Define leadership. Explain the behavioral approaches of leadership
Meaning of Leadership
Leadership is defined as influence that is, the art or the process of influencing people so that they will strive willingly and enthusiastically forward the achievement of group goals. In other words, leadership is the ability to influence people and provide an environment for them to achieve team or organizational objectives.
A key to effective leadership is helping followers to achieve their respective essential goals as well as their maximum potentialities. Dynamic leader, therefore, should have the ability to awaken in other the desire to follow a common objective. Leadership as a function is explained by below given equation.
L = F (1, F, S)
where, I, F, S are the variables. Behavioural Approaches of Leadership
Among the various approaches of leadership, behavioural approach is one of the widely accepted ones.
This approach is based on the promise that effective leadership is the result of effective role behaviour. Success in leadership depends more on what the leader does than on his traits. A leader uses technical, conceptual and human skills to influence the behaviour of his subordinate. Leadership therefore, becomes a dynamic interaction between the leader and the led.
The behavioural approach is useful as it suggests the functions and activities of a leader. Three important theories included in behavioural approach are discussed below.
Ohio State Studies:
In 1945, a group of researchers at Ohio state university began extensive investigations of leadership. The central focus of their work was to study in depth the work of a leader. Their effort uncovered many things concerning leadership behaviour. The most publicized aspect of Ohio state leadership was the isolation of two dimensions of leadership behaviour:
- Initiating structure: A high initiating structure score indicates that leaders structures their and subordinates role towards the attainment of goals. They are actively involved in planning work activities, communicating pertinent information and scheduling work.
- Consideration: A leaders who were high on the consideration dimension reflected that they had developed a work atmosphere of mutual trust, respect for subordinate's ideas and consideration of subordinate's feeling. Such leaders encouraged good superior subordinate rapport and two-way communication. A low consideration score indicates that leaders are. more impersonal in their dealing with subordinates.
