create and exchange ideas, facts, information, and other types of information. The Management function of Directing depends on effective communication.

Even if a manager is extremely qualified and skilled, his abilities are useless if he lacks effective communication skills. To get the job done correctly from his employees, a manager must effectively convey his instructions to those who report to him.

 Prerequisites of organizational leaders

Here are seven leadership qualities that anyone in a leadership position can use as a springboard for success:

Transparency: People under a leader's control are less likely to oppose them when they are transparent. Transparency, which may be achieved by a combination of communication, educated debate, shared decision-making, establishing a consensus, and utilizing social media, is used by good leaders to assist others around them in embracing change. People should understand the factors that went into a leader's decision-making process as well as how it will influence them. Transparent leaders don't micromanage; they accept responsibility for failures and give credit to others when things go well.

Learn from Mistakes: Failure has the capacity to mold a leader. It is an effective educational tool that imparts lessons about creativity, rejuvenation, and survival. Accepting failure empowers us to transform and motivate others. To achieve tremendous rewards, leaders must be willing to take big chances and fail. Leaders have a wonderful perspective on individuals and who they can trust as a result of the process.

Trust: Trust is one of the fundamental tenets of leadership. In the past, leadership was a rare and distinctive quality, the domain of the wealthy. That vertical leadership model is less effective in the present day. In order to succeed today, one must be able to work together with people over whom a leader has no control in order to achieve shared objectives. In other words, a good leader believes in the power of trust rather than authority anymore. A leader must also be trustworthy and willing to accept the risk of putting their followers' faith in order to be effective because they are the trustee in every relationship.

Self-assurance: A strong leader exudes self-assurance. No one will follow a leader who lacks confidence, and people are able to see through a false sense of assurance. An effective leader is one who can clearly communicate their objectives and stand by their choices, as opposed to someone who tries to disguise their anxieties with an air of arrogance. A smart leader can trust their instincts and make any decision, even after failing. Leaders that are confident in themselves are often happier, better at building relationships, risk-takers, feedback-takers, success-aware, and more driven.

Decisiveness: A wise leader carefully considers their options, but once they make a choice, they are not readily swayed. This demonstrates dedication, which fosters consistency, both of which are qualities that benefit leadership. When learning how to officiate basketball games, Scott Hoffman, owner of Folio Literary Management, remarked to a mentor, "Make the call fast, make the call loud and don't look back," that instruction still rings in his ears today. He continued by saying that sometimes making snap decisions about unimportant issues leads to greater long-term outcomes and a strong team spirit than making "wishy-washy" decisions that ultimately turn out to be correct.

Humility: Leaders must possess this quality to remain grounded and in touch with those around them. Gaining the respect of your staff by being trustworthy, moral, and receptive will benefit you when it's time to make decisions. The finest leaders are flexible and open-minded, and they can change their ways of thinking or adopt new strategies as needed. These leaders take criticism in stride and see it more as a chance for personal development than as a personal attack. Although everyone appreciates confidence, humility fosters a likeable personality that helps others feel more at ease in their position.

Creativity: A lot of the decisions a leader must make will be specific to the firm and will demand more consideration than applying a prepackaged answer. Teams frequently turn to a leader for creative thinking, therefore any leader will benefit from being able to draw from past experiences and a wealth of fresh concepts. Innovation is a crucial component of surviving in the contemporary corporate world, according to Aubrey Marcus, creator of the dietary supplement brand Onnit. "Our leaders are the innovators. Marcus stated in the interview with Entrepreneur.com that you cannot separate the two.

These seven qualities can give an organization the skills it needs to guide itself toward success, even though leadership styles may need to be modified to fit particular situations and organizations. Although some people may be born leaders, anyone may exhibit these qualities with the correct amount of motivation.

Leadership from a communication perspective

Researchers in several disciplines are learning that taking the initiative is a symbolic activity. Leadership researchers in business and management, psychology, sociology, and other fields concentrate on communication processes including corporate culture, the function of symbols, and the use of narrative in innovation and transformation. The transformational approach, the most modern leadership paradigm, is built on communication. Through the clever use of symbols, transformational leaders motivate and inspire followers to higher than average levels of devotion. The transformational leader challenges followers to go beyond their own self-interests for the benefit of the group, organization, or society; to prioritize their long-term requirements for personal growth over their immediate demands; and to have a clearer understanding of what matters most. Hence, followers are converted into leader.

The idea that communication skills are a byproduct of leadership skills is implicit in the communication viewpoint on leadership. The development of communication skills like listening, critical and creative thinking, persuasion, encoding and interpreting nonverbal cues, and public speaking increases a leader's effectiveness. Because of this, communication educators can provide a leadership training that is solidly based in both theory and practice. Instructors might point students to studies that have been published in books and journals on communication by highlighting the importance of both communication processes and communication skills as the cornerstone of leadership. As part of their analysis of leadership communication habits and their demonstration of communication proficiency in oral presentations, group discussions, and interviews, course assignments reflect a communication perspective.

 The dimensions of leadership communication styles

Clarity and consistency in communication are related to showing polite connecting strategies and promoting open yet respectful idea sharing. When speaking with others, an effective communicator employs the proper linguistic clues, phrasing, and tone.

They invite others to do the same and are willing and open to sharing their opinions and concerns.

The effective communicator extends a friendly greeting, participates in conversations for an appropriate length of time, and actively listens to others. Others feel cared to and involved because of them. They value the variety of viewpoints.

Communication is the primary tool used by people and organizations to elicit the desired reaction in the current era of globalization. In order to get the best reaction from their subordinates, leaders—who are the ones who start the communication in a given organization—must be able to distinguish between the different leadership and communication styles. Some of the models employed by leaders in the communication process include the ones listed below:

 FIRST MODEL

Authoritarian leadership communication

A leadership style known as autocratic leadership, often referred to as authoritarian leadership, is defined by individual control over all decisions and little participation from the group. Autocratic leaders rarely take advice from their followers and frequently make decisions based on their opinions and judgments. Absolute, authoritarian control over a group is a hallmark of autocratic leadership. The most traditional and conventional method of organizational leadership has frequently been referred to as the autocratic leadership style. This leadership style places the leader in command of all decisions and close employee supervision. Employees or subordinates have no voice in decision-making and are required to blindly follow the leader's orders. This leadership style offers advantages and disadvantages just like any other style would. If the personnel are inexperienced or low-skill, this kind of leadership would be effective. The autocratic leadership style may also be effective in situations when individuals need to be disciplined or have a history of making costly mistakes that cost their company money. However, authoritarian executives must be careful not to appear overbearing, especially when dealing with staff of a higher caliber. This is due to the possibility that such personnel can develop a tendency to close off and become reluctance to offer suggestions for improving the company. Employees who can't handle the stress eventually quit, which causes a high turnover rate and talent loss for the business.

Democratic leadership communication

The majority of CEOs that follow the democratic leadership style prioritize employee engagement and empowerment. Employees at these businesses have the chance to voice their opinions and provide suggestions for improving the company. Despite this, firms that use the democratic leadership style still have a functional leader who acts to aggregate and improvise on employee suggestions in addition to making the final decision. The majority of firms find that this leadership approach works best because it fosters a culture of trust and growth among employees and allows for greater feedback from followers.

Leissez-fair leadership communication

Contrary to the autocratic leadership style's rigidity, the laissez-faire approach offers employees little to no guidance and monitoring. Employees frequently do not receive clear instructions; instead, they are expected to create their own objectives and resolve any issues that arise at work on their own. The laissez-faire leadership style has advantages and disadvantages, much like the other two models. If the personnel are highly experienced or work as outside consultants for the company, the laissez-faire leadership style has a great chance of bringing out the best in them. However, if the team members lack the necessary skills or are accustomed to receiving clear instructions for their specific jobs, this leadership style may also be the root of several organizational issues.

Communication techniques utilized by each type of leader

Internal communication is any form of communication or procedure that takes place within an organization, whether it be a business, association, or even a society, according to Bentele (2006). For the purposes of this study, we shall investigate the specifics of formal communication that takes place in or outside of the workplace. We'll presume that managers or supervisors serve as the group's leaders, with the employees serving as their direct reports.

Autocratic Leadership Style

As was already said, the autocratic leadership style places a great value on the leader as the lone decision-maker for all matters. In this leadership style, executives frequently communicate in a more authoritative manner. Order is given by autocratic leaders in a specific way that demonstrates their directness and honesty. Because directives are sent from the top down, this culture is known as the Eiffel Tower Culture. Additionally, leaders that use this style are more likely to have a task-focused, low-relationship approach. This demonstrates that staff members who report to executives that fit into this group typically get information tailored to their job. This implies, however, that they will be denied any opportunity for dissent or, for that matter, even for interrogation. Leaders are the only ones who start a dialogue under this autocratic form of communication, and subordinates' opinions are rarely taken into consideration. Overall, leaders convey their knowledge in a direct way that requires their subordinates to follow every direction precisely without having any opinion or discussion about it. When a whole organization, from the top to the bottom of the hierarchical pyramid, uses this leadership style, it has been noted that they also appear to adopt a vertical communication strategy. This indicates that all communication within the company is either upward or downward. The drawback of this type of communication is that it frequently takes more time for the initial message to reach the intended audience because it must go via several channels before getting there. In addition, there can be differences between the final message received and the original message sent out.

Democratic Leadership Style

Compared to earlier notions of leadership, which typically indicated a position of unquestionable power, democratic leadership has undergone a paradigm shift. According to Gastil (1994), democratic leadership has characterized its effectiveness in terms of three factors: allocating responsibility, giving subordinate’s power, and permitting input during the decision-making process. This demonstrates that democratic leaders are more inclined to employ communication tenets like consultative and participatory communication. According to White.R.A. (1982), democratic communication is the end consequence of a dialectical conflict between social variables, such as the concentration of a social power, and complementary ones producing its dispersion. In order to get their staff to cooperate and respond, executives that adopt this leadership style have a communication style that is particularly effective. In this kind of communication, leaders continue to be the main initiators. However, this type of communication differs from the autocratic method in that it gives more weight to the opinions and suggestions of the workforce. Depending on the significance and complexity of the task, leaders using the democratic leadership style may adopt a low task-high relationship approach or a high task-high relationship approach. In either case, leaders show regard for and consideration for the feelings and emotions of the workers. The degree to which democratic leaders communicate openly also depends solely on how their followers react. Leaders frequently insist that subordinates fully comprehend and do their duties; only then do they accept advice and solutions from the receiver. Like their authoritarian counterparts, democratic leaders have no patience for workers who fail to recognize the significance of the task at hand.

Laissez-faire Leadership Style

Out of the three fundamental leadership styles, laissez faire might be characterized as the most "free" type. This leadership style is most frequently used by those who exhibit low task-low relationship behavior. This is due to the fact that leaders in this group frequently educate their subordinates of the duties they are expected to do, but they leave it totally up to them to choose the best approaches and answers. This type of leadership also makes it less probable for leaders to monitor their team members' work progress and pay attention to their sentiments and emotions.

 SECOND MODEL

Task leadership communication

Goal-achieving is the main focus of task-oriented leadership. To guarantee that everyone on the team remains focused and completes their portion of the project within the allotted time, task-oriented leaders assign tasks, establish clear procedures, and give deadlines. This type of management creates a structured workplace with clearly defined timetables and priorities.

Pros

Task-oriented leaders have a number of traits that ensure that tasks are completed proficiently and promptly every time. These managers typically produce detailed work schedules that are simple to follow and have clear objectives and due dates. The benefits of this leadership approach include maintaining high standards while operating at peak effectiveness. Because it is more structured and deadline-driven, this task-oriented leadership style benefits workers who struggle with time management and need structure.

Cons

The drawbacks of task-oriented leadership include the potential for reduced employee autonomy and innovation, which can lower office morale. The corporate culture may suffer if an employee is forced to work under extremely tight deadlines and a heavy task focus. In this kind of setting, self-motivated employees frequently rebel.

Since it tends to stifle innovation, a lack of creativity under overly task-oriented management can also negatively impact a company's goods. Sometimes the drawbacks of a task-focused management exceed the benefits.

Interpersonal leadership communication

Being a good talker is not necessary for effective interpersonal communication. The best leaders understand that communication must occur on two levels. It must be comprehended and elicit a response from the audience. Learning to attentively listen is one of the first steps in being a good communicator. This ability helps leaders to gauge the tone of the audience and modify their message as necessary. Keep in mind that it's not about you. What matters is who hears what you have to say and how it affects them. The best advice was provided by Stephen Covey: "Seek first to understand, and then be understood.

Pros

Employees are more likely to feel energized by a people-oriented management style since it helps them feel valued for the work they do. One of the main advantages of people-oriented management is that the emphasis on employee relationships gives workers a sense of purpose in the organization. And those that believe their efforts are contributing to the success of a company make better, more productive ones.

Cons

A variety of obstacles are associated with people-oriented leadership. Employees occasionally could feel as though the tasks they've been assigned are too much for them to handle, and they might require extra guidance. If the manager-employee connection is repeatedly prioritized over the crucial business decisions that need to be taken, ineffective decisions may be the result.

Followers communication styles

Three systems for categorizing followers:

A) Engaged followers

B) Exemplary followership

C) The 4D followership model

 Communication styles and information processing

Information processing, which entails capturing information in a manner that is retrievable and analyzable, is the manipulation of data to produce valuable information. Information processing entails taking raw data and contextualizing it to make it more usable. Information processing, in general, refers to the act of processing new data, which involves a number of phases including data acquisition, input validation, manipulation, storage, output, communication, retrieval, and disposal. One or more of these actions are required for the access and update of files in the future. People who work in information processing have the fundamental abilities to successfully and efficiently process a wide variety of information on a computer.

Modern society has been significantly impacted by information processing. The market has grown more complicated as data and information are more readily available. In order to function effectively in the workplace, people must have a solid understanding of how to create, access, use, and manage information. To actively participate as both consumers and producers, people need to grasp how society as a whole, the economic world on a national and worldwide scale, and the government are interconnected. These fundamental skills must be combined with those that lead to business employment and advanced business courses.