Gap between Leadership Theory and Leadership Practice
Leadership gaps tend to fall within the realm of practice because it is in practice, rather than in theory, that the act of leadership is demonstrated, seen, felt and experienced. However, Middlehurst (2008) explains that the gaps are really between theory and practice, i.e., what is evident in theory is not being implemented in the practice of leadership. This makes sense, particularly as there are plenty of leadership theories and styles that can facilitate the development and act of leadership. Yet, because every leadership situation is unique and no two leaders or set of followers the same, there is a great deal of adjustment and adaptation that must take place in any event. This is why Franken, Edwards and Lambert (2009) note that there is always going to be the “difficult challenge faced by managers to balance the demands of successfully executing complex change programs with the demands of managing today’s business performance” (p. 50). Part of the difficulty, according to Middlehurst (2008) is that leadership is a skill that not all people possess; to have successful leaders, one needs to recruit well.
Ho, Yong, Ching and Boon (2009) argue that the ultimate problem is one of preference vs. perception. Followers tend to have leadership preferences, and their leaders often tend to try to satisfy those preferences by adopting multiple leadership styles. However, the perception does not always match the preference and leaders end up coming up short in terms of coming across as genuine. Ultimately what needs to be done is that leaders should strive...…council are the ones who do not attempt to appease all or various groups by altering their leadership style from one group to the next. Instead, they are the leaders who consistently demonstrate the same style, same principles, same outlook, mission and vision no matter what the situation or audience is. They do not change their appearance or their views based on the latest political trend or scandal. These leaders, and there are just a handful of them, are seen as the ones who really are most effective at leading the city and making sure the needs of the community are addressed. The others bumble their way along and never achieve anything other than promoting antagonism and anger throughout the community for what is perceived as their lack of authentic leadership.
Leadership Theory in a Changing and Globalizing Marketplace Modern business practice is permeated by the complexities of a changing world. The impact of globalization on the cultural makeup of companies, the effects of the global recession on the conventions of daily business and the evolutionary shifts brought on by emergent technology all call for an orientation toward simultaneous stability and adaptability. Only under the stewardship of a qualified, communicative, flexible and
Leadership Portfolio Political tactics are essential for quality leadership. It is important to be tactful in all situations, and to understand the confounding variables that can impact communication clarity. Politics refers to skillful communications and strategic decision-making. Compromises are critical to good politics. For example, we were working with a large team of over 25 people. Each person had a clearly defined role, but there came a time when egos started
Leadership and Organizations: Bill Gates and Steve Jobs The theories of leadership date way back to when dynasties existed and people were led by kings. The leader took control and made decisions whenever disputes arose. The question of leadership qualities may not have been all that important then, but people still considered some to be better leaders than others. It would be prudent to begin by giving the fundamentals of the
Leadership, Team Building & Communication Leadership theories continue to evolve as the complexity, nature and scope of organizations shift from command-and-control structures to more agile frameworks for managing change. The pace of disruptive innovation is accelerating, forcing reliance on the latest theories of leadership to keep organizations competitive in rapidly changing markets. The intent of this analysis is to evaluate the traditional, contemporary and emerging leadership theories and interpersonal forms of
Leadership is the process of directing the behavior of others toward the achievement of some general objectives. Effective leadership is very important for molding a group of people into a team, shaping them into a force that serves as a sustainable business benefit. Effective leaders have an inspirational vision. Forethought and change expectation is their hallmark. Leaders know how to make people function in a joint fashion, and how to