3.2 leadership Flashcards
the role of managers
planning
organising
controlling
directing
planning
setting targets
estimating resources needed
budgeting
forecasting
organising
coordinating teams
allocating resources
giving instructions to subordinates
directing
giving guidance and instruction
motivating employees
delegating authority
controlling
reporting on performance eg financial reporting
monitoring employee performance eg conducting appraisals
enforcing company policy and rules
monitoring targets and budgets
two theories involved in management and leadership
trait theory
behavioural theory
trait theory
the belief that leaders and managers hold certain traits that distinguish them from other people
there is disagreement about the exact traits that constitute a succesfull leader
one argument against this theory is that successful leaders have been found to possess very different traits from one another
behavioural theory
the behavioural theory of leadership suggests that there is an appropriate style of management or leadership determined by the context, situation and nature of the task
there are a number of theories that explore behavioural management and consider different styles based on a number of different factors
eg task vs relationship styles (the blake mouton grid) or the extent to which a manager tells employees or listens to their opinions (the tannenbaum-schmidt continuum)
what is the blake and moulton grid
identifies a number of approaches to leadership based on the extent to which a manager is focused on their concern for production and their concern for people
what are the 4 categories on the blake moulton grid
impoverished
country club
team leader
produce to perish
what goes on the x axis of a blake moulton grid and what goes on the y axis
x= concern for production
y= concern for people
where is impoverished on the blake moulton grid
low concern for people
low concern for production
(bottom left)
where is country club on the blake moulton grid
low concern for production
high concern for people
(top left)
where is team leader on the blake moulton grid
high concern for production
high concern for people
(top right)
where is produce to perish on the blake moulton grid
high concern for production
low concern for people
impoverished
perhaps focused on self and not leading the organisation
dissatisfcation and disorganisation
an ineffective manager
country club
a relaxed working environment
manager is concerned with relationships and motivation of employees
task may not get done
team leader
high focus on both
in theory this should he highly successful as the employees needs should he aligned to those of the organisation
employees feel involved and have a stake in the success of the business
produce or perish
authoritatrian
driven by targets and getting the task done
cares little for well-being or feelings of employees
what can the blake moulton grid be used to do
help managers reflect on their own practice and identify strategies to improve their management/leadership skills
what is the tannenbaum schmidt continuum
shows where a managers approach lies on a continuum ranging from the manager imposing strict authority to one extreme, through to employees having full freedom to act as they choose at the other extreme
what can the tannenbaum schmidt continuum be used for
to make choices about which approach to adopt, but no advice is given on how the approach should be chosen based on the circumstances
stages on the tannebaum schmidt continuum
(use of authority by leader) ( autocratic boss-centred leadership)
tells
sells
suggests
consults
joins
delegates
abdicates
(area of freedom by subordinates) ( empowered subordinate-centred leadership)
what is seen on the far left of the tannebaum schmidt model
authoritarian leader top down decisions
what is seen on the middle of the tannebaum schmidt continuum
leader gains ideas and opinions from team before making the decision
what is there on the middle-right of the tannenbaum schmidt continuum
ideas and opinionns valued by leader and decisions made as ateam
what is seen on the far right of the tannebaum schmidt continuum
laissez-faire leadership style
different leadership styles
auotocratic (auothoritarian)
democratic
laissez-faire
advantages of autocratic (authoritarian) leadership
focused on getting the task done
high levels of control suitable for unskilled workforce
speeds up decision-making process- important in times of crisis
suitable for implementing a clear vision held by the leader
disadvantages of autocratic (authoritarian) leadership
can lead to low levels of ,otivation if employees dont feel respected or valued
no opportunity for employees to be involved in decision making
no opportunity to collect ideas and opinions of the workforce that might be valuable
employees might not feel as though they have a stake in the business
advantages of democratic leadership style
develops a team spirit- more opportunity for employees to ‘buy in’ to the task if they feel they have had a say
allows a manager to collect ideas and opinions from the whole workforce
disadvantages of democratic leadership style
decision making can take a long time when done by committee
employees may not see the ‘bigger picture’ and vote for decisions that benefit them
advantages of laissez-faire leadership
allows employees autonomy to make their own decisions
often leading to higher levels of creativity and motivation amongst workers
disadvantages of laissez-faire leadership style
lack of control over the workforce- deadlines and targets might be missed
tasks may not be coordinated very well
what factors should you take into account when trying to identify the best approach to management/leadership
labour force
nature of task
timescale
personality and tradition
how are decisions made
on both quantitative and qualitative information
use both scientific techniques (data, logic, rationale) and the intuition of the manager (experience and hunches)
what is the decision making process
set objectives
gathering information
choosing the course of action
implementation
review
how is gatheuing info involved in decision making
to make the most appropriate decision factors such as risk, reward and uncertainty will be taken into account
how does choosing the course of action affect the decision making process
process is key if decisions are to be made scientifically
however managers are just as likely to use their own experience and intuition
a decision might be strategic or tactical