Leadership in Organizations

This document discusses the concept of leadership in organizations, focusing on critical reflection on experiences of leadership and suggestions for improvement areas. It also explores the use of leadership concepts and theories in the analysis and evaluation of leadership, with insights from the leadership of Jack Ma, the co-founder of Alibaba Group.

Leadership in
Organizations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Critical reflection on experiences of leadership along with suggestions for improvement areas1
Areas for my own development...................................................................................................4
Use of leadership concepts as well as theory in analysis and evaluation of leadership...............4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCE...................................................................................................................................8
APPENDICES.................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Leadership is the main process of business organisation which is followed by employees
to work properly and effectively. Leaders are those person who understand the problems of
employees at workplace and suggest them how to work in order to attain the organisational goals
and objectives. This is much more than authority and recognition from outside the world. In
other words, it is about developing people and helping others to reach their full potential. This is
important for business organisation to adopt a effective leadership style which can helps to work
properly and effectively by achieving goals (Hoch and et. al., 2018). Employees of business
organisation lives close to leaders because it guides people to what to do and how to do for
completing task. This report is about leadership in organisation which is categorised in to two
parts, first task is reflects in critical reflection on experience of leadership and development
areas. And the next task is discusses about uses of different types of leadership theory and
concepts which helps to run a business successfully. Moreover in second task the evaluation is
about Leadership of Jack Ma who is founder of Alibaba Group.
MAIN BODY
Critical reflection on experiences of leadership along with suggestions for improvement areas
As a leader working with a group to complete the project, my experienced states that I
delegates task between organisational employees which helped me to manage the role and
responsibilities of employees so work could be done effectively. I received a project from my
organisation where I was playing a role of leader in which all work and employees needed to
managed by me. To work properly there was a need to better communication and listener which
helps to listen problem of employees and provide a better solution in order to make profits. After
understanding the goal of organisation I started to organise and manage all business meeting and
conference which defined what action need to be taken. Employees trust and engagement was
important for me to complete the project effectively, so I talked personally to each employees
which helped me to know what they are thinking and how their trust can be gain (Аndriukaitiene
and et. al., 2017). I shared my knowledge and goal of business organisation with employees that
helped to get more ideas and thoughts how it can be attain. While working with employees I
realised that my communication skills, leadership skills and listening skills are excellent as I
never missed a point of information which was related to my project. While talking with
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employees I understood that what employees wants and how they can be satisfied. As some
employees were favour for my plan and some one not. But it was the critical situation for me to
make understand them and get ready to all for working collectively. I planed to provide training
to employees for the purpose of accepting challenges and changes effectively. I delegated
different types of working activities between employees as per their qualification and experience
which gave me good result to complete the goal effectively. With the help of effective team and
my skills I was able to combine and synthesis each clump of information which helped to
complete the project. During this way, many problems and challenges was identified by me and
group which was set calmly and independently to complete the project (Liao, 2017). Me and my
team solve the problems by analysing the different ways and leadership style which processed to
accomplishment of business objectives.
While performing my leadership roles in business organisation with the number of people
and group, different types of problems faced by me that were resistance of some employees in
order to accept the changes, modification, new technology, change in process and workplace
practices which are important for business organisation to perform well. Some time employees
deny to accept such changes due they wants to work traditional way/, so it become difficult for
Leader to make understand the employees and get ready to accept all (Lyubovnikova and et. al.,
2017). In this situation organisation also face low productivity and low profitability. I was
realised that there is need to adopt effective leadership style and theory to accomplish the task as
well as project. It has revealed that Democratic leadership style and Transformational leadership
style used by me while working with organisation. Firstly I adopted democratic leadership in
which I asked for input from my team and group of people by considering their feedback which
helped to make right business decision. This helped to complete the project within efficient time
and period by attaining the goals and objectives. This was excellent and driven leadership in
which I focused on creativity and innovation which was needed to bring within organisation. In
this leadership I make feel employees that their voice is heard and contribution matter a lot
which is fostering higher level of workplace satisfaction and employee engagement (Lord and et.
al., 2017). In this I focused on visionary leadership which was possible to complete only by
accepting the democratic leadership. By using this leadership I accepted all changes and provide
assistance to employees work efficaciously. In addition to I used transformational leadership
which helped to focus on individual interaction with others and maintaining good relationship
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with all which helped to complete the project. This has been defined that I successfully worked
will group of people or team by focusing on extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in order to
complete the project.
The role of leadership performed by me in which effective actions and decision taken by
me which processed to completion of project within specified period. I felt that organisation is
dealing with some critical situation which was low productivity, employee turnover, conflicts
among team as well as employees and high attrition rate which was need to solve by making
strategic plans (Hoch and Dulebohn, 2017). Then I have decided to opt the strategic leadership
and different types of employees legislation which were useful to delivered valuable results and
effective directions to employees in order to deal with such situation. Many steps had taken by
me such as to solve the low productivity and conflicts between people I shared all information
with people that what action they should take and how they can work collectively. I applied
employment rules, health as safety rules, training and development and job security legislation
which helped to address the situation in better way. Moreover, another situation was employee
turn over, and high attrition rate was also serious issue for me that need to address. To addressed
this I used strategic leadership style which helped me to understand why employees wanted to
quit their job and reason of attrition rate then strategic plan helped me to remove such issue and
get good results (Sousa and van Dierendonck, 2017). Handy's culture theory is another way to
face the situation properly in which I opted Task culture in which different task divided
between employees according to their ability and capabilities to perform task properly. Situation
are required to deal with new changes and challenges which improves organisational
productivity and profitability. I also observed that employees who were working with me
supported me to complete the work and attain the organisational goals. Atmosphere of autonomy
was created by me which helped to understand my roles and get assistance how it need to
perform. I also used path goal theory which is based on leader's style and behaviour that
benefited to employees and work environment for the purpose of achieving goals. In this theory I
motivated employees, increased empowerment and satisfy the employees which made them
productive member of organisation. Such theory was very helpful for me which helped to
increase the productivity and profitability through focusing and create a different path for
employees. In this theory I adopted directive path, achievement, participative leaders and
supportive leadership style which provides proper assistance to employees and work effectively.
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In this I satisfied the employee's needs and preference by showing concern for them
psychological as well. Moreover, path goal theory helped me to become flexible by changing
style as per the situation and condition. Moreover, contingency theory by involving employees
characteristics that moderate behaviour and relationship. I clarified the path for employees by
understanding the situation and made journey easier by reducing the roadblocks and pitfalls (Lin
and et. al., 2017).
Areas for my own development
As per my experienced in working as a leader in group, I have analysed that there are
some areas which needs development in leadership. I noticed my weakness while working with
employees which need to be develop or improvement. For this context, the suggested area is
passions, transparency attribute, management skills and risk taking skills which is required to
perform the organisational goals and I felt that I m weak in such areas. As a leader I have learned
so many things that to attract the employees there is require proper management and attributes
which make happy employees and helps to follow the me. I was feeling weak to manage the
work and concentration of employees which need to be develop that can help to work smoothly
and easily (Horvat and Filipovic, 2018). Moreover, my attributes of transparency is also required
to be develop as I was able to share information with only some people or group which created
confusion what they should do. To improving such areas a personal development plan is
prepared by me that will help to execute all plans and make project successful in specified time.
Use of leadership concepts as well as theory in analysis and evaluation of leadership.
Leadership is the process of influencing people and get work done from them in order to
attain organisational goals and objectives. If leaders are good in an organisation that means
productivity and profitability. Jack and Ma is the co founder as well as former chairman of
Alibaba Group which is leading organisation, serves different types of products and services to
its customers. This is multinational conglomerate holding company which is specializing in e-
commerce, retail, technology and internet. Such organisation was founded in April 1999 that
provides consumer to consumer (C2C), Business to customer (B2C) and Business to business
(B2B) sales through web portals, electronic payment services, cloud computing and shopping
search engines. This is world's largest retailer e-commerce organisation that is consider as largest
internet and artificial intelligence company which is earning highest revenues. Currently such
organisation is expanding in to media industry with rising revenues by triple percentage. In this
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organisation leaders are playing important role as they understand the goals of organisation and
make effectors to accomplish the objectives. Some leadership qualities of leaders in Alibaba
Group are as unites people under a single goal, foresight which helped to take the action against
competition, hiring people with superior skills, proper guidance to employees, better
communication and relationship which helped to run a business successfully and achieve
business goals. This organisation has used some leadership theories such as situational leadership
theory and contingency theory (Dulebohn and Hoch, 2017).
Situational leadership is effective theory which is used by Alibaba's leader to develop
the business by influencing employees. Leader of such organisation states that this is adaptive
leadership style which encourages leaders to take stock of its team members to achieve the
organisational goals and objectives. By following this leaders develop people and work groups,
establish rapport and bring best thing in people which helps to work effectively. Moreover,
Contingency leadership theory states effectiveness of leader is contingent in which leaders
defined how leadership styles matches to the situation. This theory helps to face the contingent
situation which arises while working. By using such theory leader can accept the changes and
work properly which helps to complete the task in given time effectively. Such compliances and
policies helped leaders to focus on desire of organisation. As per both theories situation are
require to analysis before deciding by leader that what is the amount of guidance and direction.
Situation is divided in to two behaviour such as task and relationship behaviour (Fehr and et. al.,
2017).
Alibaba's leader faced four common and critical competencies that are diagnose,
communicate, advance and adapt is required to face the situation and complete the task. For
instance, increasing level of collaboration, supporting the employees and motivational level
enhance the productivity and profitability. Transactional leadership is used to communicate the
vision of organisation with all which helps to bring communicate and vision in order to bring
changes in their organisation. Where as transformational leadership is used to find the best
employees for their task and plays active role for the purpose of development. These are
effective leadership style which are used to make effective work and attain the organisational
goals properly. This helps to create value for employees which deliver better results by providing
proper assistance to employees. In context to transactional leadership, leaders are focusing on
promoting the policies and compliances with current business goals and organisational expect
5

performance (Lopez-Cabrales, Bornay-Barrachina and Diaz-Fernandez, 2017). Moreover,
leaders uses rewarding and punishment concept in their work which encourages employees to
give their best in order to get rewards. If employees are not performing well then
Ethical leadership refers as a leadership that is used by leaders to direct employees by
respect for ethical beliefs and values which helps to maintain a good culture and business
environment in organisation. In this leadership the role of leaders as holding everyone to the
same standard and making clear expectation. This helps Alibaba's leader to show their talent
and attracts employees to complete the project. Moreover , ethical leader shows that respect all
people of the team by listening them attentively, being compassionate , value their contributions
and being generous after considering their perception. By following ethical leadership
organisation can maintain the good behaviour of employees and ethical standard of which helps
to perform well in the business organisation. It is not important that leaders are having in formal
authority in leadership instead of this they can maintain good relation as a friendship and
sharing which can help to work effectively. There are many employees who are following
leaders in order to perform well and increase the sale of business organisation. In this
organisation, leader provide training and development programme to its employees and also
states how they can increase their sale (Eriksson and et. al., 2017).
Path goal theory is also used by leader by understand the situation which they faces that
helps to solve the problems by getting support of employees as they have different types of
characteristics and skills which helps to improve the sale of business organisation. For example,
employees are facing a unclear job responsibility situation for this they applied path goal
theory which is suitable and relevant for organisation. In this situation leaders perform their role
as team worker, shaper, coordinator and communicator by applying role theory which help to get
solution of problem as employees coordinates with all employees ans clarify the role and
responsibilities of employees which need to perform by them athat helps to attain the
organisational goals and objectives.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that leaders of a business organisation are
having several and different responsibilities that helps to to perform their role in different areas
effectively. Leaders understand the problem of employees who are working within organisation
and provide them optimum solution to remove the problem. Different situation are also faced by
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leaders while working which need to focus in order to make effective business decision.
Democratic leadership style helps to delegate the task between employees, assist them and
perform task effectively. Leader is one who maintain the relationship between employees and
manager which processes to complete the task in specified time. Moreover, transformational
leadership is used to deliver the good results by using strategic plans. In context to Jack Ma,
leadership style are inspiring and influential that foster relationship and loyalty foundation to
grow the business continuously. Leaders is the concept of organising the people systematically
i9n order to accomplish the goals and objectives.
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REFERENCE
Books and Journal
Hoch, J. E., and et. al., 2018. Do ethical, authentic, and servant leadership explain variance
above and beyond transformational leadership? A meta-analysis. Journal of
Management. 44(2). pp.501-529.
Аndriukaitiene, R., and et. al., 2017. Theoretical insights into expression of leadership
competencies in the process of management. Problems and Perspectives in
Management. 15(1-1). pp.220-226.
Liao, C., 2017. Leadership in virtual teams: A multilevel perspective. Human Resource
Management Review. 27(4). pp.648-659.
Lyubovnikova, J., and et. al., 2017. How authentic leadership influences team performance: The
mediating role of team reflexivity. Journal of business Ethics. 141(1). pp.59-70.
Lord, R. G., and et. al., 2017. Leadership in applied psychology: Three waves of theory and
research. Journal of Applied Psychology. 102(3). p.434.
Hoch, J. E. and Dulebohn, J. H., 2017. Team personality composition, emergent leadership and
shared leadership in virtual teams: A theoretical framework. Human Resource
Management Review. 27(4). pp.678-693.
Sousa, M. and van Dierendonck, D., 2017. Servant leadership and the effect of the interaction
between humility, action, and hierarchical power on follower engagement. Journal of
Business Ethics. 141(1). pp.13-25.
Lin, C. S., and et. al., 2017. Pseudo-transformational leadership is in the eyes of the
subordinates. Journal of business ethics. 141(1). pp.179-190.
Horvat, A. and Filipovic, J., 2018. Service quality and maturity of health care organizations
through the lens of Complexity Leadership Theory. Journal of evaluation in clinical
practice. 24(1). pp.301-307.
Dulebohn, J. H. and Hoch, J. E., 2017. Virtual teams in organizations.
Fehr, R., and et. al., 2017. The grateful workplace: A multilevel model of gratitude in
organizations. Academy of Management Review, 42(2), pp.361-381.
Lopez-Cabrales, A., Bornay-Barrachina, M. and Diaz-Fernandez, M., 2017. Leadership and
dynamic capabilities: the role of HR systems. Personnel Review. 46(2). pp.255-276.
Eriksson, A., and et. al., 2017. Management and leadership approaches to health promotion and
sustainable workplaces: A scoping review. Societies. 7(2). p.14.
(Hoch and et. al., 2018)(Аndriukaitiene and et. al., 2017).
(Liao, 2017)(Lyubovnikova and et. al., 2017)(Lord and et. al., 2017)(Hoch and Dulebohn, 2017)
(Sousa and van Dierendonck, 2017)(Lin and et. al., 2017)(Horvat and Filipovic, 2018)
(Dulebohn and Hoch, 2017)(Fehr and et. al., 2017)(Lopez-Cabrales, Bornay-Barrachina
and Diaz-Fernandez, 2017)(Eriksson and et. al., 2017)
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APPENDICES
Personal development plan
Area of
development
Date I will
have this
completed
by:
I will achieve
this by:
What's
happening
now?
How will I
know I've been
successful?
Progress
Management
skills
31/01/19 The aim is to
develop the
management
skills by
deciding the
goals, focusing
on them, getting
organised,
listening
problems and
providing
optimum
solution to
manage the
work.
Some time
many task are
needed to
perform at one
time which
become
difficult for me
to manage all
functions and
understand the
jargon.
In order to
develop this
skills, I had
taken various
sessions and
follow the
successful
business leader
which helped
me to solve such
gap. Moreover,
proper
communication
with employees
will help me to
develop own
self.
As I have
started to work
on such gap, it
has been
determined
that by
recording,
monitoring
and evaluating
all activities I
can be
successful.
Moreover, as a
leader I will
delegate the
activities
between
experienced
employees to
complete task.
Transparency 30/08/19 For developing
the
transparency
For
transparency
skills, I
In order to
develop
transparency
The progresses
for improving
this skills is
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skills, I will
access the
information,
delegate
authority,
keeping open
communication
and hiring the
minded people
who will help to
perform well.
communicate
and keep the
information to
my selective
people and
group members
which is barrier
for me that
reduces
organisational
performance.
skill, I have to
build
relationship by
communicating
with people and
also need to
create trust
among them that
helps to develop
such skills.
judged by
manager and
group member
by critical
evaluation to
make better.
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