1.4.5 Leadership

Question 1

Leadership

Answer 1

The action or the ability of leading a group of people or an organisation.

Question 2

Management

Answer 2

The process of dealing with or controlling things or people.

Question 3

Characteristics of leaders

Answer 3

• Inspire people.
• Build relationships.
• Have followers.
• Take risks.
• Innovators.
• Has a vision.
• Provides direction.

Question 4

Characteristics of managers

Answer 4

• Enact the plan.
• Use their authority.
• Manage risks.
• Have subordinates.
• Problem solver.
• Organises, co-ordinates.
• Controls and manages the workload of workers.

Question 5

Factors influencing what leadership style should be adopted?

Answer 5

• Personal values.
• Manager’s experience.
• Confidence/trust in subordinates.
• Feelings of security.
• Nature of the business problems.
• Type of organisation (size, structure).
• Skills and experience of subordinates.

Question 6

Authoritarian (Autocratic)

Answer 6

Leader makes all the decisions.
- Focus of power with manager.
- Communication top-down and one-way.
- Use of rewards and penalties.
- Very little delegation.
- Formal systems of command and control.
e.g. factories, fast food, armed forces and police.

Question 7

Why modern business leadership is moving away from Autocratic styles?

Answer 7

• Changes in society’s value.
• Pressure for greater employee involvement.
• Better educated workforce.
• Focus on need for soft HR skills.

Question 8

Democratic

Answer 8

Leaders encourage participation in decision making.
- Focus of power is more with the group as a whole.
- Emphasis on delegation and consultation.

Democratic persuasive: Leader has made decision and then persuades subordinates into best option.
Democratic consultative: Leader consults with subordinates then makes a decision.

Question 9

Laissez-faire

Answer 9

Leaders allow employees to make their own decisions.
- Leader has little input into day-to-day decision making.
- Delegates power.
- Managers/employees have freedom to do what they think is best.

Question 10

Paternalistic

Answer 10

Leader makes decisions but takes employees point of view into consideration.
- Leader decides what is best for employees.
- Akin to a parent/child relationship.
- Links with Mayo - addressing employees needs.