Leadership Roles and Responsibilities

Leadership Roles and Responsibilities for a Healthy Organizational Culture

STUDENT

University of Phoenix

Introduction

This paper will examine the roles and responsibilities of leaders in creating and maintaining a healthy organizational culture and make two recommendations on how to create and maintain a healthy organizational culture providing academic research and personal experience examples in order to support the recommendations provided.

Leadership is considered to be one of the four basic functions of management. Therefore, managers need to fulfill the roles of leadership within an organization. Bateman and Snell (2009) indicate that organizations need leaders at all the various levels of the organization to not only accomplish what people want, but to help achieve the goals of the organization. Leaders accomplish these tasks by fulfilling specific roles and responsibilities to both the employees of an organization and the organization itself. (p. 434)

Leadership Roles and Responsibilities

Barnett (2006) states that, “Effective leading requires the manager to motivate subordinates, communicate effectively, and effectively use power.” (p. 494) Alternatively, Bateman and Snell (2009) list that leadership roles and responsibilities include: Creating the vision of the organization, division or unit; inspiring workers; motivating staff to overcome obstacles; foster innovation; and attainment of long-term goals. Additional roles and responsibilities include: providing feedback, guidance, and support to employees; and giving purpose and meaning to organizations. (pp. 437-438)

Kouzes and Posner (as cited in Bateman and Snell, 2009), list five leadership behaviors that help combine the responsibilities of providing for people and the organization. The five behaviors as stated by Kouzes and Posner are:

1. Challenge the process. They challenge conventional beliefs and practices, and they create change.

2. Inspire a shared vision. They appeal to people’s...