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Leadership: Difference between revisions
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=== '''Democratic v Autocratic leadership.''' === | |||
Autocratic leaders make independent decisions, prefer not to consult with others, seek to marginalise those who do give advice. | |||
Democratic leaders seek consensus from the team. They expect their ideas to be challenged by others. | |||
While autocratic leadership can be successful, it should be avoided. It involves too much risk and tends to result in unhappy working environments | |||
{| class="sortable mw-collapsible" | |||
|'''Employee''' | |||
|'''Democratic leader''' | |||
|'''Autocratic leader''' | |||
|- | |||
|Make a non-wilful mistake | |||
|Treat as a learning opportunity. | |||
|Threaten employee with punishment. | |||
|- | |||
|Point out faults in the organisation | |||
|Welcome suggestions and use them if appropriate; reward those who make suggestions that are adopted. | |||
|Ignore such advice; treat the employee as a whistle-blower; seek to have them dismissed. | |||
|} | |||
Leadership should be based on ability and character, not on rank or class. | |||
In his book ''The secrets of StationX'', about the Bletchley Park operation in WW2, Michael Smith quotes Bill Bundy as saying: | |||
“It was a terrific human experience. This was a totally dedicated group working together in absolutely remarkable teamwork. Their whole structure was one where you might readily find a major working under a lieutenant or a civilian somewhat younger. Whoever was in charge was the person who had been judged to be the most effective at doing it.” | |||
Some people want to be ‘The Boss’; they are likely to be able to talk themselves into positions of authority but often those best able to lead have a quiet demeanour, are not pushy, but have inner steel that engenders respect. | |||
=== '''Principles for successful leadership''' === | |||
* Be a collaborative, democratic leader. | |||
* Be a critical thinker and seek to ensure adoption of a critical thinking ethos in the team. | |||
* If you create sub-groups within the team, seek to ensure the group leaders have a democratic style. For a major managerial appointment especially avoid those who are likely to be autocratic. | |||
* When delegating, do not micromanage people or sub-groups. Monitor performance and provide support when needed. | |||
* Arrange that the members of the team have an appropriate range of disciplinary skills | |||
* Seek to ensure that all involved are fully committed to the objective of the enterprise | |||
* Make the governance arrangements clear: responsibility, accountability, authority. | |||