Management and leadership
Leadership has numerous definitions. One definition, according to Warren Bennis, is that it is a function of understanding oneself and having vision communicated in the desired manner. It also involves building trust among the staff and the taking of effective action with a view of realising one’s leadership potential. Similarly, the definition is similar to Northouse, who highlights that leadership is a process of influencing individual or group of people aimed at achieving a common goal (Townsend, 2019). In contrast to Warren and Northouse definition, Peter Drucker views that leadership involves lifting one’s vision, building their personality and raising their performance by using power.
Management from old French perspective is viewed as the art of leading or directing either part or entire organisation through manipulation or deployment of resources. In modern business, management is defined as an organisational process which entails strategic planning and management of resources based on deployment of financial and human assets. Such a definition is similar to the French perspective since both are based on the management of the resources. However, in analytic contest, they are different. In the French context, management can either be part or entire organisation whereas in modern business it entails the whole organisation.
Leadership and management are compared and contrasted based on their definition and content. On the definition concept, leadership entails influencing people to ensure the business objectives are achieved willingly and enthusiastically. On the contrary, management is involves managing operations in business in the best way possible. It entails the art of getting a task done through as well as with others. Leadership is based on control, whereas management is geared towards the development of trust among the employees. In context, management involves managing activities in a formal context, whereas in leadership, it consists of inspiring employees either in formal or non-formal context (Bell & Harrison 2018 p. 112). However, despite the different approaches used, the two are intended for the achievement of business objectives. Leadership influences and encourages people to deliver the set goals, whereas management is designed for ruling purposes and bringing of stability in the organisation.
In a theoretical context, on the definition, John Kotter’s leadership vs management theory view management as the process of controlling people or things. Conversely, leadership involves leading people by establishing directions and set of strategies which can lead to fulfilment in the leading process. According to classical management theory, management takes place within a structured setting. Such outlines on the management of activities in a formal setting. In contrast, according to contingency theory, leadership can happen in both or either structured or the unstructured setup. As such, the leadership is exercised based on the four leadership behaviours, which thus outlines the various situations in which the leader has to base their actions. This can, therefore, be in a formal or informal context. In John Kotter’s leadership vs management theory, highlights that leaders are people who have followers, regardless of whether they have a job title or not (Meyer & Meijers 2018 p. 106). On the contrast, managers require a title for them to have people who can listen to their objectives. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
In Waitrose Company, the firm utilises leadership in its operations. The company has a profound leadership which establishing how the workers operate. For instance, the decisions of the various operations are based on the direction created by the leaders. The company’s leaders focus on the creation of vision which has been the hallmark for their operations. For instance, the firm operates based on the vision “to provide the best retail business through the creation of effective leadership in the corporation”. The firm’s leadership communicates effectively, and they have various frameworks which they use to motivate their employees. The firm has a podium which allows for frequent consultations with the company president either on face to face or through online. Such has helped in the development of teamwork in their operations.
Leadership principles
Leadership principles entail the governing principles in which the leader has to follow to achieve the desired values, mission and the goals of the business. As outlined by Gold & Anderson (2017 p.148), leadership principles are viewed as an ultimate source of gaining competitive advantage in an organisation. The principle in which one utilises in leading the industry is crucial in business performance. This is due to how it connects leadership to the various stakeholders in the business. Leadership principles, as stated by Meyer & Meijers (2018 p. 98), is based on the level of influence in which a leader possesses. As such, various leadership principles are not based on authority, but one’s ability to bring change. Leadership principle is strictly based on the wisdom in which one has but not the intellectual ability. Infobase, & Intelecom Intelligent Telecommunications (2015) view that the world has abundant of resources; however, the wise leaders are needed for their insight regarding ways of utilising the resources.
Organisational values describe the core ethics in which an organisation abides regardless of issues which might jeopardise its delivery. The creation of organisational values is geared towards inspiring workers efforts and constrains their actions. It is used in reflecting on the true aspirations of the business in the achievement of appropriate workplace behaviour. Such helps in building a positive culture in a business. One of the essential organisational values is integrity and ethics. The organisations should be led by their desire to provide services and products in an honest, responsible and fair manner. In Waitrose, the firm is built on the foundation of honest. Such has helped in the building of the strong relationship between the company and the various stakeholders. For instance, the firm is specific on their products, including creating awareness regarding the dangers in consumption of some of their goods.
Such truthful conduct has enabled the business to obtain and develop a credible and robust reputation in the market. Respect is also another essential organisational value in which the businesses should have in place. Respect helps in defining how various parties relate in the business — a firm which shows utmost respect to their workers has high employee turnover. Waitrose limited is led by innovative values (Alahmad 2016, p. 242). The firm focuses on being the leading industry in retail business through the introduction of new idea and brands of their products in the market. The employees have been encouraged in various forums which encompasses training to be dynamic to help translate innovative ideas to successful products.
There are various leadership principles which may act as a guideline for leaders as they carry out their duties. Primarily, passion is one of the paramount principles in which leadership must-have for the success of their roles as a leader. Leadership practitioners should have a passion for their work and the mission of the organisation — such impacts on how one performs the various activities in business in direct and indirect ways. The company’s success is based on the entire commitment and lives for what one does in the company. Passion for work and mission of the firm guides one on how to drive productivity and empower the employees in the business. Supporting one’s workers and giving the autonomy to deliver their services is vital in business success (Kwee, 2018 p. 56). Such promotes intrinsic motivation and thus the development of creativity which results in better results in the organisation. Secondly, the leadership should also be led by self-improvement. Leadership is viewed as the face of the organisation. As such, a leader is expected to continually develop ways of improving how work is done in the company. A leader can achieve such by reading as much as possible regarding how to structure an organisation for better productivity. Nonetheless, one should listen to new ideas from employees, mentors and even from the current trends in the business. Such is essential in ensuring the business is done using modern technology, thus enhancing competitive advantage in the market. The leader can always enhance self-improvement by meeting people who are delivering better in business. For example, one can obtain mentorship on self-improvement from Bill Gates and other great entrepreneurs in the world. Self-improvement is essential in the achievement of a dynamic business in this global context.
The principles discussed are essential in driving the values above in the organisation. Leadership directed by passion in the firm ensures that the honesty and integrity in the business are observed. A passionate leader ensures that the work delivery in the organisation is done transparently for the achievement of responsible and fairness. Behavioural issues in the company can lead to deterioration in the relationship between the various stakeholders in the business. Passion leads to the development of responsibility; thus, one feels the mandate to ensure different parties are served accordingly. Such a leader ensures respect is observed among the various stakeholders in place. Such is integral in ensuring that the issues such as conflicts are reduced. The self-improvement perspective is crucial in enhancing innovation in the business. Dynamics characterise the 21st-century trading activities in the global market which have been influenced by constant changes in technology. Therefore, the leaders who engage in the continuous acquisition of knowledge through mentors, reading and research help their corporations to remain competitive in business. The information obtained can be used in educating or training the workers on better ways of production.
Leadership styles
Leaders of an organisation have various ways in which they use to exercise their leadership roles. Such is based on the framework in which the leader uses while exercising their leadership skills. Understanding of leadership framework is crucial in the development of an effective leadership style in which one can apply in a business entity. There are various leadership styles in place. They include transformational, transactional, autocratic, democratic, charismatic and Bureaucratic leadership (Alahmad, 2016 p. 236). As outlined by Trait theory, leadership styles are developed by an individual based on the qualities in which one was either be born with or what one develops. Such helps in shaping the leadership roles, thus enabling the leader to excel in delivering their duties. As such, the leadership style is based on qualities such as intelligence, creativity, sense of responsibility and empathy.
The trait theory thus outlines that mental, social and physical characteristic of a person dictates how they lead in an organisation. In this piece of work, one will discuss on the transactional and transformational leadership. Transformational leadership style is one of the commonly used styles in most organisations. The style entails a leader acting as the pacesetter for the subjects in the organisation. As such, the organisation in which transformational leadership exist work based on teamwork. Transformation leadership encompasses four behaviours. They include idealised influence, intellectual stimulation, inspiration motivation and individual consideration. Based on behavioural theory, the transformational leadership style influences the behavior of the staff. As such, the employees work according to how the leader in the business delivers their duties. The transformational leadership styles inspire their subjects by challenging them to deliver better (Townsend 2019, p. 44 ). They achieve this by encouraging the employees on the need to leave their comfort zone for achieving organisational goals. Nonetheless, they discuss measures in which the organisation can utilise their time and measures they can use for the achievement of the organisational goals. Such are basic in the stimulation of intellectual capability since it involves sharing of ideas, thus promoting learning.
Transactional leadership styles entail leading an organisation based on rewards and punishment. In a firm led by a transactional leadership style, the leader coerces the staff either positively or negatively, to enhance the desired organisational objectives. The leadership is based on the ideology that employees cannot deliver their duties based on self-motivation (Townsend 2019, p. 74). However, the leadership style view that workers can perform better based on how the leader desires them by using either rewards or punishment. Transactional leadership focuses majorly on the areas in which the organisation deviates from the objectives desired by the company. For example, if the problem experienced by the firm is the inability to meet the expected sales, a transactional leader may use techniques such as demoting the sales manager. Similarly, the leader may initiate rewards for improvement in sales.
Leadership styles provide the framework regarding the organisational objectives in which an organisation desires to fulfil. Organisational objectives are viewed by Yukl (2019 p. 128) as either short or long-term goals in which a firm desires to accomplish. Organisational objectives play an integral role in the development of the policies and resources allocation to the various endeavours of the business. Major organisational objectives in most businesses include; employee and management performance, social responsibility, profitability, productivity, innovation and market share. Employee and management performance entails roles in which the two relevant stakeholders of the business should perform. In an organisation led by transactional leadership, one may engage in strict rules regarding the duties in which the employees are expected to perform. Waitrose is managed by transformational leadership since most of the decisions are based on discussion with employees. Social responsibility objective entails delivering of services which are friendly to the various business stakeholders (Sethibe & Steyn 2016 p. 81). In Waitrose, the business engages in various corporate social responsibilities (CSR). Through their business activities, Waitrose also ensures that they provide caution to their consumers. For example, in their tobacco products, they provide information regarding the dangers of smoking. The transformational and transactional leadership in place has facilitated the achievement of such goals. The emphatic leaders ensure the wellbeing of the customers.
Businesses are also trading for profitability. As such, Waitrose oscillates the two leadership skills based on the needs in place. For example, during a crisis, the firm utilises transactional leadership by engaging in rewards and punishment practices which can steer the employees to improve on their service delivery. Similarly, the firm has been using transformational leadership by developing a framework that aligns with the organisational vision and mission. Such has helped in building workplace innovation and creativity towards the achievement of the objective. Innovation is also one of the primary objectives for Waitrose limited. The organisation offers training for its workers to enhance their creativity. Such has led to an increase in productivity.
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Alahmad, Y. Y. (2016). Understanding the relationship between transformational leadership styles: idealised influence, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, individualised consideration and product innovation among manufacturing and services firms, the role of open system.
Bell, J., & Harrison, B. T. (2018). Vision and values in managing education: successful leadership principles and practice. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1753470.
Gold, J., & Anderson, L. (2017). Developing leadership and management skills. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1981254.
Infobase, & Intelecom Intelligent Telecommunications (Firm). (2015). Comparison of Leadership and Management. https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?xtid=70808.
Kwee, G. N. C. (2018). Indubitable Leadership Principles. [place of publication not identified], The Inspiration Hub. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1811189.
Meyer, R., & Meijers, R. (2018). Leadership agility: developing yourrepertoire of leadership styles. http://www.myilibrary.com?id=1037812.
Sethibe, T. G., & Steyn, R. (2016). A model of the relationship between leadership styles, organisational climate, innovation and performance. Thesis / Dissertation ETD. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/23615.
Townsend, T. (2019). Instructional leadership and leadership for learning in schools: understanding theories of leading. https://public.ebookcentral.proquest.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=5906791.
Yukl, G. (2019). Leadership in Organisations, Global Edition. Harlow, United Kingdom, Pearson Education Canada. https://public.ebookcentral.proquest.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=5892731.
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