Essay - Leadership—its Importance for Today's Organization Introduction When Looking at Leadership...

Leadership—its Importance for Today's Organization

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When looking at leadership and the role it plays in organizations, ***** is important to not only def*****e it, but also recognize the differences with respect to "Management." The characteristics of effective leaders need to be examined, as well ***** how one can develop leadership skills in today's work environment.

Purpose of Report

This report will show the importance ***** leadership in terms of develop*****g and implementing effective strategies, as well as traits employees feel are ***** for an effective leader. Three articles concerning leadership will also ***** examined in this report.

Definition of Leadership ***** Differences with Respect to "Management" good definition of leadership is ***** who possesses the "capacity or ability ***** lead (http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entries/06/m0070600.html)" or give an organization direction or guidance.

*****, however, refers to the executive ability or skill in managing an organization.

Management skills should be balanced with leadership *****. It is important to place extra emphasis on developing leadership skills, and less ***** management skills (Bolton).

Management deals ***** "planning and budgeting, organizing ***** staffing, controlling and problem solving (Bolton)."

In contrast, ***** deals with "establishing direction and aligning people, as well as motivating and inspiring (Bolton)." Some feel that if *****re is too much management, there is bureaucracy, while ***** there is too ***** leadership, there is anarchy, creating a need for a balance between the two.

***** Importance of Leadership to Effective Strategy Development and Implementation

***** developing ***** implementing an ***** strategy it is import*****t to understand ***** leader's competencies. These are the results of one's "experiences and the knowledge, skills, values ***** attitudes he or she has acquired during their lifetime (Pickett 103)."

In an *****g*****ization, the ***** may be used to perform a number of duties which produce products and services to others. The quality of the services or *****s, as well as the response from ***** receiver, leads to "***** with positive, negative or neutral consequences for the organization; the people who work there; ***** its suppliers, sh*****holders, clients, and customers (Pickett 103)."

Many companies today realize the importance "to improve management competencies, improve organizational structure, to better utilize corporate strategy to drive change and to strengthen the link between strategic intent ***** day-to-day implementation (Pickett 103)."

It ***** important that current and projected needs of an org*****ization be reflected in *****place and managerial skills. Senior management needs to be able to recognize the basic competencies of the organization ***** make sure the managers and workforce are adequately skilled, since the future success ***** any ***** depends on adept employees.

***** organization ***** its employees can ***** growth ***** "the development of an effective competencies framework and complimentary performance management program (Pickett 103)."

Employee Perceptions of what Constitutes Effective Leadership

***** perceptions of what they ***** represents effective leadership vary from one organization to another. Some ***** feel it is important for the CEO ***** senior executives to sh***** strategic leader*****ip. They feel a team approach to leadership is ***** for ***** survival