Leadership

Does leadership make a difference, to me yes, leadership makes a huge difference. Leadership is defined as an influence relationship among leaders and followers, who intend real changes and outcomes that reflect their shared purposes (Daft, p. 5). Leadership is an evolving discipline that will continue to develop (Daft, p. 5). Leadership involves influence, intention, followers, personal responsibility, shared purpose and change (Daft, p. 5). To me leadership does make a huge difference. Many people disagree and feel that leadership does not make a difference, that, as long as there is management there is no need for leadership.

Many people feel that leaders are not necessary, that managers are enough. However, many managers don’t have the power to help the organization succeed. Too often, they can’t create change because those at higher levels on the organizational chart are detached leaders who really don’t understand how things get done in their own place (McKee). Management is defined as the attainment of organizational goals in an effective and efficient manner through planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling organizational resources (Daft, p. 15). People view the managers as the ones that really accomplish everything while the leaders sit back and work on the goals and vision. In one article they claim the last thing they need is leaders who are setting more targets to be achieved, more communication campaigns (especially ones with slogans), having another offsite meeting with an expensive facilitator and leaders who are too busy because they’re doing things outside their organization (McKee). It is also stated that what we do need are more people at the top who actually understand how to do things themselves. These are the new power players — men and women who can manage and, at the same time, show others how to get stuff done, instead of trying to define the differences between leaders and managers, let’s just get back to having managers...