Leadership in the 21st Century

This report examines the concept of leadership in the 21st century, highlighting key competencies required for effective leadership and its impact on strategic organizational development. It analyzes various leadership theories and provides real-world examples to illustrate the importance of leadership in driving business success. The report concludes that strong leadership skills are crucial for creating a positive business environment and driving organizational growth.

Leadership In the 21st
Century and Strategic
Development of an
Organization

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Theme 1: To identify the concept of Leadership........................................................................1
Theme 2: To determine the Key Competencies for 21st Century Leaders.................................2
Theme 3: To determine how leadership helps in the strategic development of an organization 4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Leadership plays an effective role in every business and it is the action of leading a group
of people or in an organization. Therefore, the main purpose of this report is to undertake a
critical review of literature in relation to key themes in the Strategic Business and Management.
In the same, the present study is also critically review the importance of leadership in this
modern era and also show the relationship of leadership with the strategic development of an
organization with different examples.
MAIN BODY
Theme 1: To identify the concept of Leadership
According to Yukl and Yukl, (2015) leadership is the ability of an individual that
influence and guide the followers or other members of an organization. Further, leadership also
involves making difficult decision, creating and articulation a clear vision, establishing to an
achievable goals and also provide followers with the knowledge and tools that are necessary to
attain the goals. On the other side, Finkelstein, Hambrick and Cannella, (2016) critic that
leadership is consists of research area and a practical skill that encompasses the capabilities of an
individual or an organization in order to lead or guide others for attaining defined goals of a
company. Thus, the author also states that the leaders and their leadership skills plays an
important role in the growth of any organization. Therefore, it is the continuous process where
leader of a firm are monitor their subordinate in order to make sure that their efforts are going in
the same direction and they are not deviate from their goals.
Moreover, Yukl (2018) bring another concept of leadership in which they state that
leadership in 21st century is based on influencing the behavior of others. It is that ability where a
leaders determinant the behavior of people in such a manner that they seek willingly and
enthusiastically in order to attain the common goals of a business. Therefore, it has been
analyzed that leadership skills takes an organization to some new heights where the leaders
create a vision and analyses the things in different manner because of possessing the positive
attitude. Further, through leadership, the leaders find a way that enables the whole organization
into a right path. On the other side, it has been critically evaluated by Stogdill (2014) that when
considering the past and modern trend in a leadership and it was also discusses in a heroic view
in 18th and 19th century which was based on the deficiency perspective of people. Author also
describes when a leadership is possessed by an individual, then they should also have the
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capability to inspire others and also influence others by solving the problems of others during
attaining goals. Therefore, modern trend of leadership can be describe through post- heroic view
which is a bottom up transformation that is further forced by the community of building and
shared a power as well. Further, author stated that 21st century leadership is atomistic in nature
and the modern trend are also based upon four segments such as technology, Globalization,
knowledge workers and diversity.
In addition to this, Schein (2018) states that leadership is an important function of a
management that also helps to maximize the efficiency and to achieve the goals as well. Further,
in today's workplace, the environment is full of politics and stress, even the people are also less
productive. Therefore, in such companies, leadership plays a great role, In which the leaders and
employees together build a unity and growth culture in a workplace environment. They also
align their staff and team in order to produce the high quality work as well. It has been further
evaluated by the author that leadership is an important key element that helps to create a great
workplace environment which further helps coworkers to connect with the seniors in order to
share the ideas which further helps a business to grow business fast. Moreover, the leadership
position also encourages the leaders to become fearless and be confident in the abilities, this
further inspire others in order to build the talent and explore variety of abilities which they have.
Hence, this shows that the great leadership abilities help leaders to build the brand image of a
business and for the growth and development of a business as well. For example – Izhok
Chernyak, the founder of Best Advisor stated that a good leader is flexible in their strategy and
able to inspire, motivate and empower their team for achieving maximum productivity.
Theme 2: To determine the Key Competencies for 21st Century Leaders
Though different scholars are presented their view regarding leadership, there are
different abilities which are possess by the leaders and as per the view of Hughes (2019) Leaders
of 21st century must have the ability of motivation and inspiration the others. As vision to be
attainable in future which is created by the leaders and it should be descriptive while compelling
and motivating the employees in order to fulfill the vision. As everyone needs to contributed in
order to make the difference within a world. Therefore, leaders should have the ability to support
the team members in order to better connection with the community as well as with customers.
Thus, these competencies means that leader's responsibility is to provide definite guidelines and
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boundaries to their employees while supporting through solving a problem that Is related to
them.
On the other side, Mumford and et.al., (2018) critic that leaders of 21st century posses
problem solving and analyzing skills as their ultimate objectives of recruiting and training
employees is to make the solutions for an organizational problems and get the benefit of a market
opportunities. Further, the leaders should also posses the analytical skills and when it comes to
21st century, the leaders should be more creative in order to bring the better solution for such
problems. Even a strong determination also drive towards the success and be able to get the
things done in order to attain the vision for a business. For example, Steve Jobs who is one of the
well known leader and a founder of Apple Plc who always expected to find the best and efficient
or convenient way to communicate.
On the other side, Goleman, (2015) states that a business will not be successful without
relationship and trust, therefore the another ability which the leaders should posses is the ability
to maintain continue relationship with their team members, customers and other stakeholders as
well. Author also states that there are few attributes which need to be fulfilled by the person in
order to trust such as respect, openness, supportiveness and courage etc. It has been analyzed that
a good leader in 21st century should be innovative enough in order to capture the market
opportunities and innovation should also be integrated in to a business strategy by the leaders
only. Having a strategic perspective will also help the leader to grow their business and take it
into further level of success. It is so because the best leaders have a long term vision which is
shared with others and their leading efforts also make the vision reality which is further
identified as a success of a leadership.
In addition to this, Mumford and et.al., (2015) states that a good leader also maintain
positive business environment such that they should maintain the personal contacts with their
employees and also hear the problems and solve them. They also listen to the point of view of
the employees and in the case of disagreement induce, then the leader should provide them
proper or suitable clarification. It is also analyzed that an efficient work environment also helps
in sound and stable growth of a business. Therefore, human relationship should be properly
maintained and they should treat their employees on humanitarian terms. Thus, these
competencies helps a person to become one of the most effective leader in 21st century and
further helps to lead a business at further level of success as well. For example – Steve Jobs in
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used in innovative thinking and invemnted iPod and I phone. I phone is currently one of the most
popular consumer product and a proof of Steve Jobs' effective leadership and brilliance.
Theme 3: To determine how leadership helps in the strategic development of an organization
As per the view of Groves, (2015) without leadership, all the business elements are lie
inactive. Only strong leaders are can help an organization to maximize the productivity and assist
to achieve the goals as well. Therefore, by possessing the great leadership skills, leaders of the
company are provide guidance and they should be able to provide meaningful guidance and
advice for the employees. For instance, in TESCO which is one of the leading company in retail
sector where leaders are able to show the employees how to perform their job task In more
efficient way and effectively. Even they are also able to provide the support to their employees
when they need to grow or develop. Moreover, the good leaders also motivate their employees to
work hard and also meet the organizational needs, thus it helps to the growth and development of
a business. It has been critically evaluated that some leaders may inspire the employees to work
hard while on the other side, some cause employees to fear the consequences of not working
hard. But these both methods are work to drive motivation and lead a business towards success
as well.
In addition to this, as per the view of Clapp-Smith and et.al., (2019) for the growth and
development of a business, it is quite necessary for the employees to have good working skills
and efficiency and for the same reason, the good leaders also drive employee productivity by
building the confidence in their employees or creating the positive environment that helps to
leads productivity as well. While on the other side, if the employees feel stressed or distracted, it
directly affect the working culture and performance of a business. At that time, the managers
build morale, that help to improve the retention, raise the employee satisfaction and also
favorably impact the business in positive way as well. Apart from this, Sousa and Rocha (2019)
critically evaluated that leadership not only plays an important in the big firms but it also help for
the growth and development of small business as well. One of the skill is learning skill, that
assist small business owners and entrepreneurs to learn from others, as it creates the new pattern
of thinking such that they not only learn from their own mistakes but also learn from other
business owners or companies. This is all because of having good learning skills and leaders
always or constantly learning and keep developing their skills so that they can help a business for
its growth and development.
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According to the Yukl and Yukl (2015) the high performance of the people in an
organization is the focal point that helps to achieve the success. Therefore, this high performance
can be secured only if the leaders of a firm have effective leadership qualities. Apart from this,
the growth and strategic development of the company is also depends upon how the leaders
communicate the policies and plans to the people of a firm. As they all are bound with all values
and cultures of an organization, further the commitment and enthusiasm of the leaders also shape
the common goals of a firm and they provide inspiration and motivation for the people in order
to perform at high level or to help a business to achieve the goals as well. Therefore, through an
effective leadership skills such as innovative skills, strong vision and confidence provides a way
to the employees in order to lead a business towards success and helps in development as well.
CONCLUSION
By summing up above report it has been concluded that leadership plays an effective role
in the success of a business. Such that having a good leadership skills creates a positive impact
upon the business environment and through the present report, it has been concluded that the
leaders in 21st century are more innovative as compared to others leader and having a strong
leadership skills also help them to run a business and provide a growth opportunities for the
development as well.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Clapp-Smith, R. and et.al., 2019. Promoting Identity Development in Leadership Education: A
Multidomain Approach to Developing the Whole Leader. Journal of Management
Education.43(1). pp.10-34.
Finkelstein, S., Hambrick, D. and Cannella, A. A., 2016. Strategic leadership. St. Paul: West
Educational Publishing.
Goleman, D., 2015. What makes a leader. Organizational influence processes. 82. pp.229-241.
Groves, K. S., 2015. Linking leader skills, follower attitudes, and contextual variables via an
integrated model of charismatic leadership. Journal of Management. 31(2). pp.255-277.
Hughes, R. L., 2019. Leadership: Enhancing the lessons of experience. Richard D. Irwin, Inc.,
1333 Burridge Parkway, Burridge, IL 60521.
Mumford, M. D. and et.al., 2015. Leadership skills for a changing world: Solving complex social
problems. The Leadership Quarterly.11(1). pp.11-35.
Mumford, M. D. and et.al., 2018. Leadership skills: Conclusions and future directions. The
Leadership Quarterly.11(1). pp.155-170.
Schein, E. H., 2018. Organizational culture and leadership(Vol. 2). John Wiley & Sons.
Sousa, M. J. and Rocha, Á., 2019. Leadership styles and skills developed through game-based
learning. Journal of Business Research. 94. pp.360-366.
Stogdill, R. M., 2014. Handbook of leadership: A survey of theory and research. Free Press.
Yukl, G. A. and Yukl, G., 2015. Leadership in organizations.
Yukl, G. A., 2018. Leadership in organizations. Pearson Education India.
Online
Importance of leadership in business. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.hrpayrollsystems.net/importance-of-leadership-in-business/>.
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