DETERMINING YOUR PERFECT POSITION PAPER

Determining Your Perfect Position Paper





Introduction

The company I work for is expanding and restructuring. As a valued, veteran employee, I am being given an opportunity to determine my position that suits me best. In this paper, I will define my role in the expansion and restructuring of my company in a manner that will benefit my company to the most. I will also refer to leadership theories and styles in defining my role in ensuring a successful expansion of my company.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Leadership Style

Leadership is probably the most widely discussed topic in management. Leadership is easier to explain and understand; but practicing leadership is difficult. Successful leadership demands deep human qualities; its way beyond conventional ideas of merely exercising authority.

Leaders of modern age must not only act as an enabling force, they must also help people and organizations in generating performance and ensuring development. This requires a ensuring a sophisticated alignment of the peoples needs and the aims of the organization. (Ackerman 2006). Traditional leaders practiced the 'direct chief' concept, with the idea that leaders stood at the top of hierarchy. This often resulted in poor communication to and fro the employees. Effective leadership requires more than technical and intellectual capacity. These attributes does make a significant contribution, but they are not pivotal every time.

Comparison between Leadership Theories

The 20th century came with the fastest pace of industrial revolution and interest in leadership was shown by every business unit (Argyris 2000).More leadership literature came along the way. The earlier leadership theories had much focus on identifying the attributes of leaders and discussed the distinguishing characteristics of leaders and followers. The theories that followed were primarily focused at other variables such as situational elements and level of skills among leaders.

"Great Man" Theory

This theory centered on the notion that leadership qualities were inherent - they proposed leading as a trait one inherited from God or his parents. It remarked leaders as one with mythic and heroic qualities, with destined leadership as the end of such qualities(Argyris 2005). The term “Great Man was used for such people, with the assumption that leadership stood as a male quality by the very nature of it; especially when leadership that of military was concerned.

Trait Theory

Although very similar to “Great Man” theories, Trait theory emphasized more on a mix of traits essentially found in leaders. Trait theory identified personality and behavioral traits common in leaders(Apps 2004).

Contingency Theory

Many environmental variables could contribute to a specific leadership role or a particular leadership style. This means that for any given situation, a leader would prefer one style over other. Contingency theories, thus, propose that as a particular situation arises or a specific event comes, a person can take up or act upon in a leading capacity that suits best in the given.

Situational Theory

Situational theory states that leaders would choose among the best available alternative based on the situational factors. Different leadership style may be more appropriate for certain type of ...