Trait Theory of Leadership

Questions: 1. Discuss Trait theory of Leadership2. Differentiate efficiency and effectiveness3. Differentiate Centralization and decentralization4. Assess why Organizations need to do formal planning?5. Selective perception and filtering are two communication barriers; suggest ways to overcome these communication barriers? 6. Assess how PESTLE factors can force an organization to change.7. Suggest ways to make communication effective in an organizational context. Answers: 1. Discuss Trait theory of Leadership The Trait theory of leadership identifies various personality traits and characteristics possessed by effective leaders and assumes that great leaders are born with inherited traits. This theory thus rightly proposes that great leaders have the right combination of typical leadership qualities like insight, integrity, honesty, drive, social intelligence, self confidence and leadership motivation, as intrinsic quality in them. Thus, this theory by Thomas Carlyle states that leaders are born with ability to lead, and this is something that cannot be developed. 2. Differentiate efficiency and effectiveness The term effectiveness is associated with the level of results delivered by the employees at work. The employees demonstrating effectiveness in job roles are capable of producing high quality of results at their assigned tasks. Thus, a salesman consistently achieving his sales target would be considered as effective. Companies use performance reviews to measure the effectiveness of its employees. The Term efficiency however measures the time taken for accomplishing a particular task. Lesser the time taken for delivering the desired results more would be the efficiency of an employee. Thus, both these terms are mutually exclusive. An employee who is effective may not be necessarily efficient and vice versa. 3. Differentiate Centralization and decentralization The primary difference between centralization and decentralization in an organization is that decision making powers and authority is focused in the hands of few top tier employees of the organization. Thus centralization is concentration of power and authority with the top level management. The concept of decentralization on the other hand promotes delegation of authority and power at various levels across the organization. Decentralization always facilitates work flexibility and faster decision making in an organization. 4. Assess why Organizations need to do formal planning? Formal Planning is necessary for smooth functioning of Organizational operations. This involves jotting down minute steps towards achieving the corporate objectives. It is the formal planning process that supports systematic decision making in the organizations, which is essential for assigning relative job responsibilities and accountabilities within the organization. The periodic acquisition and the allocation of resources are also dependent upon the formal organizational plan. These would help improve the long term performance of the organization. 5. Selective perception and filtering are two communication barriers; suggest ways to overcome these communication barriers? Filtering information or withholding any information to manage the receivers reaction is a daunting communication barrier that distorts effective communication. Filtering prevents the employees of the organization to get a complete idea of the workplace situation. Selective perception is unconscious filtering by the receiver of the information. It can also be associated with making assumptions about the received information on basis of the past experiences. Selective perception may lead the misunderstandings in the communication process. The best way to overcome filtering and selective perception is by seeking information from multiple sources. In this manner the effect of filtering by any one sender would be nullified. 6. Assess how PESTLE factors can force an organization to change. PESTLE factors includes the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental factors that directly and indirectly influence the business operations of an organization. The above listed external environmental influences are thoroughly studied by the decision makers of the organization and are accordingly translated in to a strategic organizational plan that is devised for the growth and progress of the organization. The PESTLE factors thus provide a useful data for the decision makers of the organization to understand and analyze the external market environment of the organization. They are useful tools for identifying market risks and understanding the position and directions of business growth in a competitive market structures. Adapting equitable changes as per the studied PESTLE factors necessarily provides a competitive edge to an organization. PESTLE factors are thus highly capable of forcing Organizations to change and react to the changes in the external market environment. The following are the PESTLE factors that initiates change in Organizations- Political Factors- In the event of change in the political factors like Taxation policies, government regulations, government stability, etc, retrospective change in the Organizational polices are necessarily expected for organization to survive in the market. Economic Factors- The change in the Economic factors like inflationary trends, changes in labor supply, international currency rate changes, etc, do have impact on the organizational functions, which have to react to the economic factors. Social Factor - Social Factors like changes in consumer tastes and preferences, lifestyle choices, etc., may also force Organizations to change Technological Factors Newer innovations and impact of new technologies are also to be absorbed by the organizations, failing which the organization would lose competitiveness in the market. Legal Factors Introduction of new regulations and changes in the legal system of the nation are also impacting for the organizations Environmental Factors Ecology and environmental issues may also force organizations to change their ways of operations. Thus, PESTLE factors are called as drivers of change in the organizations that have vital impact on the survival of the business organizations in competitive market environment. 7. Suggest ways to make communication effective in an organizational context. Communication in an organizational context may be quiet a challenging aspect as many hurdles may stand in the way of effective organizational communication. These may range from information overload, grapevines, selective perceptions, gender differences, biased language, etc. Many of the companies and organizations have started offering its employee guidelines and written instructions on conduct and standard of speech followed in the organization. This is a viable method to maintain effective communication in the organizational context. Another practical method of improving the quality of business communication in organizations is by providing a periodic training to the employees on the Active listening skills. Practices such as repeating the essence of the message back to the sender by incorporating multiple channels of information flow, such as emails, messengers, etc. may be incorporated in the organizations. These measures may eliminate the possible hurdles of effective communica tion such as information filtering and selective perception. Lastly, a strong leadership governing the strengths of the communication system, planning and delivery of an organization would highly help organizations build up a strong and effective communications network. References Lussier, R. Achua, C., 2012, Leadership: Theory, application, skill development. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning McDonald, M. and Wilson, H. ,2011, Marketing Plans: How to Prepare Them, How to Use Them, 7th Edition, John Wiley Newman, Amy, and Scott Ober, 2013, Business Communication: In Person, Online. 8th ed. Mason: South-Western. Robbins, S., Judge, T., Millett, B., Boyle, M., 2011, Organisational Behaviour. 6th ed. Pearson, French's