The Eye of a Leader

Step in the decision making process The basic function of leaders is to make decisions. There are three elements of decision making, namely, the decision maker, the decision, and the decision-making process. The decision maker:  The leader who is the decision maker functions in a group or an organisation which is being influenced by the factors of leadership. Effective leadership actions are based on four major factors of leadership namely the subjects, the leader, the situation and communication. These factors influence and affect the actions a leader should take and when to take them. The personality of a leader and the style of leadership have also great bearing on the decision process. For many years, people thought that the best leadership style was a participative style which prescribed listening to your subordinates and involving them in decision making. Autocratic leadership style, which involves the leader taking control and telling subordinates what to do, was considere...

Problem solving and types of thinking Problem solving has been defined as a systematic search through a range of possible actions in order to reach a predefined goal. The ultimate goal of problem solving is to overcome obstacles and find a solution that best resolves the issue. It involves two main types of thinking; creative thinking and critical thinking. Norman Vincent Peale, the great minister of positive thinking said, "...the only people I know who don't have any problems are dead people. The more problems you have, the more alive you are. If you have no problems at all, then you are in grave jeopardy!" Problems are there to help us grow wisely towards knowing the world that we are living in. Types of Problems Psychologists have identified two types of problems; these are: Well-defined Problems; These are well-structured problems which have clear solution paths. The person is able to specify all the steps that must be taken to reach a solution. Most mathematics ...

Authority and power in leadership Many people often confuse power with authority. In any case, authority and power are intricately interrelated and are indeed a source of confusion among people who do not understand the concepts fully.  Power denotes something different.  Authority has been defined as the moral or legal right given to a person to give orders, make decisions and enforce obedience, by virtue of the position held in the organisation. The definition of authority differs from that of power in that it identifies legitimacy, justification, and the right to exercise power. Authority is always official in nature and so it is legitimate. When a person joins an organisation, he enters what is termed as a psychological contract, subjecting himself to the authority system of the organisation. Authority systems differ from one organisation to another. The legitimacy of authority finds its source from culture, values and political systems, and hence it varies from soci...