Leadership Challenge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Leadership Challenge - Essay Example Leadership involves the most vital resources of the organization- the people. Power distribution between leaders and group members is unequal. Leadership involves the use of different forms of power to influence the behavior of followers. And lastly, leadership is about values. Management is the process of planning, organising, leading and controlling all phases of business operation in order to achieve the objectives of that organisation. Effective management invariably results in business success, while ineffective management often results in business failure. Planning is an intellectually demanding process, because it requires deliberate courses of action where decisions are based on purpose, knowledge and considerable degree of estimates. Planning minimizes costs. Its emphasis is on efficient and effective operations and consistency of procedures and methods. Organizing includes the skills of self- managing and team work thus time is considered as an essential factor. The word organization refers to the structure or a network of relationships among individuals interacting with one another. Organizing as a tool is an end in itself but a means of achieving the objectives of the organization. ... manager without the authority necessary to direct and supervise it, and the provision for coordination horizontally and vertically in the organizational structure. Controlling makes use of skills involving setting of performance standards and measurements of performance as well as flexibility and adaptability to change. Controlling is the managerial function of measuring and correcting performance in order to make sure that organizational objectives and plans that were deliberately devised to be attained are being accomplished. Planning and controlling are closely related that some manager and management practitioners think that their functions are also closely related. Objectives and plans are very important and control is not possible, because performance has to be measured against some established criteria. Controlling, as a management tool, is the function of every manager from president to supervisor. While the range of control varies among managers, those at all levels have the responsibility for the effective implementation of plans. Control is the process of assuring management that the organizational plans, objectives, programs and other specific tasks are carried out effectively and efficiently. The basic control process involves three steps: establishing standards, measuring performance against these standards, remedies for deviation from standards and plans. SUMMARY Kouzes introduced the five practices. "Faced with different cultures and difficult circumstances, Lindsay Levin and Alan Keith each seized the opportunity to lead. They chose a pioneering path and led their organizations to new summits of excellence. And although their cultures and circumstances are distinct, we learned some important lessons about leadership from Lindsay, Alan, and