Personal and Supervisor’s Leadership Traits, Behaviors, and Styles

Personal and Supervisor’s Leadership Traits, Behaviors, and Styles

Leadership and management involve distinct traits. In particular, leadership includes features that are not the same as those needed in management. However, the two roles require a person to exhibit important characteristics to be competent. Besides, a person may be a manager and a leader at the same time.

Personal Vs. Supervisor’s Roles

Reflecting on my current role in my workplace, I perform leadership responsibilities. According to Hiriyappa (2009), a leader usually focuses on aspects like interpersonal behavior and is keen on change, future, and development. Notably, I am concerned with such elements that leadership involves. Leadership is also an open position and includes the aspect of influence over others. Notably, nobody made me a leader but has come about because of the experience I have had over the years of influencing people to follow. Focusing on my supervisor, he has a managerial role. As a manager, the supervisor is involved in orderly structures every day, getting work done, and assessing the efficiency and outcomes of various tasks. Prominently, the supervisor reports to work daily and performs duties routinely. Additionally, his role is formally designated and based on authority.

Personal Vs. Supervisor’s Leadership Traits

There are various general leadership traits. Based on our different levels of experience, my supervisor has more and prominent leadership traits compared to mine. My leadership traits, considering those listed by Hiriyappa (2009), include intelligence, stress-tolerant, and determination. In particular, I usually make an appropriate decision to address issues that I encounter and make good judgment. Despite working in a demanding workplace, I cope with stress appropriately, and I am always ready to handle challenging tasks..

On the other hand, my supervisor has such traits at a higher degree. Notably, the supervisor is more intelligent, has competent stress management strategies, and more focused on improving his and the organization’s performance. The supervisor has additional leadership traits include self-confidence, sociability, and integrity.

Personal Vs. Supervisor’s Leadership Behaviors

Leaders tend to exhibit distinct leadership behaviors. Notably, I have a different leadership behavior compared to my supervisor. I have a people-centered/relationship-oriented leadership behavior. According to Bauer and Erdogan (2012), people-oriented leadership involves a leader caring more for employees’ welfare. Prominently, I am always concerned about the wellness of others and make decisions effectively, not to affect them adversely.

On the contrary, my supervisor has task-oriented leadership behavior. Bauer and Erdogan (2012) note that a leader with task-oriented behavior targets to realize the completion of a task. My supervisor focuses on directing employees to achieve organizational goals.

Personal Vs. Supervisor’s Leadership Styles

Leaders have varying leadership styles. I have a participative leadership style. According to Hiriyappa (2009), a participate leadership style involves an individual considering the opinions and views of others in making decisions. I am keen to include the contribution of others in the decision-making process. My supervisor follows an autocratic leadership style. Hiriyappa (2009) notes that the authoritarian leadership style involves individuals dismissing or not considering the decisions of other people, especially those who work under them when making decisions. My supervisor exhibits such aspects in his leadership approach.

Summing up, it is worth noting that I have different leadership traits, behaviors, and styles from my supervisor. Notably, while I have a leadership role, my supervisor has a managerial position. Also, we have distinct leadership traits. While I have a people-oriented behavior and participative style, my supervisor has a task-oriented and autocratic style of leadership.

References

Bauer, T., & Erdogan, B. (2012). Chapter 12.2. Who is a leader? Trait approaches to leadership. In organizational behavior. Saylor Academy.

Bauer, T., & Erdogan, B. (2012). Chapter 12.3 What do leaders do? Behavior approaches to leadership. In organizational behavior. Saylor Academy.

Hiriyappa, B. (2009). Organizational Behavior, New Delhi: New Age International Ltd.