Leadership

Identify the differences between management and leadership

Leadership is just one of the many resources that a successful manager must possess. The main aim of a manager is to maximise the output of the organisation through administrative implementation. To achieve this, managers must undertake the following functions:

• organisation
• planning
• staffing
• directing
• controlling

Leadership is just one important component of the directing function. A manager cannot just be a leader; he also needs formal authority to be effective.

In some circumstances, leadership is not required. For example, self motivated groups may not require a single leader and may find leaders dominating. The fact that a leader is not always required proves that leadership is just an asset and is not essential.

There is a big difference between management and leadership. Management covers many aspects, while leadership may be considered as a part of management. Usually management refers to the art of directing, controlling and supervising a group of people or sometimes employees. With some help of management tools, which sometimes include leadership, while leadership can be said as the process of leading a certain group of people.

Leadership is a part of management and it is the natural capability of the individual which makes him a successful leader. It is very necessary for a leader that his subordinates should be purely his followers, otherwise the leader might not be considered as a good leader.

Describe and explain the ‘managerial grid’ developed by Blake and Mouton. Think about someone you have worked for and identify the leadership style they used and where they would fit on Blake and Mouton’s grid and explain why

The Managerial Grid is based on two behavioural dimensions:

• Concern for People - This is the degree to which a leader considers the needs of team members, their interests, and areas of personal development when deciding how best to accomplish a task
• Concern for Production - This is the degree to which a leader emphasizes concrete objectives, organizational efficiency and high productivity when deciding how best to accomplish a task.

Country Club Leadership - High People/Low ProductionThis style of leader is most concerned about the needs and feelings of members of his/her team. These people operate under the theory that as long as team members are happy and secure then they will work hard. What tends to result is a work environment that is very relaxed and fun but where production suffers due to lack of direction and control.

Produce or Perish Leadership - High Production/Low PeoplePeople in this category believes that employee's needs are always secondary to the need for efficient and productive workplaces. This type of leader is very autocratic, has strict work rules, policies, and procedures, and views punishment as the most effective means to motivate employees.

Impoverished Leadership - Low Production/ Low People

This leader is mostly ineffective. He/she has neither a high regard for creating systems for getting the job done, nor for creating a work environment that is satisfying and motivating. The result is a place of disorganization, dissatisfaction and disharmony.

Middle-of-the-Road Leadership - Medium Production/Medium PeopleThis style seems to be a balance of the two competing concerns. In the beginning it may appear to others as an ideal compromise. Shortly after lies the problem, for the reason that when you compromise you usually give away a bit of a concern which will lead to production nor people needs are fully met. Leaders who use this style settle for average performance and often believe that this is the most anyone can expect.

Team Leadership - High Production/High PeopleAccording to the Blake Mouton model, this is the high point of managerial style. These leaders stress production needs and the needs of the people equally highly. The principle here is that employees are involved in understanding organizational purpose and determining production needs. When employees are committed to, and have a stake in the organization's success, their needs and production needs agree. This creates a team environment based on trust and respect, which leads to high satisfaction and motivation and, as a result, high production 

When I worked for Marks and Spencer I personally think that my manager fits on the grid is at The Impoverished Manager section. The reason I say this is for the reason that he doesn’t make an effort to communicate with any of the staff.  He was always in his office and allocates task to the supervisors and send messages to the staff through the supervisors.
This is very demotivating for the reason that I feel he doesn’t care about his staff welfare. I found it very hard to come to him when I did have a problem I would like to raise to him due to his lack of communication skills.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Dr-Nelson-Mandela---An-Epitome-of-Good-Leadership&id=4679658

The article above describes how Nelson Mandela was such a good leader. In the article, it mentions how he earned his respect and the things he didn’t do that made him a bad leader. For example in the article it says he didn't embark on any image laundering.

I think this made him such a good leader for the reason that he was honest and worked really hard. He had a determination to have a national dream and he stuck to it, because of this he is now known as a worldwide inspirational leader.

The article also described his sufferings and the horrible things he went through, for example deprivation, hunger, torture, intimidation and maltreatment.

All these attributes made him a good leader for the reason he can relate to people. He went through certain things just to get where he is today. All of his characteristics made him the man he is today.

In conclusion management and leadership are two different types of roles but with similar characteristics. In a business the qualities you need to lead people as well as manage, will help the business run more efficiently. There are different types of styles that are used in a business. There are several different types of styles that work with different businesses but they all have the same goal which is to run a well efficient run business.


                                                                   

Introducing Human resources management - Foot and Hook
People and Organisations- Mullins
http://ezinearticles.com/Dr-Nelson-Mandela---An-Epitome-of-Good-Leadership