The Nature of Leadership

Leadership can refer both to the process of leading, and to those entities that do the leading. Leadership has been a central, and sometimes controversial, topic in the study of organizations. In spite of claims to the contrary, there is substantial evidence that leadership is positively related to a variety of individual and organizational outcomes. Leaders, by their very roles, are responsible for making decisions that help their organizations adapt and succeed in competitive environments (Antonakis et al, 2004). Leaders do not merely impose goals on followers, but work with others to create a shared sense of purpose and direction. Leaders primarily work through and with other people. They also help to establish the conditions that enable others to be effective. Leadership is a function more than a role. Although leadership is often invested in – or expected of – persons in positions of formal authority, leadership encompasses a set of functions that may be performed by any different persons in different roles throughout a community. Leaders manage and managers lead, but the two activities are not synonymous. Management functions can potentially provide leadership; leadership activities can contribute to managing (Antonakis et al, 2004). Reflecting based on the above statements made me realize that effective managers do not only administer the people under him/her but should also be a prime initiator of innovation in which tasks and goals of the department and the organization as a whole. As such, managers should be creative as well as discerning when it comes to analyzing and assessing the resources of the company. Developing and evaluating the efficiency of a particular operation strategy will be helpful in maintaining the overall competitiveness of the business organization. In effect, being able to contemplate the factors that will greatly influence the success of the business should be highly considered through objective investigation of the current conditions of the business environment particularly the industry to which the company belongs. The three major leadership styles: laissez-faire, democratic, and authoritarian leadership. Laissez-Faire leaders take no initiative in directing or managing the group; he/she allows the group to develop on its own, as it has no real authority. Specifically, the leader answers questions, provides information, or gives no reinforcement to the group. Furthermore, the leader evaluates and criticizes little, and is thereby non-threatening. The leader allows the members to make their own decisions (Antonakis et al, 2004). On the other hand, democratic leaders provide directions, but allow the group to make its own decisions. Specifically, members are encouraged by democratic leaders to determine goals and procedures, and to stimulate their self-direction and self-actualization (Antonakis et al, 2004). Moreover, democratic leaders offer suggestions and reinforce members' ideas. After offering these suggestions, providing information, and clarifying ideas, the leader allows the group to make the decision. In leadership styles, the democratic leader is in the middle of the styles. The authoritarian leader is the opposite of the laissez-faire leader. The authoritarian leader sets the agenda, determines the group's policies, assigns tasks to the members, and makes decisions for the group without consulting them. In the end, the leader takes responsibility for the group's progress, but accepts very few suggestions from the group (Antonakis et al, 2004). Rarely do the group members communicate with one another, but they communicate with the leader. Leaders should have vision for the organization. The leaders sell vision by visible management attention, proactive policies and procedures, recognition systems, incremental change expectations, and shared glory (Antonakis et al, 2004). Leaders should also have faith that in change, the organization can accomplish its purpose. Moreover, leaders should have integrity, an ethical sense of justice, fairness, and honesty, so that the members can believe in their word. In regards to leaders in an organization as the life-giving elements in every organisation in that without managers, organizations cannot possibly function properly. Thus, a strong link is noted between a leader’s efficiency and organization performance (Antonakis et al, 2004). It has been recognised that leaders are a significant power behind the progress and successful development of an organisation’s strategy and such success is very much dependent upon their attitudes, behaviour and commitment to their specific responsibilities. The basic tension that underlies many discussions of organisational change is that it would not be necessary if leaders had done their jobs right in the first place. Planned change is usually triggered by the failure of people to create continuously adaptive organizations. Thus, organizational change routinely occurs in the context of failure of some sort. Successful change must involve leaders who initially instigate the change by being visionary, persuasive and consistent. A change agent role is usually responsible to translate the vision to a realistic plan and carry out the plan. It is impossible for a leader to get extraordinary achievement alone. Moreover, teamwork is needed in an unstable market and most especially in the business we are in. If you can’t depend on others, you will never become a leader because the better we are able to innovate if we feel we are more trusted. If a leader trusts his staff, his staff will trust him back. As a leader, trust is needed and that a team should be bonded with the capacity to trust each other (Antonakis et al, 2004) . Leadership comprises the aptitude and ability to inspire and influence the thinking, attitudes, and behavior of other people. Leadership is a process of social influence in which one person is able to enlist the aid and support of other individuals in the achievement of a common task. Although this specification seems relatively simple, the reality of leadership is very complex. Intrapersonal factors such as ideas and emotions, interact with interpersonal processes (i.e., attraction, communication, influence) to have effects on a dynamic external environment. Each of these aspects brings complexity to the leadership process. References Antonakis, John, Cianciolo, Anna T. and Sternberg, Robert. The Nature of Leadership.   United States: Sage Publishing House, 2004.            

Describe how networking skills can improve project success Essay

Describe how networking skills can improve project success - Essay Example his is not the case with the free networking websites like LinkedIn, Monster and the like where every other individual is online and has something to say or the other. The professional associations offer a more practical approach towards building professional relationships which is not the case with the free networking websites that seem to come up every now and then. The need is to comprehend the respective roles of these avenues more than anything else and then delving deep further into their domains. The professional associations are renowned globally for the high standards which have been set in accordance with the professional principles, rules and codes of conduct, the industry requirements and so on. Free networking websites like LinkedIn cannot ask for a proper appraisal of such nuances because it only allows the individuals to come and meet one another on the websites rather than introducing the capabilities in a way that these professional associations do (Kurtz, 2011). The benefits are therefore in terms of more credibility, better selection of individuals for the coveted posts and technological success that is there amongst the people who have been listed within the professional associations. 2) Is the cost of joining any of the professional associations worth it, based on what you can see from the information on their website, when it comes to making professional contacts that can benefit your career? Why or why not? I believe there are a positive as well as a negative side to any subject. Same is the case with joining the free networking websites where chances of coming across individual from the desired industries are higher and that too without any cost. However, when one views the professional associations that have been built with the passage of time, hard work and a cost that is attached to it, there is a general feel of something formal taking place somewhere. Yet this feel seems to be a missing link within the free networking websites which

Critique of Aristotle's Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critique of Aristotle's Politics - Essay Example Other types include tyranny, oligarchy and democracy, which are considered bad ones. It has been argued that there are a number of advantages and disadvantages that come with the type of government in practice. This affects the level of benefits of the people as well as the level of peace in a government. Benefits and disadvantages are associated with the types of government that Aristotle discusses in his classification of empires. This paper provides a discussion of those pros and cons. It also provides the argument whether these forms of rule would be suitable for the administration of the Roman Empire. Discussion One of the first political structures Aristotle refers to is a monarchy. He distinguishes a monarchy noting that, â€Å"The rule of a household is a monarchy, for every house is under one head: whereas constitutional rule is a government of freemen and equals† (Aristotle 279). Aristotle goes on to indicate that the major pros of a political monarchy are that the h ead of state is separated from the head of government. It has also been noted that there exists a great relationship between the leader and the people if the leader is a monarch. This is because people see the Royal Family as a family they can relate to. Indeed, at one point Aristotle even compares a monarchy to a family, with the head of the household constituting the King or Queen. The other pro is that this form of leadership ensures the interest of the nation is placed first in preference to other considerations. It is also a form of government that represents centuries of history and tradition. It is considered a tourist attraction due to its archaic nature, and tourists usually come to see the working palaces. This type of empire would have been successful in the Roman Empire during the reign of Diocletian which started in 284 CE. Since the monarch divided the empire into two, it would have ensured loyalty to the monarch from the eastern and the western empires. This would ens ure cases of disagreements and rebellion against the monarch are prevented. Aristocracy, on the other hand, is a form of rule which ensures the best rulers. There are certain pros associated with this form of rule. The main one is that it ensures the best people who can rule the country are given the authority to do so if the present leadership is hereditary. This ensures the country is ruled by the right people in the right direction. This form of rule would have been successful in the Roman Empire. In these regards, one considers that Aristotle extols the virtues of the aristocracy as being effective with many strongholds (Aristotle). The Roman Empire had various problems from attacks from the Vandals in 455 CE. This led to the removal of the Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustus from power by the Odovacar, a paid mercenary of the Romans as well as the leader of the Goths. This is what resulted in the end of the Roman Empire. The selection of the right leader would ensure he puts the ri ght defensive measures to ensure the people are protected and the multitude of strongholds would have constituted an effective defensive measure. This would have contributed to the continued existence of the Roman Empire. Tyranny can also be considered to have certain pros with respect to the Roman Empire. This is because only a tyrant is allowed to act in a manner that he wants without considering ethics. It allows the society to run free by assuming control irrespective to the nature of the control. Aristotle notes,

My Feets Is Tired But My Soul Is Rested Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

My Feets Is Tired But My Soul Is Rested - Essay Example They all waited for almost 360 years and nothing changed for them, they were facing many problems like:Â  Becoming frustrated by such conditions the Negroes thought of taking a direct action because all the negotiation agreements were rejected by the Authorities. They all knew that this step would be painful but they believed that getting the freedom is never easy. So they agreed to take the big step as they all were fed up with the word Wait. They all waited for almost 360 years and nothing changed for them, they were facing many problems like:Poor were becoming poorer due to lack of opportunities. Children were not allowed go to school.Black children were not allowed to play with white kids in the same amusement park.There was no respect for black women.Public humiliation e.g. they had to sit on back of the buses and the front was for the white citizen. Always had to face the fact that A Negro is Nobody.This all was the result of unjust Law. The law constituted the differences reg arding the Whites and Blacks. According to law there were many acts which if performed by whites were legal, but illegal if done by blacks. Getting angry of all these differences the Negro finally decided to take an action. They decided to boycott the bus travels after a woman named Rosa Parks was arrested because she refused to leave her seat for a white person; according to the law, the front of the bus was for white people only and the back was for the blacks and if the bus is full and a white person gets in, the black had to stand for him.

NURSING DIAGNOSIS OF EMPHYSEMA, OSTEOPOROSIS AND HYPETENSION Essay

NURSING DIAGNOSIS OF EMPHYSEMA, OSTEOPOROSIS AND HYPETENSION - Essay Example Emphysema happens mostly in patients with reduced alpha 1- anti-trypsin (A1AT) levels. Alpha 1 anti-trypsin deficiency (A1AD) destroys alveolar tissues. Smoking reduces A1AT to greater extend and cause emphysema People at this stage of life are recovering from middle adulthood and experience Despair versus Integrity. The basic strength at this age is wisdom. Those who lived up to their dreams in life usually enjoy good memories and this is what is identified as integrity. Having failed to achieve better life and bearing in mind the situation of the patient's aliments, the patient is not able to find her true self to develop her personal ego as expected of her age. She may not develop wisdom This is evidenced by the patient's ailments which appear like co morbidity of several disease conditions or a cascade of ailments. she had suffered osteoporosis for 8 years, emphysema for 12 years, hyperlipidemia for 5 years and hypertension for 15 years keeping pain diary to assist in identification of irritating and ease factors on pain, assisted the patient in selecting best management strategy and acknowledge and recognize patients past experience (Green 2007) Aggrenox one (200mg) tablet twice a day, Coreg 3.125 mg per oral administration twice a day and Cozaar 50mg per oral administration everyday to reduce high blood pressure. ... Treatment Open (bronchial ventilation) by suction or giving medication that reduce secretions, acid base management techniques and use of medication. keeping pain diary to assist in identification of irritating and ease factors on pain, assisted the patient in selecting best management strategy and acknowledge and recognize patients past experience (Green 2007) Medication Aggrenox one (200mg) tablet twice a day, Coreg 3.125 mg per oral administration twice a day and Cozaar 50mg per oral administration everyday to reduce high blood pressure. Administer Acetaminophen 650mg six hours interval to relive mild pain and reduce fever. Ipratropium Bromide two puffs twice a day to reduce allergic reactions and secretions as well as for brocho-dilatation Diet 3. The patient to be put on a steady diet with more calcium and vitamin D and also carry out exercises to strengthen the back. Referred the patient to osteoporosis support. Pr Assessment Functional Health Patterns Nursing Diagnosis 1 The patient has intermittent sleep patterns only able to tolerate with HOB up in high fowler position. The patient has suffered osteoporosis for the past 8 years, multiple admission for pneumonia. Osteoporosis causes a lot of skeleton-muscular pain because the bones gradually weaken and any slight strain on the body structure is very painful(Green 2007) The functional health patterns are identified as; 1. Sleep-Rest Patterns 2. Sensory Perception Patterns Psychological Nursing diagnosis the patient experienced stress and anxiety Physiological Nursing Diagnosis The patient experienced disturbed sleeping patterns and Ineffective airway clearance In relation to being

Discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 41

Discussion - Assignment Example It is also worth mentioning that both the knife and electric water pump require to be operated manually and the operator has to do some ‘work’. Thus, in this case, the issue of laziness doesn’t arise at all. According to the BLS American Time Use Survey, A.C. Nielsen Co. conducted in the first quarter of 2012, the average American spends slightly over 5 hours a day watching television. While on the surface he figure looks staggering, it is important to note that the figure takes into account people beyond retirement age who while away entire days in care centres glued to the screen of television. The bulk of he productive population would typically watch television only when having dinner and during weekends. To them, this is more like a hobby than a lifestyle. As with regards to the use of technology and it making us more lazy,nothing can be farther from the truth. It is a matter of perception, which has evolved over time. Fifty years ago the word â€Å"hardworking† was directly proportional to the muscle one possessed and the amount of sweat shed and effort spent in the process. Today, one could achieve much more using by far less energy. A housewife could use tools like washing machine, dishwasher and vacuum cleaner and make her house sparkling clean within a short period of time. Without these, the same housewife would take a whole day performing the same tasks, and probably wouldn’t do it as well as he machines would. To sum it all up, I’d like to remind us that machines are tools meant to assist us in performing tasks and making our lives more comfortable. They are here not to replace us or do our jobs for us, but as tools at our disposal. Life would not be as comfortable or well-advanced were I not for machines. Let us embrace them and appreciate their usefulness in our daily

Human Growth and Developement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human Growth and Developement - Essay Example From this paper, it is clear that big 5 personality traits are the five basic dimensions of any individual’s personality and are a broad classification of personality, whereby agreeableness refers to the ability to be trustworthy, kind and affectionate while neuroticism points emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness. On the other hand, openness and conscientiousness refer to the ability to be insightful and thoughtful, respectively. For effective nursing, it is crucial to have an appropriate combination such as extraversion meaning excitability, sociability, and talkativeness, agreeableness, openness, and conscientiousness. These come in handy in nursing in terms of catering for the needs of their patients emotionally through social and high emotional expression.This paper highlights that  ageism is the term used to refer to discrimination against people based on their age, and stereotyping on the same. In the media, the issue of ageism has come up in recent times due to the practice of discriminating the aged, middle-aged, teenagers and children on various grounds related to their age.  This is where humorists and comedians avoid making jokes on racial, disability and sexist grounds, but feels okay to bare their bias and negative attitude to those they consider unworthy of their respect.  This is by attacking the target group with harsh comments. In nursing cases, ageism applies in employment and experience where some of the junior and senior members of the nursing profession deny one another respect.