Leadership and management in business

Leadership and management

THE KEY FUNCTIONS OF MANAGEMENT

managers are responsible for setting objectives, organizing resources & motivating staff so that the organization’s aims are met definition: the key functions of management summarize the work a manager does within a business organization, such as planning, coordinating, commanding, controlling, and organizing activities. Example

Upper management (director): Responsible for planning and reaching long-term goals

Middle management (principal): Responsible for daily operations and ensuring the smooth work of all departments

Lower-level management (head of the department): Responsible for overseeing teachers within a specific department

Henri Fayol’s functions of management

  1. Planning —> how to achieve short and long-term goals or objectives
  2. Coordinating —> must coordinate the activities of different departments within an organization, this might mean ensuring suppliers know which goods to produce and when. all these activities must be coordinated so that when a company rolls out its product, the roll-out is a success.
  3. Commanding —> this aspect of a manager’s job involves giving instructions to employees and ensuring work performance is of a high standard Controlling —> requires a manger to understand the business processes and policies and make changes to ensure objectives are met.
  4. Organizing —> requires the manager to use the available resources efficiently
MANAGEMENT VS LEADERSHIP

Management is the work of directing a business organization’s resources (physical and non-physical) to achieve business objectives

managers are tasked with these responsibilities:

  • ensure that everyone is performing their assigned duties and coordinate effort among employees
  • make decisions that impact a business’s day-to-day operations
  • resolve problems
  • work to coordinate and achieve smooth operational activity

a good manager can be the difference between a successful and unsuccessful business organization

Leadership is the use of strategic and creative thinking that inspires people to meet challenges and accomplish defined goals

strong leadership is required to keep a company operating at a cutting edge, which involves strategic and creative thinking,

Warren Bennis’s ‘ingredients’ are necessary to be a successful leader

  • a guiding vision
  • passion
  • integrity (self-knowing, candor, and maturity)
  • trust
  • curiosity and daring

“managers wear hats and learn through training. Leaders wear sombreros and opt for education”

COMPARISON

  • managers and leaders are both necessary for a successful business
  • good managers exhibit the traits of a good leader
  • good leaders are able to manage effectively

LEADERSHIP STYLES

SPLAD

  1. Situational
  2. Paternalistic
  3. Laissez-faire
  4. Autocratic
  5. Democratic
Situational leadership

definition: the ability of a leader or manager to adjust their style of leadership to fit the task or situation that they find themselves in.

  • they are able to employ different leadership styles at different times in order to adapt to a particular circumstance
  • it is known as powerful leadership as it demands that the leader adapts to any situation and is competent and confident to make the ‘right’ decision
  • too much change can be a problem a leader needs to gauge the situation and not overreact
Paternalistic leadership

definition: it is when a leader or manager treats employees as if they were family. This is characterized by a strong leader who tries to make decisions on the internet of their ‘family’. Employees, in return, give their loyalty

Laissez-faire leadership

definition: it is the ability of a leader or a manager to give employees minimal direction and a large amount of freedom to make decisions and find their own methods of accomplishing

Autocratic leadership

definition: it is the ability of a leader or manager to make decisions with little or no outside input. Instead, autocratic leaders rely on their own ideas and instincts when making decisions

Democratic leadership

definition: it is characterized by inclusiveness. Employees feel validated and are encouraged to share their ideas, and participate in the decision-making process.