LEADERSHIPDM 212 Human Resource Development &

Management

Rosary Gracia P. Perez

Discussant

LEADERSHIPDefining LeadershipIt is the process of directing and influencing the task-related activities group members. There are four important implications of the definitions.

It is the process of directing and influencing the task-related activities group members. There are four important implications of the definitions.

First, leadership involves other people-employees or followers. By their willingness to accept directions from the leader, group members help define the leader’s status and make the leadership process possible; without people to lead, all the leadership qualities of a manager would not be relevant.

Second, leadership involved an unequal distribution of power between leaders and group members. Group members are not powerless; they can and do shape group activities in number of ways. Still, the leader will usually have more power.

Thus, a third aspect of leadership is the ability to use the different forms of power to influence followers’ behaviors in number of way.

The fourth aspect combines the first three and acknowledges that leadership is about values. Moral leadership concern values and requires that followers be given enough knowledge of alternatives to make intelligent choices when it comes time to respond to leaders’ proposed to lead.

Leadership versus ManagementA clear distinction between management and leadership may nevertheless prove useful. This would allow for a reciprocal relationship between leadership and management, implying that an effective manager should possess leadership skills, and an effective leader should demonstrate management skills.

One clear distinction could provide the following definition:

Management involves power by position. Leadership involves power by influence.

Abraham Zaleznik, for example, delineated difference between leadership and management. He saw leaders as inspiring visionaries, concerned about substance; while he views managers as planners concern with process.

Warren Bennis further explicated a dichotomy between managers and leaders. He drew twelve distinctions between the two groups: Managers administers, leaders

innovate.Managers ask how and when, leaders

ask what and why Managers focus on system, leaders

focus on peopleManagers do things right, leaders do

the right things

Managers maintain, leaders develop

Managers rely on control, leaders inspire trust

Managers have a short-term perspective, leaders have a longer-term perspective

Managers accept the status-quo, leaders challenge the status-quo

Managers have an eye on the bottom line, leaders have an eye on the horizon

Managers imitate, leaders originate Managers emulate the classic good

soldier, leaders are their own person Managers copy, leaders show

originality

Paul Birch, also sees a distinction between leadership and management. He observed that, as a broad generalization, managers concerned themselves with tasks while leaders concerned themselves with people. Birch does not suggest that leaders do not focus on "the task." Indeed, the things that characterize a great leader include the fact that they achieve. The difference lies in the leader realizing that the achievement of the task comes about through the goodwill and support of others (influence), while the manager may not.

Bruce Lynn, postulates a differentiation between 'Leadership' and ‘Management’ based on perspectives to risk. Specifically,” A Leader optimizes upside opportunity; a Manager minimizes downside risk." He argues that successful executives need to apply both disciplines in a balance appropriate to the enterprise and its context. Leadership without Management yields steps forward, but as many if not more steps backwards. Management without Leadership avoids any step backwards, but doesn’t move forward.

Andres, Tomas D. Enhancing Organization Performance and Productivity Management Tools And Techniques, New Day Publisher, Manila Philippine 2001.

Abasolo, Pacita A. Personal Management: The Efficient Management of Employees, GIC Enterprises, Manila Philippines 1991.

Maxwell, John C. The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, Maxwell Motivation, Inc. U.S.A 1999.

Padilla,Renaldo A. Civic Welfare Training Volume II, Rex bookstores, Manila Philippines 2005.

Stone, James A.F, Management, Pearson Education Asia Pte, Ltd. New Jersey, U.S.A. 2001.

References