Your success as a manager can be determined by how you interact with people. The role of a manager as a leader is an important part of these interactions. Leadership involves influencing colleagues so that they follow a given direction or goal.
It is often stated that leadership has three main functions within a group:
- the ‘people function’ – here leadership helps to maintain the morale, social cohesion and motivation of a group of workers. A leader should act as an ambassador for the group. In this role the leader will ensure that the group has sufficient funds to carry out its tasks. If the leader can be seen to have influence outside the group then there will be more influence within the group.
- the ‘task function’ – here leadership involves deciding what the tasks of the group of employees are and then making sure that they are carried out successfully. Don’t just criticise poor performance: remember to praise colleagues for work well done – this shows that you are aware of the effort colleagues are putting into their work.
- the ‘strategic function’ – leadership here helps with the development of a sense of purpose and direction for the group or organisation. A group of workers that knows what they are trying to achieve will be more efficient and better motivated than a group that doesn’t know what it’s supposed to be doing.
A manager’s ability to influence people depends on a range of factors: how much power the manager has over the group, for example regarding pay and promotion issues; knowledge, how well the manager knows the systems present in an organisation, and how many personal contacts the manager has within the organisation – here we’re talking about ‘networking’, the ability to make and maintain useful contacts; finally, there’s the manager’s ability to develop and maintain interpersonal relationships based on trust and understanding – a good networker has these skills.
Good communication is another key element to successful leadership. A good leader is aware both of the message to be communicated and of the importance of effective communication to influence members of the group. A manager’s behaviour – what they do in the workplace – is a key component of the message they communicate to colleagues. It is crucial to be a role model for the policies you advocate. And remember, always accept responsibility for your mistakes – don’t blame colleagues for things that you do badly. No one is perfect, just remember this when you interact with colleagues: they know it and you shouldn’t forget it!
Source: Edited from the Learn English Professionals by British Council.
