4. LEADERSHIP

In a brief, leadership is considered as setting a new trend or idea. These are to be followed by a group. The leader is the head for that new direction. Management is based on controlling and directing people or resources in a group. The managers act accordingly to principles and values that have been previously established and proved useful. The fact is that both – leadership and management cannot exist or operate well separately.

Leadership is not easy task and as all people differ from each other, there are different types of leaders. Some of them are task-oriented and want to get their tasks done as quick and as good as possible. They set up tight schedules and pay attention on productivity. There are also people-oriented leaders and these would rather like people to be happy. They put people as a priority. Third type of leaders is mixture of both. Neither of these types is wrong or right, for each leadership style is good for different situations.

BLAKE AND MOUNT'S MANAGERIAL GRID


In the early 1960s Robert Blake and Jane Mouton developed theory called ‘Managerial Grid’. It is based on task versus person preference of leaders and describes five types of leadership:
• Country club leadership [high people/low production] – these think that as long people are happy, they will work productively. Friendly environment of work, however production suffers, because of inappropriate control.
• Produce or perish leadership [high production/low people] – productivity over employees’ needs. Strict work policies and procedures. Punishment as the most effective way to motivate people.
• Impoverished leadership [low production/low people] – very ineffective leadership. No regard for efficient productivity and work environment. The workplace is disorganized and there is high disharmony.
• Middle-of-the-road [medium production/medium people] – balance between both concerns. The style commonly accepted, however neither production, nor people needs are fully satisfied. Average performance and acceptable environment of work.
• Team leadership – [high production/high people] – focused fully on both concerns, this style is characterized with high satisfaction of employees and high production. The best type of leadership to meet.

As an example for one of presented above leadership styles can be used a General Manager from VBH Galro I have worked for in the past. He fits well to Middle-of-the-road type. His management was balanced between concerning production performance and people needs satisfaction. Both were fulfilled to some degree and there was not much to complain about. Environment of work was friendly and production effective enough, however both could be satisfied on higher degree.

LINK FOR USEFUL ARTICLE ABOUT EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex1334

To perform effective leadership, there must be put much effort from leader. Good communication skills and understanding type of character are important. To achieve high performance of productivity, high motivating skills are also necessary. Constant improving of staff and leader as himself will lead to better results in work. Leader cannot count only on himself, that is why the employees’ potential must be used as often as possible. To perform good leadership, the teamwork is needed. Good leaders give feedback to employees about their performance, but also accept feedback from them.

Being leader comes along with high responsibility and expectations concerned with both high productivity and staff satisfaction. It is not easy to fully satisfy them, however constant work and improvement of leadership skills will result with higher performance and employees’ happiness.