The Concept of Leadership in Organizational Success

Introduction It is apparent that leadership style is what dictates the nature of work environment within an organization and ultimately the business success of any organization. Additionally from the situation and resonance as well as the nature of contribution to the work climate, there are some styles that contribute positively and other negatively. There is need to clearly understand the concept of leadership and how it impacts on the success or failure of organizations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Concept of Leadership in Organizational Success specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This assignment is very important since it will give me an opportunity to understand the meaning of leadership, its importance, difference from management, the desired qualities for an effective leader and finally the various styles of leadership (Koestenbaum, 2002). All this will play a bigger role in ensuring that I fully appr eciate the whole concept of leadership usually applicable in all spheres of human life. Leadership importance The concept of leadership has been in existence ideally since the beginning of mankind. Nonetheless, there has been a tremendous change and what was deemed to be the best leadership styles in the past is totally not accepted at present. By definition, leadership has been thought as; â€Å"a process whereby an individual can influence thoughts, ideas and actions of others in achieving a set of preset goals, tasks, duties and responsibilities† (Kouzes Posner, 2007). From the definition provided it is evident that leadership is of importance not only to the individual workers but the entire organization and ultimately to all other stakeholders. It is leadership that creates a desired environment in the workplace that will see to it that vision, mission and core values are set and strictly having best strategies to accomplish them. Issues dealing with change management, motivated and satisfied employees, organizational success and performance can only be realized if the leadership in place is effective and all encompassing. It is no doubt that leadership makes use of all the resources especially the human capital to make organizations achieve competitive advantage vital for future survival of businesses in the presence of competition. There is need to distinguish between leadership from management. The later has been defined as the methods employed to control, plan, direct as well as organize all the resources at the disposal of an organization so that the same are in line with the values as well as principles that guide the organization. It is no doubt that the concept of management is responsible for ensuring that laws, procedures and guidelines are strictly adhered to. Together with leadership, management utilizes preset values and principles to tune the human resource in order to achieve the mandate bestowed to it.Advertising Looking for e ssay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Leadership qualities According to Koestenbaum, 2002 all leaders are not equal since there are those who will be seen to be more successful than others. The secret behind this rests on the combination of leadership qualities possessed. In this section, various leadership qualities are succinctly covered. Having effective presentation skills is vital for leaders to be successful. It is no doubt that information sharing within and outside the organization is very important. The ability to express ideas in the most effective manner, answering questions satisfactorily, delivering presentation confidently by using visual aids go an extra mile in making a good leader. The ability to make effective decision making usually differentiate between leaderships. Strict adherence to certain steps while making decision for instance establishing the problem as well as identifying goals to be objective, engaging intuition and collecting relevant data contribute to a successful leader when it comes to making rational decisions. Additionally acting assertively is key in making an effective leader. This entails the idea of making one’s views, opinion and beliefs known in the most genuine manner while having in mind the concerns of others. It generally entails showing utmost respect for others. Another quality that makes one to be a better leader is the ability to successfully manage personal time. It is no doubt that each and every task bestowed to managers and leaders have time bound. Leaders who are deemed successful will have in place mechanisms to set goals that are achievable realistic and measurable. Interestingly the ability to build trust is attained by leaders practicing what they preach. For instance world re-known leaders not only tell followers to keep time, actively listen but also put the same in practice. This idea makes the leader and his or her f ollowers to have a mutual understanding (Griffith, et al., 2006). The ability of a leader to create a democratic work place climate ensures that the subjects are free to air their views, opinion and beliefs that might challenge those of their leaders results to a more successful organization. Last but not least, being able to adopt various styles of learning is one important leadership quality. The possession of various learning styles such as activists, reflectors, theorists among others makes a leader to be more rational when making decisions (Kittle, 1994). Leadership styles Based on the various combinations of leadership qualities there are different types of leadership style. One of them is visionary leadership style in which the one at the helm of leadership believes in vision and shows empathy. Followers are made to understand that they are important to the organization and any success is attributed to them. Motivation is key thus this style has unmatched contribution to succ ess. This kind of leadership is very good in situations where firms are undergoing dramatic huge changes. An example of a leader who uses this leadership style is Mark Hurd the chief executive officer of HP Company. He allowed free flow of information as well as motivating his subjects towards attaining the common goal.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Concept of Leadership in Organizational Success specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Democratic leadership style is where the leader creates an environment in which the subjects are allowed to freely air their views and opinions. Thus the same are utilized by the leader in arriving at a decision. In situations where these views are seen in the decisions arrived at, the subjects will feel part and parcel of the decision hence support it to the bitter end. Additionally team work is highly encouraged where strengths and weaknesses will be known. Ideas are cultivated a nd encouraged. However, the style might lead to waste of time in making timely decisions (Griffith, et al., 2006). Another style of leadership is pace-setting where the approach used is carrot and stick. In this performers are rewarded while failures are punished. Individuals strive to personally gain at the expense of the organization. Leaders in this category expect their subordinates to be position to carryout their duties and responsibilities. Leaders can role up their sleeves and rescue the situation in case things seems to go hey wire. Lastly, commanding leadership is where those in the forefront hold a stance that is firm while commanding and giving directions to the subordinates. Leaders expect followers to fully comply with the principles, guidelines as well as procedures set by the relevant bodies (Kittle, 1994). One is not allowed to come in with a new idea and the subordinates are always under surveillance. Interestingly, there is no time to actively engage in conversati on to reach consensus. This kind of leadership is only applicable during crisis situations. One leader that utilized this kind of style is the British Airways CEO when the cabin crew went on strike mid 2010. The two styles to be compared are commanding and visionary leadership style. The former is more advantageous than the later since it allows free flow of information, a working environment in which all followers are highly motivated is created. Additionally through sharing of information, each and every person is at par with the happenings within the organization hence able to raise concern early enough (Griffith, et al., 2006). On the other hand, commanding style of leadership has been shown to be very detrimental since talent is not nurtured. Information is not shared accordingly hence there are those who are left in the dark when making decision which might later lead to resistance for instance in adopting change (Kouzes Posner, 2007).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion There is need to clearly understand the concept of leadership and how it impacts on the success or failure of organizations. This assignment is very important since it given me an opportunity to understand the meaning of leadership, its importance, difference from management, the desired qualities for an effective leader and finally the various styles of leadership. Leadership qualities such as effective communication, adopting different learning styles as well as building trust are key to shaping successful leaders. The various styles of leadership discussed include visionary, pace-setting, commanding and democratic. Leadership is indeed different from management but the two go hand in hand in ensuring an organization succeeds. References Griffith, B., et al. (2006). Effective groups: Concepts and skills to meet leadership challenges. New York: Allyn Bacon. Kittle, E. (1994). Leadership skills: Developing volunteers for organizational success. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. Koestenbaum, P. (2002). Leadership: The inner side of greatness a philosophy for leaders. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Kouzes, J., Posner, B. (2007). Leadership Challenge 4th Ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. This essay on The Concept of Leadership in Organizational Success was written and submitted by user Wilson Fisk to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

7 British English Writing Resources

7 British English Writing Resources 7 British English Writing Resources 7 British English Writing Resources By Mark Nichol This site is intended primarily for writers of American English, though much of the information is also applicable to people who write English in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world. However, I recently received a request for recommendations about writing and editing guides that focus on British English. Here are seven authoritative volumes, all originating at either of England’s two most renowned universities, to help them. 1. Butcher’s Copy-editing: The Cambridge Handbook for Editors, Copy-editors, and Proofreaders As the title and subtitle indicate, this volume is directed more toward the editorial process than the writing stage, with guidance about production issues, including dealing with technology. 2. Cambridge Grammar of English: A Comprehensive Guide Oxford University, which owns the rest of this list, has an equivalent book, Oxford Modern English Grammar. Both texts emphasize descriptive, not prescriptive, grammar and include some discussions of American English 3. New Hart’s Rules: The Handbook of Style for Writers and Editors The British English equivalent of The Chicago Manual of Style is the preeminent resource for resolving style issues such as hyphenation and punctuation, formatting for bibliographies, indexes, and notes, and usage (both British English and American English). 4. New Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors: The Essential A–Z Guide to the Written Word This usage handbook has extended entries for many words, including proper nouns, and provides guidance about spelling, capitalization, and hyphenation and information about cultural or historical significance. 5. New Oxford Spelling Dictionary: The Writers’ and Editors’ Guide to Spelling and Word Division This companion to the volume mentioned in the previous item is a simple spelling and word-break guide. 6. New Oxford Style Manual This volume is a compilation of New Hart’s Rules and the New Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors 7. Oxford A-Z of Grammar and Punctuation This alphabetically organized guide discusses parts of speech and particular words, including questions of usage. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Book Reviews category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:4 Types of Gerunds and Gerund Phrases11 Writing Exercises to Inspire You and Strengthen Your WritingHow to Send Tactful Emails from a Technical Support Desk

The Architecture of El Tajin

The Architecture of El Tajin The once-magnificent city of El Tajin, which flourished not far inland from Mexicos Gulf Coast from roughly 800-1200 A.D., features some truly spectacular architecture. The palaces, temples and ballcourts of the excavated city show impressive architectural details like cornices, inset glyphs and niches. The City of Storms After the fall of Teotihuacan around 650 A.D., El Tajin was one of several powerful city-states that arose in the ensuing vacuum of power. The city flourished from about 800 to 1200 A.D. At one time, the city covered 500 hectares and may have had as many as 30,000 inhabitants; its influence spread throughout Mexicos Gulf Coast region. Their chief God was Quetzalcoatl, whose worship was common in Mesoamerican lands at the time. After 1200 A.D., the city was abandoned and left to return to the jungle: only locals knew about it until a Spanish colonial official stumbled across it in 1785. For the past century, a series of excavation and preservation programs have taken place there, and it is an important site for tourists and historians alike. The City of El Tajin and its Architecture The word Tajà ­n refers to a spirit with great powers over the weather, especially in terms of rain, lightning, thunder and storms. El Tajà ­n was built in the lush, hilly lowlands not far from the Gulf Coast. It is spread out over a relatively spacious area, but hills and arroyos defined the city limits. Much of it may once have been built of wood or other perishable materials: these have been long since lost to the jungle. There are a number of temples and buildings in the Arroyo Group and old ceremonial center and palaces and administrative-type buildings in Tajà ­n Chico, located on a hill to the north of the rest of the city. To the northeast is the impressive Great Xicalcoliuhqui wall. None of the buildings is known to be hollow or to house a tomb of any sort. Most of the buildings and structures are made of a locally available sandstone. Some of the temples and pyramids are built over earlier structures. Many of the pyramids and temples are made of finely carved stone and f illed with packed earth. Architectural Influence and Innovations El Tajin is unique enough architecturally that it has its own style, often referred to as Classic Central Veracruz. Nevertheless, there are some obvious external influences on the architectural style at the site. The overall style of the pyramids at the site is referred to in Spanish as the talà ºd-tablero style (it basically translates as slope/walls). In other words, the overall slope of the pyramid is created by piling progressively smaller square or rectangular levels on top of another. These levels can be quite tall, and there is always a stairway to grant access to the top. This style came to El Tajà ­n from Teotihuacan, but the builders of El Tajin took it further. On many of the pyramids in the ceremonial center, the tiers of the pyramids are adorned with cornices which jut out into space on the sides and corners. This gives the buildings a striking, majestic silhouette. The builders of El Tajà ­n also added niches to the flat walls of the tiers, resulting in a richly textured, dramatic look not seen at Teotihuacan. El Tajin also shows influence from Classic era Maya cities. One notable similarity is the association of altitude with power: in El Tajà ­n, the ruling class built a palace complexes on hills adjacent to the ceremonial center. From this section of the city, known as Tajin Chico, the ruling class gazed down upon the homes of their subjects and the pyramids of the ceremonial district and the Arroyo Group. In addition, building 19 is a pyramid which features four stairways to the top, on in each cardinal direction. This is similar to el Castillo or the Temple of Kukulcan in Chichà ©n Itz, which likewise has four stairways.   Another innovation at El Tajà ­n was the idea of plaster ceilings. Most of the structures at the top of pyramids or on finely built bases were constructed of perishable materials such as wood, but there is some evidence in the Tajà ­n Chico area of the site that some of the ceilings may have been made of a heavy plaster. Even the ceiling at the Building of the Columns may have had an arched plaster ceiling, as archaeologists discovered large blocks of convex, polished blocks of plaster there. Ballcourts of El Tajn The ballgame was of paramount importance to the people of El Tajà ­n. No fewer than seventeen ballcourts have been found so far at El Tajà ­n, including several in and around the ceremonial center. The usual shape of a ball court was that of a double T: a long narrow area in the middle with an open space at either end. At El Tajà ­n, buildings and pyramids were often constructed in such a way that they would naturally create courts between them. For example, one of the ballcourts in the ceremonial center is defined on either side by Buildings 13 and 14, which were designed for spectators. The south end of the ballcourt, however, is defined by Building 16, an early version of the Pyramid of the Niches. One of the most striking structures at El Tajin is the South Ballcourt. This was obviously the most important one, as it is decorated with six marvelous panels carved in bas-relief. These show scenes from the ceremonious ballgames including human sacrifice, which often was the result of one of the games. The Niches of El Tajin The most remarkable innovation of El Tajà ­ns architects was the niches so common at the site. From the rudimentary ones at Building 16 to the magnificence of the Pyramid of the Niches, the sites best-known structure, niches are everywhere at El Tajà ­n. The niches of El Tajà ­n are small recesses set into the exterior walls of the tiers of several pyramids on the site. Some of the niches in Tajà ­n Chico have a spiral-like design in them: this was one of the symbols of Quetzalcoatl. The best example of the importance of the Niches at El Tajin is the impressive Pyramid of the Niches. The pyramid, which sits on a square base, has exactly 365 deep-set, well-designed niches, suggesting that it was a place where the sun was worshiped. It was once dramatically painted to heighten the contrast between the shady, recessed niches and the faces of the tiers; the interior of the niches was painted black, and the surrounding walls red. On the stairway, there were once six platform-altars (only five remain). Each of these altars features three small niches: this adds up to eighteen niches, possibly representing the Mesoamerican solar calendar, which had eighteen months. Importance of Architecture at El Tajin The architects of El Tajin were very skilled, using advances such as cornices, niches, cement and plaster to make their buildings, which were brightly, dramatically painted to great effect. Their skill is also evident in the simple fact that so many of their buildings have survived to the present day, although the archaeologists who restored the magnificent palaces and temples surely helped. Unfortunately for those who study the City of Storms, relatively few records remain of the people who lived there. There are no books and no direct accounts by anyone who ever had direct contact with them. Unlike the Maya, who were fond of carving glyphs with names, dates and information into their stone artwork, the artists of El Tajin rarely did so. This lack of information makes the architecture that much more important: it is the best source of information about this lost culture. Sources: Coe, Andrew. . Emeryville, CA: Avalon Travel Publishing, 2001. Ladrà ³n de Guevara, Sara. El Tajin: La Urbe que Representa al Orbe. Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 2010. Solà ­s, Felipe. El Tajà ­n. Mà ©xico: Editorial Mà ©xico Desconocido, 2003. Wilkerson, Jeffrey K. Eighty Centuries of Veracruz. National Geographic 158, No. 2 (August 1980), 203-232. Zaleta, Leonardo. Tajà ­n: Misterio y Belleza. Pozo Rico: Leonardo Zaleta 1979 (2011).

Personal ethos statment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Personal ethos statment - Essay Example An empathetic individual should be concerned about others’ plight and ready to help when called to duty. This I believe should be the key character of a rational person. I trust honest effort based on commitment and dedication to achieve a set mission in life. Attaining life visions, I believe, is always a possibility when an individual hopes for the best. Kindness rewards. Coupled with patience, kindness is a virtue that is indispensable in the life of every individual. Everyone should embrace the urge to give back to as a way of being thankful. Whoever is not thankful, I believe, does not deserve help. I believe disrespect is a disappointment to good character. Character makes an individual and influences success, being a vital aspect of life. I believe in my exceptional character and morality. My integrity is perfect with a great attitude to strive and attain my best. No doubt, a strong character of kindness, hope, readiness to struggle, hope to attain life visions are esse ntial for

General Motors (GM) Company - Case Analysis Report Essay

General Motors (GM) Company - Case Analysis Report - Essay Example   Please remove any chart or table from the paper.   Also, the following areas were not cover in the paper as I specified on my original instructions: Summarize the key ethical issues in the situation. Apply at least three of the ethical perspectives (teleology, egoism, utilitarianism, deontology, relativist, virtue ethics and Justice).   Just two theories were discussed. Analyze how the company’s corporate culture that may have either helped to minimize the unethical behavior or actually contributed to/caused the unethical behavior. Analyze how the company’s corporate governance (overall guidelines, strategic decisions/actions) may have either helped to minimize the unethical behavior or actually contributed to/caused the unethical behavior. Based on the ethical perspectives (theories of ethical thought presented in the course), what are the key factors that should be addressed or considered in resolving the legal/ethical issues identified in this case (as outlined above). List each ethical issue and then for each issue, the factors to be addressed or considered based on the ethical perspectives used above. Recommended corrective action – recommendations need to be related to the ethical issues and the recommend approaches or policies are the approaches that the company, not the government, need to take. Recommend corrective actions for each of the legal/ethical issues outlined above. Provide supporting rationale for each recommendations or industry examples of the use of your recommendations as â€Å" best practices†. Recommend approaches or policies that the company can take to help prevent these issues in the future. Provide supporting rationale for each recommendations or industry examples of the use of your recommendations as â€Å" best practices†. General Motors is a multinational company with headquarter at U.S engaged in the manufacturing and selling of trucks, cars and spare-parts. In the year 2007 alone, GM

Definition of fallacy Essay Example for Free

Definition of fallacy Essay The author tries to distract the audience from the original issue by bringing up related but irrelevant issues. Usually the evidence can be used to support a closely related or similar conclusion. Explanation The author is placing information within the article that is irrelevant to the case. He is talking about Mr. Iqbal and the fact he is seeking discovery, which is likely to be critical for his claims to go forward. And then talking about how the government officials aren’t involved, intercepts. Mr. Iqbal is the center of this article, and everything within it is not entirely about him. They deter and talk about how the Bush administration is arguing that these government officials are innocent. â€Å"The issue in the Supreme Court is whether these high-ranking officials are protected from having to answer questions of this kind. The Bush administration argues that the officials were not sufficiently involved in the detention policies to be responsible for them. It also maintains that if top government officials were required to comply with such discovery requests, it would interfere with their ability to do their jobs. † Argument in Standard Form Point One: Bush administration insists the officials are not really involved. Point Two: That complying with discovery requests would interfere with their ability to do their jobs. So, the Bush administration should not give a feeble excuse for the government officials to get out of the discovery requests. 2. Name of fallacy Slippery Slope Definition of fallacy When the conclusion rests on an alleged chain reaction, and there is not sufficient reason to think that the chain reaction will actually take place. Explanation of fallacy Here, one is jumping from one thing to another on what may or has happened. What’s to say it will happen again? People can change; people can learn from their mistakes and never commit such a thing again. â€Å"The construction state is in some respects akin to the military-industrial complex in cold-war America (or the Soviet Union), sucking in the country’s wealth, consuming it inefficiently, growing like a cancer, and bequeathing both fiscal crisis and environmental devastation, commented Gavan McCormack, a professor at the Australian National University. The stimulus plans had the opposite effect of what was expected. Appalled at the country’s new deficits, Japanese consumers closed their wallets. † Argument in Standard Form Point One: The construction state is akin to the military-industrial complex in cold-war America (or the Soviet Union). Point Two: The stimulus plans had the opposite effect of what was expected. So, we should not outright assume things will repeat as they did in the past before anything has even been tried. 3. Name of fallacy Straw Man Definition of fallacy Ignores an actual position and presents a distorted, oversimplified or misrepresented version to make it easier to attack. Explanation of fallacy The author is saying that while the financial chaos has ruined sleep, our physical and human capital is unscathed? What does that mean? It’s a distorted message. Then the fact they talk about if it hasn’t changed, we haven’t suffered any capital loss. What if we have suffered some capital loss and the government simply will not let the public know about it? â€Å"This financial chaos has ruined our sleep but left our physical and human capital unscathed. We have the same productive capacity today we had a year ago. And if our capital hasn’t changed, we’ve suffered no overall capital loss. † Argument in Standard Form Point One: Financial chaos has ruined our sleep but has left our capital unscathed. Point Two: Since we have the same productive capacity today we had a year ago, we should have suffered no capital loss. So, financial chaos happened. It affected us in more ways than one. That’s it.

House of Spirits Essays -- essays research papers

In her famous The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende documents the life of several characters during the Chilean reality in the 1930s. Her notorious feminist ideology is, at times, extremely obvious. Elements such as the clash of social classes and the social, political and economical conditions of Chile during this period of high turmoil are also well portrayed. Isabel Allende achieves to give us a good image of what life in Chile was like during those years. Some particular characters specially exemplify all of these elements very clearly. Allende’s character Esteban Trueba has a very intricate life. Through his triumphs and defeats and through the different places of this novel, Allende portrays several elements that clearly exemplify historical, political and economic events in Chile. Esteban’s life is that of the low class in Chile. He usually longs for power and money to make good things happen. After leaving, his mother and sister, and starting a new and independent life, Esteban’s ideology changes dramatically. For the first time he directly experiments success and wealth. He feels as if he has no problems, mainly because he does not have a family to weigh him down. Trueba's move to Three Marias seems to appease his hunger temporarily, before his monstrous, demanding, and ever growing needs overwhelms him. The type of lifestyle achieved by Esteban Trueba in Three Marias far surpassed that of living with his mother and sister, however only brief moments of satisfaction are incurred. These, pre viously mentioned, moments created a hunger for perfection and greed that would continue perpetuate at any cost. Only when Trueba receives a letter from Ferula does he remember his life with her and his mother, which forces him to endure his memories of poverty and pain. He even remembers the smell of medicine, which had encompassed their home. These memories force Esteban to reflect on the reasons and ideas that made him leave his origins. He reminisces on that portion of his life, occupied by the deterioration of his family. Esteban’s case represents that of the oppressed, poor class that is constantly struggling to survive. This struggle for survival becomes so pressing that they start thinking how, if they got the chance, could make things better. They usually fight a lot, but finally, when they reach the position of helping, power becomes their obsession... ...rayal of Nivea and her funeral is in direct contrast with that of Nana and Ferula. Nana is said to have: "...been born to cradle other people's children, wear their hand-me-down clothing, eat their left overs, live on borrowed happiness and grief, grow old beneath other people's roofs die one day in her miserable little room in the far courtyard in a bed that did not belong to her, and be buried in a common grave in a public cemetery."(P 57) The fact that: "None of the many children she had raised with so much love attended her funeral."(P 178) Allende reflects sadly on the women who meekly accept their defined role in society of the time. Ferula is portrayed similarly. Ferula: "...had sacrificed her life to care for the mother, and that she had become a spinster for that reason. Ferula had turned down two suitors on the pretext of her mothers illness"(P 178) When Esteban forces her to leave she is not seen in person until her death when she is found : "Festooned like an Austrian queen..." "She was magnificent in her queenly desolation, and on her face was an expression of sweetness and serenity she never had in her grievous life."