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Introduction

Reading 10.1

Hughes, Richard L; Ginnett, Robert C and Curphy, Gordon J (1999). Extract from chapter 1 'Leadership is everyone's business'. In  Leadership: Enhancing the Lessons of Experience . Singapore : McGraw-Hill International Edition, pages 3-5.

Few of us will ever be confronted with a leadership challenge as dramatic as that faced by the Andes survivors. We may face opportunities for leadership that involve group dynamics that are just as complex.

Leadership is not about making people work. It is about letting people work

Leadership is the ability to inspire confidence and support among men and women on whose competence and commitment performance depends. It is the ability to use interpersonal relationships to motivate and guide people towards the accomplishment of goals.

We have sought for years to define and identify the ingredients, and 'tap the essence' of effective leadership. Some people seem to possess 'natural' leadership skills. You may recognise these leaders in some of the work or social groups of which you are a part. Group members like to follow these 'natural leaders'.

When examined closely these leaders display behaviours and characteristics that are both learned and inherited. Many have learned to lead from a variety of factors in their development and have built upon personality traits that have inclined them to be leaders. Others have applied themselves to learning leadership skills and techniques in order to lead more effectively.

We look for leadership in our managers, in people who hold political office, in work groups and in social groups. We value effective leadership and are disappointed in people in authority who lack leadership qualities.

In this chapter we will look at what leadership actually is. We will consider the various traditional approaches to leadership and how leaders influence people.

A special note for the Master

You may be wondering why is it necessary to change. Management and leadership are really quite simple - right? On discussing commercial management for shipmasters and the importance of changing, Tallack (1996) noted:

Leadership is a trait few had and few could develop; but if you did not naturally have it:

Just as navigation was possible using the old Earth-centred view of the universe, so management and leadership are possible using the hierarchal pyramid structure for managing.

Taken from Tallack, R (1996). Commercial Management for Shipmasters: A Practical Guide . The Nautical Institute.

Think about Tallack's view and your changing role as you work though this chapter.

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