Leadership Models

Effective leaders are not born but are made . People who have the desire and the passion for a goal not drive themselves but others as well who share that single goal . Good leaders develop through a never-ending process of self-study , education , training , and experience . They inspire their group to go beyond the ordinary in to reach new and higher levels of achievement . Mr . Dwight Eisenhower once said , Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it

Being a leader not only

entails having a clear direction of where to go but a clear handle of how to get there . Just like a navigator in a ship the leader has to have a very clear understanding of the requirements of the objective on himself and on his team . In addition , a leader has to have a good relationship with the team tasked to attain the objective By being able to have a good working relationship with the team , the leader can easily and effectively cascade the tasks needed to be done to the right people

In this , contemporary leadership styles are discussed explaining task versus relationship and the leadership style one should adopt . In addition , this presents the writer 's own leadership model derived from the research

For the first model , we discuss Robert House ' leadership model entitled the path-goal model leadership theory . It states that a leader 's function is to clear the path toward the goal of the group , by meeting the needs of subordinates . This leadership model was developed together by Martin Evans and Robert House (Miner , 2002 . This model is based on the Expectancy Theory of Motivation and on the precepts of Goal Setting Theory and argues that leaders will have to engage in different types of leadership behavior depending on the nature and the demands of a particular situation . A leader 's behavior is acceptable to his /her subordinates when viewed as a source of satisfaction , and motivational when need satisfaction is contingent on performance (House , 1994 . After which the leader facilitates , guides , and rewards effective team members . For leadership styles , the Path-Goal theory identifies achievement-oriented , participative , directive and supportive styles (House , 2004

In the achievement-oriented style of leadership , the leader gives challenging tasks to the team , expects the highest levels of performance , and clearly shows confidence in their ability to meet the requirements of the task . On the other hand , directive leadership , a leader lets followers know what is expected of them and instructs them how to perform their tasks . In Participative leadership , leaders consult with the other members of the group and ask for their suggestions before making a decision . Lastly , in supportive leadership , the leader is friendly and approachable . The leader is particular for the followers psychological well-being

The Path-Goal Theory assumes that leaders are highly flexible and can easily change leadership styles depending on the situation . Follower characteristics are central to control , experience , and perceived ability . Personal traits...