2.4 Leadership Flashcards
Define leadership. [2]
- Leadership plays an important role in ensuring the success of an organisation.
- Setting of a clear direction and vision for its members.
- Motivating them to work towards the achievement of organisational goals.
What is the effect of a clear and effective leadership? [2]
- Only with clear and effective leadership can workers be well-managed and inspired to help the leader > the business takes a fresh direction and achieve new goals.
Define leadership style.
Leadership style refers to the way in which managers make decisions and communicate with their staff.
Define autocratic leadership.
Autocratic leadership is a style of leadership that keeps all decision-making at the centre of the organisation.
What are some features of autocratic leadership? [5]
- Autocratic leaders practice only one-way communication.
- Set business objectives themselves.
- Issue instructions to workers.
- Initiate checks to ensure that they are carried out.
- Make decisions themselves without discussion with their workers.
- Share limited information about the business with the workers.
What are the effects of Autocratic Leadership? [3]
- Autocratic leadership may lead to workers’ dependency on leaders for guidance and thus not showing any initiative.
- Tends to demotivate those workers who are keen to contribute ideas and take responsibility.
- Thus, the decision made would not benefit from workers’ feedback.
What are some businesses functioning with autocratic leadership? [2]
- Military and police force where orders are issued to deal with critical situations. (riots, aircraft hijacks)
- In business context, it is often used in times of crisis when immediate action is required to minimise any damage caused by the business and it may be inappropriate to hold discussion with workers.
Define democratic leadership.
Democratic leadership is a leadership style that promotes the active participation of workers in decision-making.
What are some features of democratic leadership? [4]
- Two-way communication
- Workers are encouraged to provide suggestions and feedback.
- Democratic leaders promote discussion with workers before making decisions.
- Better decisions are likely to be made with the contribution of ideas and sharing of valuable work experience by workers.
- In order for workers to contribute meaningfully, full information about the business should be given to them.
What are the advantages of democratic leadership? [2]
- Democratic leadership will most likely improve motivation among workers because they feel involved as they are given some responsibility for the objectives and strategy of the business.
- Workers are more committed to ensure that decisions that they have influenced are put into effect successfully.
What are some businesses functioning with democratic leadership? [3]
- Appropriate when workers are motivated and expected to contribute to the decision-making process.
- Workers who are experienced and flexible.
- Inputs from workers are important in situations which requires innovative solutions.
Define paternalistic leadership.
Paternalistic [father-like] leadership is a leadership style based on the approach that the manager is in a better position than the workers to know what is best for the business.
What are the effects of paternalistic leadership? [5]
- Paternalistic leaders listen, explain issues and consult with workers but will not allow them to make decisions.
- Managers who adopt this leadership style will decide ‘what is best’ for the business and the workforce.
- Not democratic and can rather be autocratic > delegation of decision-making is unlikely.
- Paternalistic leaders generally want workers to be happy and satisfied in their jobs but are less concerned with their motivation levels.
- More experienced workers who prefer to be given decision-making authority and opportunities for participation might be demotivated and disappointed with a paternalistic leadership style.
What are some features of the businesses functioning with paternalistic leadership?
- Paternalistic leadership is appropriate if workers are newly appointed, unskilled, inexperienced or untrained.
- It is also generally used by managers who are generally concerned with the interests of workers but are unwilling to let go of decision-making powers.
What is Laissez-faire Leadership?
- Laissez-faire leadership is a leadership style that leaves much of the business decision-making to the workforce.
- Opposite of autocratic style / ‘hands-off’ approach / ‘let them do it’.