THE LEADERSHIP
FROM A HISTORICAL
PERSPECTIVE TO THE ORDER OF TODAY
One of the frequently repeated
words in the present context perhaps in business, management or politics in
local and global context undoubtedly is “Leadership”. Leadership is not a term
restricted to a field or certain fields as the way we are using nowadays. This word
has been in the existence even before the humanity existed and it is not only
limited to humanity as well.
Leadership is a felt need when
living creatures are surrounded by problems, danger, destruction, struggling and
problems of survival etc. name to few seeking belonging, protection,
caring, sustainability and growth regardless of animal kingdom, plant kingdom or
beyond. In the animal kingdom this was obvious. From time to time which species
failed to face the challenges exposed to them tended to disappear from the bio
diversity and it is simply called SURVIVAL OF THE FITTER maybe due to the
absence of leadership. Despite the human race is was not replaced by another
race but the role of leadership has changed in nations, organizations, race etc. Example Electronic & Electrical dominance from Japan to China and Mobile technology from Nokia to Samsung.
In the human world from the
primitive and nomadic society it is apparent to see the emergence of leadership
to shape up the society seeking sustenance, shelter and safety from enemies. Very
clearly we see today the one who acts first from the crowd becomes the leader
and the rest tend to follow them in a natural form as the water flows invariably
the cast, tribe, size, age or any other human features. This picture shows only
one aspects of leadership where age matters not but it is something.
Picture Source - Age Factor
Leaders continued to appear from
the families, societies, groups, organizations, countries to the globe as a
whole. Human leadership is reflected in number of fields today: politics,
business, science, mathematics, psychology, medicine, sociology, art,
literature etc… it is noted that one thing is common in any of these field is
it tries to address the following:
1. Seeking opportunities
2. Solving problems
Hence, from time to time what were demanded from a leader/leadership predominantly is different. It totally depends on the intensity of the problem and
the urgency to the solution. This was further affected by the turbulence of the
environment and its volatility associated with uncertainty.
Since the human
being is limited by time and space, he/she can hardly think and predict beyond
these limitations the attributes demanded by the concept of leadership vary. There is no hard and fast rules to become a leader or there is no a
set of features that only required to become leaders. This is an obvious truth
that can be witnessed in studying the leadership theories. One of the
leadership theory becomes obsoleted when those leader’s attributes became no longer
influential, inspirational, results delivered and not compatible with emerging
new features. Further the leader of one era becomes outdated in another era and
similarly one successful leader in one chosen field becomes unsuccessful in
another field of expertise and one leadership styles in one time is totally inappropriate
and inapplicable in another time.
Who would have thought of
possessing the knowledge of EQ or AI to become a leader of the world the order
the day in business like Amazon and Alibaba. In this perspective a present day leader is expected to possess the
following leadership qualities in the chosen sphere except the EQ or AI.
So, it is very clear to accept and
acknowledge the fact we can see the gradual progression of the leadership qualities
are expected to demonstrate the features from theoretically explained to the practical
context which were stated in the great man theory, trait theory, skills approach or contingency
approach.
The scholars keep undertaking the
research on leadership have enriched certain new extension to the concept of
leadership. One of these new areas of study is called “Systemic Approach”
In this perspective, according to
Michael Buehler, (2016) a research paper submitted to the World under the heading of Reinventing leadership
– 10 imperative leadership aptitudes you will need as a systemic leader: Who
are future Leaders?
‘The future demands collective
leadership that is visionary, innovative, agile and adaptable. In this context,
system theory reframes leadership by focusing on the dynamic interactions
between all individuals, explaining how the interactions can, under certain
conditions, produce promising outcomes.
This new type of leadership does
not reside at the top of a hierarchical structure and does not work if it is
authoritarian. Systemic leadership is exercised through inspiration,
by means of accelerated interaction and at any level in any organization.
Indeed, it develops its full potential only when it is mobilized from
grass-roots level. Systemic leaders understand and encourage the dynamics of
intensified interaction at all levels, to generate beneficial effects in the
entire system. They inspire people, teams and entire organizations to pursue
the change it will take to achieve aspirational goals.’
The conventional model takes
leadership to be a property of the individual, say a manager seeking to be a
better leader. In this view, the organization regards its role as that of
developing the manager’s personal leadership abilities and hoping for the best.
By contrast, in the systemic model, leadership is a property of the organization.
Instead of viewing the organization as a passive vessel waiting to have
leadership poured into it, the organization becomes an active player that has
to contribute to leadership if it is to receive its due from managers. The
connection between leadership and its host is symbiotic, with the organization
proving a vital partner both to leadership and improvement. (Tate. W 2013)
Conclusion:
So when these leadership
attributes are in to account one decision can be arrived that that it is the
leadership definition is changing in ever dynamic world and could be associated
to the common phrase saying “The only certainty in the world is uncertainty” and so
is leadership theories.
It is to maintain a balance
between analytical views of the past events in association with contemporary
exploration of the present context towards a far-sighted outlook with an
inherent quality of life-long learning, adaptability to change will be
considered to be the critical factor success of leadership concept.
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