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Unit 13: Communication and Leadership

4. Paternalistic Leadership: Under this type of leadership, the leader assumes that his function Notes
is fatherly. His attitude is that of treating the relationship between the leader and his
groups as that of family, with the leader as the head of the family. The leader works to
help, guide, protect and keep his followers happily working together as members of a
family. He provides them with good working conditions, fringe benefits and employee
services. It is said that employees under such leadership will work harder, out of sheer
gratitude as well as emotional bondage.

Task Critically analyse the type of your most favourite leader.

13.8 Importance of Leadership

The importance of leadership in an organisation cannot be denied. People working in an
organisation need individuals (leaders) who could be instrumental in guiding the efforts of
groups of workers to achieve goals and objectives of both the individuals and the organisation.
The leader guides the action of others in accomplishing these tasks. A good leader motivates his
subordinates, creates confidence and increases the morale of the workers. In the words of Peter
F Drucker, "Good leadership is a must for the success of a business but the business leaders are
the scarcest resources of any enterprise". The following points highlight the importance of
leadership:
1. Leadership is the process of influencing the activities of an individual or a group towards
the achievement of a goal.
2. An effective leader motivates subordinates for turning in a higher level of performance.
3. Leadership promotes team-spirit and team-work which is essential for the success of any
organisation.
4. Leadership is an aid to authority. Dynamic and enlightened leadership helps in the effective
use of formal authority.

5. Leadership creates confidence in subordinates by giving them proper guidance and advice.
The history of business is full of instances where good leaders led their business concerns to
unprecedented peaks of success. To quote George R Terry: "The will to do is triggered by
leadership, and lukewarm desires for achievement are transformed into burning passion for
successful accomplishments by the skilful use of leadership skills".

13.9 Functions of a Leader

According to Peter Drucker, "An effective leader is one who can make ordinary men do
extraordinary things, make common people do uncommon things. Leadership is a lifting of a
man's sights to a higher vision, the raising of man's standard to a higher performance, the
building of a man's personality beyond its normal limitations." This viewpoint of Peter Drucker
stresses the leader's obligation to attain organisational goals and gives attention to the needs of
the individuals who are his subordinates. The important functions of a business leader may be
briefly summarized as follows:
1. To take the initiative: A leader initiates all the measures that are necessary for the purpose
of ensuring the health and progress of the organisation in a competitive economy. He
should not expect others to guide or direct him. He should lay down the aims and objectives,
commence their implementation and see that the goals are achieved according to the pre-
determined targets.

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