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Management Practices and Organisational Behaviour

Notes 2. He identifies group goals: A leader must always help the group identify and attain their
goals. Thus, a leader is a goal setter.
3. He represents the organisation: A leader represents the organisation and its purpose,
ideals, philosophy and problems to those working for it and to the outside world. In other
words, a leader is a true representative of the entire organisation.

4. He acts as an arbitrator: When groups experience internal difference, whether based on
emotional or intellectual clashes, a leader can often resolve the differences. He acts as an
arbitrator to prevent serious differences from cropping up within the group.
5. To assign reasons for his action: It is the delicate task of a leader to assign reasons to his
every command. He has to instruct things in such a way that they are intelligible to all
concerned and their co-operation is readily forthcoming.
6. To interpret: He interprets the objectives of the organisation and the means to be followed
to achieve them; he apprises his followers, convinces them, and creates confidence among
them.
7. To guide and direct: It is the primary function of the leader to guide and direct the
organisation. He should issue the necessary instructions and see that they are properly
communicated.

8. To encourage teamwork: A leader must try to win the confidence of his subordinates. He
must act like the captain of a team.
9. He manages the organisation: Last but not the least, he administers the undertaking by
arranging for the forecast, planning, organisation, direction, co-ordination and control of
its activities.

13.10 Basic Approaches

Different authorities and different researchers have viewed leadership differently. Some put
emphasis on personal options, while others view leadership as situational. The researches
conducted by behavioural scientists to find out what makes a leader effective have resulted in
"theories of leadership". The important theories of leadership are listed/discussed below:
1. Trait Theory of Leadership
2. Behavioural Theory of Leadership

3. Contingency Theory of Leadership
4. Management Grid or Leadership Grid
5. Situational Theory of Leadership
6. Great Man Theory of Leadership
7. Path-Goal Theory
8. Participation Theory of Leadership
1. Trait Theory of Leadership: Trait theory seeks to determine personal characteristics of
effective leaders. It points out that the personal traits or personal characteristics of a
person make him an effective or successful leader. Charles Bird examined twenty lists of
traits attributed to leaders in various surveys and found that none of the traits appeared on
all lists. Leaders were characterized a wide variety of traits ranging all the way from
neatness to nobility.
Persons who are leaders are presumed to display better judgment and engage themselves
in social activities. Study of the lives of successful leaders reveals that they possessed

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