What are the key strengths and weaknesses of the supportive, directive, and participative styles of leadership? Substantiate your response. The key strengths of participative leadership style are increased productivity and job satisfaction. When employees are afforded an opportunity to be involved in the organization’s decision making process, they are likely to develop a strong sense of commitment to the organization as well as increase their performance. Job satisfaction is another key strength of this leadership style. Most employees display high levels of job satisfaction when they notice their suggestions and/or recommendations are taken seriously and in some instances implemented within the organization. Additionally, this …show more content…
Further, since this particular leadership style does not include involve employees in the organization’s decisions making process, they are likely to feel that they are not valued by the organization. The key strengths of the supportive leadership style are that it helps to build and maintain effective interpersonal relationships because managers, using this leadership style, are considerate and friendly toward their employees. As a result, the manager is likely to gain and maintain the loyalty of the employees. Additionally, supportive managers, tend to build relationships with employees, create relationships build on trust. Further, employees will feel liked, appreciated, and valued. Also, in a group setting, supportive leadership, helps build cohesion and keep the group together. The primary strength of supportive leadership style is that it helps to build and sustain positive, supportive relationships where employees are more likely to also support the leader and his goals. The strengths of supportive leadership plays a significant in the organization because they help increase employees’ feelings of being valued by organization leaders resulting in increased productivity, reduction in employees’ stress levels, and increasing their self-confidence. Additionally, employees are allowed to explore their creativity and talents while developing their leadership skills where they may one day serve as a leader within the organization.
Positive leadership is important for effective team performance. Everyone needs to work together and be focused by supporting each other to achieve shared goals. It is very important that each member of the team is clear on their roles and responsibilities. Staff should have respect and understanding for their manager. The manager needs to be aware of the skills and the weaknesses within the team and be able to provide support when necessary. Training and support improves staff performance and develops confidence and team spirit.
According to Swami Kriyananda, supportive leadership is the only form of genuine leadership. He states that supportive leadership “never loses sight of the most important principle governing any project involving human beings, that people are more important than things” (Kriyananda, S). According to a state government cross-sectional survey, higher levels of supportive leadership predicted higher levels of well-being. A reasonable amount of research has supported pro well-being assertions with respect to the reduction of perceived strain experienced by employees. According to LaRocca and Jones, “found leader support to be associated with higher levels of self-reported employee satisfaction and lower levels of intentions to leave” (LaRocca, Jones, 1978, pp 629-634). Research has also concluded that supportive leader behaviors to be inversely related to employee burnout (Golembiewski, Munzenrider, & Stevenson, 1986). As per a regression analysis performed by Aiken and West (1991), results revealed that higher supportive leadership significantly
In the 1930’s Kurt Lewin argued three major styles of leadership Autocratic, Democratic and Laissez-fair (Manktelow, n.d.). Kurt’s simple but effective categorized leadership models provided a foundation to many different leadership theories. An Autocratic leader is one who makes decisions without the help or input of others. Because this leader doesn’t consult with the team, team members may feel as though their opinion doesn’t matter thus losing a team oriented atmosphere. This type of leadership may be seem as demoralizing and lead to high turn over rates and absenteeism (Manktelow, n.d.). Team members may feel unimportant and therefore take less ownership of team outcomes. A Democratic leadership style however is the almost the exact opposite of
As far as the leadership style is concerned, it is affecting the staff member's perceptions of the management. Under this approach, everybody is encouraged to set the example. This forces them to do what they are telling others (which is creating a sense of respect among those around them). It is at this point that employees are motivated to do more by realizing that the leadership will work side by side with them. ("Leadership Styles," 1997) (Bishop, 2009)
Supportive leadership- In this type of leadership a leader must be courteous and friendly towards followers, the leader must show sensitivity towards the followers needs. When a follower is dealing with a repetitive task or stressful situation, this style of leadership is the best a leader can show.
The positive energy this leader has on their team is palpable, they are engaged with their team on a regular basis, with the ability to jump in and add to the process. This positive leader ensures that they are available to their team members and upper management, fielding questions, utilizing their stellar communication skills to ensure that everyone is heard and all expectations are met. The effective leader is in tune with their team members encouraging strengths and building upon the weaknesses to enhance each member’s abilities. If there a team member is off, the effective leader can step in at a moment notice to fill this gap, this serves as a powerful role model for the team members to become well-rounded and step up when needed. Effective leadership is invaluable to an organization, well rounded, valued employees will show pride in their work and increase productivity. Respected staff will always reflect directly in customer satisfaction ratings, fostering a stellar reputation, building a loyal customer base and attracting new customers. Employee retention saves organizations valuable staffing
When leaders allow team-members input on decisions, it gives them a sense of authority – that in-turn adds to the strength of the organization enhancing team-members abilities to help themselves as well as others. Chen & Chung (2014), “Then, the leader’s sensitivity to member needs fosters positive relatedness. A constellation of such behaviors is empowering in the sense that it inspires change and self-determination on the part of the followers”...”empowering leadership leads to follower satisfaction of the needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness, which in turn contributes to performance and adjustment” (p. 624-625).
This bolsters the leader and the management that supports the leader. It also imparts that the leader has weakness and needs help to ensure unity in the institution.
A manager with leadership skills can motivate employees who have the potential to do great things. An employee’s input is helpful in the planning and decision making stages and can provide input on reaching the goals and objectives. An employee’s involvement in the day to day processes of the organization can provide valuable insight that might not otherwise be as visible to a management team. As an employee works on a project, he or she becomes invested as if it is his or her own project. The employee takes ownership in a project and he or she will do what is necessary to have a successful outcome. Because the employee is willing to do what is necessary, management will respect for the employee for the actions taken which will then make the employee form a loyalty to the organization itself.
3. Participative Leadership: This style of Leadership behavior gives a better outcome when the subordinates believe that they control their own destiny i.e. internal locus of control.
In transition; Managers do present leadership qualities as well as Leaders do operate management tasks. “The term leadership is a word taken from the common vocabulary and incorporated into the technical vocabulary of a scientific discipline without being precisely redefined.” (Yukl, 2013). To clarify; the behavior of leadership, tend to be more charismatic with the central focus of motivating the group towards the success of what they are apart of. The ability to lead; influences and motivates the team, work group, etc. to contribute towards the effectiveness for the overall achievement. While maintaining a focus and vision of influencing the team, Leaders are more people oriented. Leadership behavior brings a high level of influence that inspire creativity among the followers, implementing ideas and the willingness to take risks are major attributes of a leader. Creating an environment of people first primarily leads productivity. “Supportive leadership (or “supporting”) includes a wide variety of behaviors that show consideration, acceptance, and concern for the needs and feelings of other people. Supportive leadership helps to build and maintain effective interpersonal relationships.” (Yukl, 2013). To extend on supportive leadership, the behavior instills confidence while also motivating production. Providing praise and recognition can inspire the effectiveness of the group as well, Leaders have these types of
Benefit of Leadership Skills Program: Even if a team is motivated due to bonding and trust it cannot perform good if not lead by a strong
Supportive leadership - Managers should be alert to the critical need for supportive leadership under conditions where tasks are dissatisfying, frustrating or stressful to subordinates. Here, I focus on relationships. I show sensitivity to individual team members' needs, and I consider my team members' best interests. This leadership style is best when tasks are repetitive or stressful.
Leadership skills play a major role for developing the organization and that can encourage employees and management in solving problems and challenges. This encourages employees to solve problems that can be faced in the present and future. Problem-solving is an essential aspect of each and every organization as there can be many challenges and problems in every organization. Organization development can encourage employees to
The employees are the resource of any organization. They are the key to success. They are basically the building block of an organization. The role of leadership is measured or assessed by the working excellence of the employees. That’s why basically the leader and the employees go hand in hand for the achievement of the desired goals. Both are interdependent and complimentary for each other.