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Unit 13: Communication and Leadership

personality; sometimes, it is used as if it were a characteristic of certain positions, and sometimes Notes
as an attribute of behaviour".
From the above definitions we can conclude that leadership is a psychological process of
influencing followers (subordinates) and providing guidance, directing and leading the people
in an organisation towards attainment of the objectives of the enterprise.

13.6 Characteristic of Leadership

1. Leadership implies the existence of followers: We appraise the qualities of a leader by
studying his followers. In an organisation, leaders are also followers, e.g., a supervisor
works under a branch head. Thus, in a formal organisation a leader has to be able to be
both a leader as well as a follower, and be able to relate himself both upward and downward.

2. Leadership involves a community of interest between the leader and his followers: In other
words, the objectives of both the leader and his men are one and the same. If the leader
strives for one purpose and his team of workers work for some other purpose, that's
hardly a sign of leadership.
3. Leadership involves an unequal distribution of authority among leaders and group
members: Leaders can direct some of the activities of group members, i.e., the group
members are compelled or are willing to obey most of the leader's directions. The group
members cannot similarly direct the leader's activities, though they will obviously affect
those activities in a number of ways.
4. Leadership is a process of influence: Leadership implies that leaders can influence their
followers or subordinates in addition to being able to give their followers or subordinates
legitimate directions.
5. Leadership is the function of stimulation: Leadership is the function of motivating people
to strive willingly to attain organisational objectives. A successful leader allows his
subordinates (followers) to set their own individual goals in such a way that they do not
conflict with the organisational objectives, and – more desirably – mesh closely with
them.
6. A leader must be exemplary: In the words of George Terry – "A leader shows the way by his
own example. He is not a pusher, he pulls rather than pushes". According to L.G.
Urwick – "It does not matter what a leader says, still less what he writes, that influences
subordinates. It is what he is. And they judge what he is by what he does and how he
behaves". From the above explanation, it is clear that a leader must set an ideal before his
followers. He must stimulate, energize and enable people to surpass themselves. In other
words, a leader must set the pace by setting a high personal example for his followers to
emulate and admire.

7. A leader ensures absolute justice: A leader must be objective and impartial. He should not
follow unfair practices like favoritism and nepotism. He must display fair play and
absolute justice in all his decisions and actions.
8. Leadership styles and patterns: Tannenbaum and Schmidt have described the range of
possible leadership behaviour available to a manager. Each type of action is related to the
degree of authority used by the boss and to the degree of freedom available to his
subordinates in reaching decisions.

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