What Is Leadership?

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

2.1 Introduction

Human beings are the most precious part of the organization and the effective utilization of the capacity of human resources depends upon management.

Management can get the results from the people in the organization in two ways: (i) by exercise of authority vested in it, or (ii) by winning support of the people. Out of these, the second method is better as it has a lasting effect over the people’s motivation. However, it is only possible when a manager becomes their leader in the real sense to influence their behaviour in desired direction. This leadership is an essential ingredient for successful organization. The successful organization has one major attribute that sets it apart from unsuccessful organization that is dynamic and effective leadership.

2.2 What Is Leadership?

Leadership is a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent. Leaders carry out this process by applying their leadership attributes, such as beliefs, values, ethics, character, knowledge, and skills. Although your position as a manager, supervisor, lead, etc. gives you the authority to accomplish certain tasks and objectives in the organization, this power does not make you a leader...it simply makes you the boss. Leadership differs in that it makes the followers want to achieve high goals, rather than simply bossing people around.

2.3 Definition of Leadership

1. According to Koontz and O’Donnell, “Leadership is the ability of a manager to induce subordinates (followers) to work with confidence and zeal.”
2. Terry has defined leadership in the context of enthusiastic contribution. He says that: “Leadership is essentially a continuous process of influencing behaviour. A leader breathes life into the group and motivates it towards goals. The lukewarm desires for achievement are transformed into a burning passion for accomplishment”.
3. Tennenbaum et al have defined leadership as follows: “Leadership is interpersonal influence exercised in a situation and directed through communication process, towards the attainment of a specified goal or goals.
4. A more recent definition of leadership is as follows: “Leadership is the process of influencing and supporting others to work enthusiastically toward achieving objectives”.

An analysis of these definitions brings certain features of leadership, which are as follows:
1. Leadership is a continuous process of behaviour; it is not one-shot activity
2. Leadership may be seen in terms of relationship between a leader and his followers (individuals and/or groups) which arises out of their functioning for common goals.
3. By exercising his leadership, the leader tries to influence the behaviour of individuals or group of individuals around him to achieve common goals.
4. The followers work willingly and enthusiastically to achieve those goals. Thus, there is no coercive force, which induces the followers to work.
5. Leadership gives an experience of help to followers to attain common goals. It happens when the leader feels the importance of individuals, gives them recognition, and conveys them about the importance of activities performed by them.

6. Leadership is exercised in a particular situation, at a given point of time, and under specific set of circumstances. It implies that leadership styles maybe different under different situations.