Leadership Style and Motivational Theories

This assignment report discusses the influence of leadership style on individual behavior, highlighting various approaches such as autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. It also delves into motivational theories like Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, demonstrating how these concepts aid in making employees more efficient and productive.

MANAGING PEOPLE IN
ORGANISATION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report define the manner in which human resource of a company is managed and controlled
in a structured and through manner. There are different style of leadership that can be undertake
by business entity to have adequate control and influence on their followers. Apart from this,
there are other motivational theories as well such as Maslow, Two-factor theory that assist in
motivating workers so that they can perform more effectively and efficiently towards achieving
organizational goals and objectives. The given report also discusses how motivation and
leadership style is inter-linked with each other and various factors that influence effectiveness of
team and its members.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE...................................................................................................2
1.1 Different style of leadership ............................................................................................2
1.2 Application of specific leadership style ..........................................................................2
1.3 Leadership style of the company......................................................................................3
1.4 Motivational theories .......................................................................................................3
1.5 Role of leadership in motivation .....................................................................................4
1.6 Factors influencing effective team work .........................................................................5
1.7 Relationship between motivation and effective team work ...........................................5
REASERACH METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................6
2.1 Source of data collection .................................................................................................6
2.2 Data analysis techniques ..................................................................................................6
FINDING AND DISCUSSUION....................................................................................................6
3.1 Relationship between leadership style and employee motivation ...................................6
3.2 Relationship between leadership style and individual behaviour at work.......................7
3.3 Elements influencing effective team within the company...............................................7
3.4 Relationship between motivation and team work ...........................................................8
RECOMMENDATION ..................................................................................................................8
4.1 Recommendation for the company...................................................................................8
4.2 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES....................................................................................................................10
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INTRODUCTION
ASDA is a UK-based leading supermarket chain located in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The
company was founded in the year 1965 and it is a subsidiary group of Walmart (Basu,2014). As
of 31 January 2018, ASDA is performing its operation over 642 location. They generally deal in
selling general merchandise, grocery products and financial services.
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE
1.1 Different style of leadership
Leadership style refers to the way in which person uses power to lead other people. The most
appropriate and suitable style of leadership grounds on the function of leader, the followers and
the situation. Some of the common style of leadership are discussed below:
 Autocratic Leadership: This style of leadership is centered on the boss. Under this,
leader holds all responsibility and authority. In-fact they make decision on their own
without taking consent of sub-ordinates. No one has the authority to challenge decision
taken by leader. Under this, work environment is having either little or no flexibility.
 Democratic Leadership: Under this style of leadership, leaders involve their sub-
ordinates in decision making process so as to make them feel valued and important. It is
one of the most used leadership style as it entails creativity, honesty, fairness,
competence and courage. Along with this, it also boost morale of employee and retain
them longer with the company.
 Laissez Faire Leadership: Under this leadership style, leader gives authority to workers.
Sub-ordinates are allowed to take decision on their own and moreover they prefer to work
with minimal interference of leaders (Bush,and Middlewood,2013). This style rarely
taken into account by company as it tend to be least satisfying and least effective
management style.
1.2 Application of specific leadership style
Organizations prefer to use Democratic style of leadership which is also known as
Participative style of leadership as well. Under this, leaders valued the work done by their
followers by appraising them for their effective performance and also involve them in decision
making process which ultimately makes them feel essential part of the company. In addition to
that, it also aid in motivating employees as it cause them to feel as if their suggestion or opinion
matter. It is highly suitable when firm wants to embed change within the business as it assist
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employees to accept change in a viable manner. Also, engaging employees will empower leader
to keep up effective procedure that fit the business well (Coventry,and et.al., 2011). Participative
leader guarantee that team members work collectively with other personnel so they are
appropriate to work in vast professional workplaces in which co-activity and communication are
essential.
1.3 Leadership style of the company
Since ASDA is a people centered organisation, they are following participative style of
leadership as it promote interest and welfare of employees. This leadership style gives equal and
fair opportunity to workers to grow and develop both personally and professionally. The
company want to in-built such leadership style that become ingrained in their culture and
working environment and also ensures that leadership behaviour makes huge difference to
performance. As it is a people focused association which means that keep personnel at the heart
of their business. Therefore it is primarily important for them to make their workers feel valued
and important by engaging them in decision making process. Further it also motivates them and
promote healthy and positive working environment. In today's competitive environment, it is
necessary for every company to attain high competitive edge in the market over their rivals and
this can only become possible if the company is having unique and innovative way to beat
market competition. As democratic style of leadership promotes creativity which help ASDA in
gaining high level of competitiveness in the marketplace. Employees under democratic
leadership are found to be more strong and supportive. Under this style, personnel become loyal
towards the firm and more team working is done because suggestion of everyone are taken into
account. Participative leaders are usually popular within the company.
1.4 Motivational theories
Maslow's Hierarchical Needs of Theory: The theory was proposed by Abraham Maslow in
1943. The theory is based on the assumption that within each individual, there is a hierarchy of
five needs which they wishes to fulfil (Drucker,2012). Urgency of these needs varies from one
another. Following are the five needs that are discussed below:
 Physiological Needs: These are the basic needs of an individual which is important to be
fulfilled for their survival such as clothing, food, water, air etc.
 Safety Needs: It includes environmental, emotional and physical protection and safety.
For example: Job security, family security, financial security etc.
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 Social Needs: Maslow believes that individuals needs to feel sense of acceptance and
belongingness among social groups. It describe the need of person for love, care,
affection, friendship etc.
 Esteem Needs: It define the need for getting respect, recognition and importance from
others. This need is mainly related with self-respect and self-esteem (Edmonds, 2011)
 Self-Actualization Needs: This deal with “What an individual can be, he must be”. It
include the need for self contentment and growth.
Two-Factor Motivational Theory: This theory was developed by Frederick Herzberg in the
year 1959. According to him, various job factors exist in workplace that either prevent
satisfaction or dissatisfaction among employees. Job Factors can be classified as:
1. Hygiene Factors: These job factors play crucial role in motivating employees at
workplace. Therefore, existence of these job factors are very essential for encouraging
workers. However these factors do not provide satisfaction for longer period but absent or
lack of any of these factors can cause dissatisfaction among personnel. For example:
Working condition, company policies, status, payroll, interpersonal relation etc.
2. Motivational Factors: These job factors yield positive satisfaction and are inherent to
work. Such factors play key role in motivating employees and retain them for longer
period in the company. They provide long term satisfaction to employees. It includes
sense of achievement, recognition, growth and promotional opportunities etc.
1.5 Role of leadership in motivation
Every business require effective leadership as it affect behaviour of employee in the
company. Thus, it can be said that effective leadership results in motivating employees so that
they can incredibly hard towards achieving organizational goals and objectives. Successful
managers can also be termed as successful leaders as they assist their followers in accomplishing
defined target within given time-frame. However, attaining business goals is not sufficient
enough to keep workers motivated but its also aid in fulfilling their own both personal and
professional goals (Fisher, 2011). Thus, it can be said that motivation and leadership are
interactive. In simple words, Leadership can be defined as the ability of leader in terms of
motivating their followers towards collective vision or goals. The more motivated the followers,
more effective the leadership. Strong relationship exist between leader's behaviour and
performance of followers. The main role of leader in any company is to encourage people and
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motivate them so as to bring best out of them. Thus, it can state that for leadership play crucial
in boosting employee morale.
1.6 Factors influencing effective team work
There are various factors that poses an impact on effective team work such as
communication, clear roles and responsibilities, healthy working environment etc. Some of the
common factors used by ASDA is discussed below:
Communication is Key: In any organisation, communication generally takes place on two level
namely communication between management and team and communication between team
members (Hotho,and Champion, 2011). ASDA is promoting open communication among their
workers so that they can effectively share or transfer any information or data without misleading.
Also their managers are conducting meeting on frequent basis which provide the chance to
communicate often with other team members. In addition to that, it also help in building strong
relationship between employee and company.
Encourage Positive Attitude: For working collectively, it is essential for team and its members
to have positive attitude towards the firm and sub-ordinates. Lack of interaction within team
members affect negatively on overall performance of team members. Therefore, in order to avoid
such situation ASDA is holding casual meeting such as lunch meeting or after-hour dinner on
frequent basis. This enable them to share their experience with each other and as a result, strong
relationship builds among them.
Deal with Conflict: If any conflict arise among the employees of ASDA, they are require to
solve them on their own level without taking it to higher authority or management. This builds
strong leadership among them and rapidly increase their morale.
1.7 Relationship between motivation and effective team work
Relationship between motivation and effective team work is directly proportional to one
another. If employees are motivated they contribute significantly towards achieving
organizational objectives and goals in structured and through manner. Lack of motivation
negatively impact the performance of workers. It has been believed that motivated personnel
yields higher profitability ratio for the company (Kitada, and Ölçer, 2015) ASDA is inspiring
their team members by involving them in decision making process which makes them feel
important and valued. In addition to that, they motivate team members by providing attractive
pay roll, healthy working environment and various other benefit that encourage them to work
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incredibly hard towards achieving ASDA's goals and objectives in an effective and efficient
manner (Low, And et.al. 2013). The working culture of respective association is healthy and
positive which becomes another reason for completing pre-defined within defined time period.
REASERACH METHODOLOGY
2.1 Source of data collection
Data used in this report is collected from secondary sources which has already been collected by
someone other than the user. For this report, data is gathered through internet, journals, research
paper and media.
2.2 Data analysis techniques
In the given report, technique used for data analysis is Descriptive Statistics that mainly define
all basic feature of the data used in this report.
FINDING AND DISCUSSUION
3.1 Relationship between leadership style and employee motivation
It is important for every organisation to chose that leadership style that fits them best.
Motivation and leadership are synonymous to each other. Effective leaders have the capability or
potential to encourage employees in a company and in turn enhance overall productivity and
performance of workers. The role of leaders is to create passion among personnel which enables
them to find out sense and meaning in performing different roles. Both inspiration and passion
are considered key ingredients of motivation. ASDA is following participative style of leadership
which means they are providing ample opportunity to its workers to grow & develop both
personally and professionally. Under this style of leadership, respective firm is involving their
team members in decision making process and also value their work which makes them feel
encouraged and motivated. Growth and motivation of employees is directly related with
leadership style (French, 2016). When ASDA's leaders value the work done by their employees,
it results in raising their morale and makes them more productive. However the impact of
motivation through any leadership style is entirely different. For example: People under
Autocratic leader are less motivated as compared to employees under Participative Leader.
Therefore, it is necessary for every association to select leadership style in which all activities
and operation of business fits well. Participative Leadership style is the most commonly used
style of leadership in any organisation.
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3.2 Relationship between leadership style and individual behaviour at work
It has been figure out that ASDA is practising participative style of leadership which
means they are providing equal and fair opportunities to all its workforce to grow and develop
effectively. The behaviour of team member or follower depend upon the leadership style selected
by its leader (Stark, 2015). Thus, it is chiefly important for every association to select that
leadership style through which they can influence their followers in an appropriate manner. The
role of participative leader is to actively involve their followers in decision making process so as
to make them feel valued and crucial part of the company. Since, the company is people centered
they emphasize more on providing such services to its employees that makes them feel motivated
and loyal towards the company. In addition to that, this leadership style inspire worker to work
incredible hard toward accomplishing pre-defined goals and objectives within given time period.
Leaders of ASDA provide vast opportunity to its followers in terms of both personal and
professional growth and development.
3.3 Elements influencing effective team within the company
To construct an effective team, a leader needs to set up healthy working environment in
which each team member can think about and examine its relationship with other colleagues or
team members. The role of leader is to encourage the resolution of any conflict mainly through
promoting healthy working environment, encourage open negotiation etc. In short, effective
leaders are supporters of the group; they empower and reinforce individuals who are conferred
and effectively included with their groups and draw in those individuals who aren't taking an
interest.
Communication: Successful communication that prompts effective collaboration starts with a
company-wide ability to share and tune in. At the point when representatives feel that their
conclusions are esteemed, they're probably going to add to collaborations where their one of a
kind viewpoints have any kind of effect (Stone, and Stone, 2013). Tuning in and regard ought to
be esteemed at all levels in your association, beginning with top administration and venturing
into the way every office is run
Cleared goals and objectives: At the point when everybody on a group recognizes what they're
attempting to accomplish, it's substantially simpler to get in agreement to accomplish it.
Conveying destinations begins with ensuring that everybody included completely comprehends
the organization's general mission, regardless of whether it's decreasing enduring, enhancing the
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earth, or profiting as would be prudent. Expanding on this establishment, your colleagues should
then be advised on here and now objectives, for example, accomplishing certain business figures
or getting an item to showcase in a particular measure of time (Taylor, Doherty,and McGraw,
2015) These objectives ought to next be separated into points of reference, or ventures to be
accomplished en route as the collaboration continues toward its useful goals.
3.4 Relationship between motivation and team work
It has been observed that motivation is directly linked with employee performance.
Motivated personnel perform more effectively towards completing assigned task within the
given time frame. In ASDA, employees are highly motivated as their leaders value employee's
work and appraise them for the same. Leaders involve their followers in process of decision
making which enables them to think that they are considered as crucial part of the company. This
is the only reason why their workers are highly motivated and contributes significantly towards
achieving business goals and objectives. In addition to that, chances of yielding higher
profitability increases when employees are motivated and dedicated towards their task. In fact it
also promote healthy working environment and improve the overall efficiency of personnel as
well(Hotho, 2011). When individuals work in a team chances of completing the task within
stipulated time frame also increases and as a result, individual automatically becomes motivated
and chances of raising higher profits increase.
RECOMMENDATION
4.1 Recommendation for the company
From the above gathered information, it can be clearly interpreted that ASDA is
excessively depending upon its workers for higher profitability ratio. They involve employee in
every single matter which sometime is not good as there are certain things that needs to hide
from employees. Moreover depending vastly on followers can sometime create problem for
leader. Therefore, it is recommended to choose situational style of leadership and carry out all
business activities and operation accordingly. Moreover with this style of leadership, ASDA can
adapt leadership style as per the prevailing situation in the company(Fisher, 2011). For example:
When change is embedded by its leaders they can select participative style of leadership where
participation of workers help in achieving business goals and objectives in an effective manner.
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4.2 Conclusion
According to the above mentioned report it can be concluded that leadership style
directly influence the behaviour of an individual. Different style of leadership are there but firm
need to select most appropriate form of leadership which that fits them best in all possible
manner. Along with above report also discussed various motivational theories that aid in making
them more efficient and productive.
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