Leadership and Management: Factors, Skills, and Theories Report

This report delves into the critical concepts of leadership and management, using Amazon as a case study. It identifies essential factors for successful leadership, such as establishing trust, focusing on outcomes, and promoting innovation. The report explores how good leadership is developed, emphasizing communication, training, and conflict resolution. Furthermore, it distinguishes between management and leadership and examines various leadership theories like the Big Five personality traits, situational approach, transformational leadership, Lewin's leadership styles and the three skill model. Through these analyses, the report provides a comprehensive understanding of effective leadership practices and their impact on organizational goals and objectives. The report also includes a reflection on personal leadership experiences.

LEADERSHIP AND
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK1.............................................................................................................................................3
1. Factors essential for being a successful leader........................................................................3
2. How good leadership is developed.........................................................................................6
3. Distinguish between management and leadership................................................................10
4. Own experience and reflection..............................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Leadership and management are the two separate terms which are very essential for the
business organisation. It is crucial to understand that leadership is the important element of
effective management. Leadership is a quality of influencing people so that objectives are
accomplished willingly and enthusiastically (Bolman and Deal, 2017). Organisation undertaken
in this report is Amazon which was founded in 1994 and deals in e commerce and cloud
computing. This report will explain the factors which are involved in becoming the successful
leader. It will also examine that if good leadership is developed than how it will be developed. It
will also elaborate that leadership and management are two different terms and this is explained
by determining key differences between the two. Later part of the report emphasis on own
experience about leadership.
TASK1
1. Factors essential for being a successful leader.
Leadership is the art of motivating and influencing people to act towards the common
objective of attaining organisational goals and objectives. In Amazon, leadership is connected to
performance and effective leader is accountable for establishing a clear vision, sharing the vision
with others so that they will follow willingly, also useful in providing information and
knowledge (Cherry and Jacob, 2016). For being effective and successful leader in a company, it
is important that leader must poses the certain factors or qualities which will influence other
people and they are discussed below :
 Establishes trust and demonstrate integrity : Effective and successful leader in
Amazon will show authenticity and honestly in behaviour. They will speak with
reference to relevant evidences and experiences rather than opinions.
 Focus on outcomes : Leader will track advancement towards objectives and hold others
accountable for their results. By using systematic process they will learn and share
success and failure.
 Promotes innovation : Effective leader will seek, motivate, inspire and take actions on
new ideas and approaches (Doh and Quigley, 2014). They also seek out new ideas and
better information.

 Communication skills : An effective leadership proposes the strong communication
skills in the leader because leader will act as link between top management and lower
level management in communicating the problems of supervisory people to the
management so that effective solutions can be taken and communicating the
managements mission and vision to the people so that they work in accordance with it
and fulfils the goals and objectives of the company. Thus, contributing in developing
effective leadership.
Apart from various traits, qualities, skills which leader will poses for being successful,
they will also use various theories which will help them in becoming an effective leader and will
be able to influence people for attainment of organisational goals and objectives.
Big five personality trait theory
Personality is a casual conception to appreciate and it embraces all the traits,
characteristics and unfamiliarity that set people separate from everyone (Gamble and Thompson,
2014). This theory is also known as five factor model and describes the personality and trait of
people. This theory consist of five dimensions and they are discussed below :
 Openness : In this, people who like to learn new things and enjoy new experiences scores
high in openness. It includes traits like being insightful and imaginative by having a wide
variety of interest. On the other side, people who are low in openness tends to be more
straightforward and prefers familiarity rather than novelty.
 Conscientiousness : It is a trait that can be described as the tendency to control impulse
and act in socially acceptable ways. People who are high in this score, they are self
disciplined, dutiful and prefers planned behaviour. And those, who lack this are referred
to the opposite behaviour.
 Extraversion : This is concerned where an individual draws their energy and how they
interact with each other. In this, extroverts develops energy or refreshed themselves
through interactions with others whereas introverts get tired from interacting and utilising
their energy.
 Agreeable : This determines how well people behave with others and is concerned with
orientation with others. People with high score on this are tend to be trustworthy, helpful,
kind, generous and those who score low on this are unfriendly.

 Neuroticism : In this positive factor indicates high negative factors like anger,
depression, anxiety, etc. And people with low score are generally poses positive traits like
calm, stable, free from negative thoughts.
Strength Weakness
In this aggregate data is visually presented
which helps in analysing the personality of the
person by combining different situations.
Lack of accuracy to predict all the behaviours
because human behaviour is not about a
personality but consist of combinations of
behaviours.
Situational approach
This approach was developed by Hersey and Blanchard which will be used by leader of
Amazon because it is a promising tool in analysing leadership skills. This approach determines
the directive and a supportive dimensions of leaderships. This takes a primary consideration of
the various situations involved in a specific group of people and environment. It specifically
looks at two factors that is leadership styles and development levels of employees. It is a set of
values and attitudes within an individual or group which has to deal with process of activity and
with this regard, planned and results are appreciated. It influences restriction that leader must
adopt different leadership styles in various situations (Goetsch and Davis, 2014). This approach
has been refined and revised many times since its origination and it has been used extensively in
organisational leadership and training and development.
Strength Weakness
When workers are given orders to work for
attainment of objectives, it is effective in
emergencies and doing repetitive task.
As a model, may not be appropriate to feel
intuitive to task oriented or heavily controlled
managers.
Transformational leadership
This is a new approach to leadership which focuses on how leaders of Amazon can
develop worthy and favourable change in their followers. It creates high performance manpower
who have increasingly become important and to do so business leaders must be able to inspire
organisational members to go beyond the requirements of their task (Hallinger and Wang, 2015).

Transformational leaders exhibit the functions of inspirational motivation, intellectual
stimulation, idealises influence and individualised consideration. The followers of such leaders
exhibits high level of job satisfaction and organisational commitment and engages in
organisational citizenship behaviour.
Strength Weakness
It enables rapid formulation of vision and
promotes exuberance. It minimises turnover
cost and leaders are able to create and manage
change.
This theory is very difficult to trains because
its a combination of various theories. Also
followers might be manipulated by leaders
which will demotivate them to work.
2. How good leadership is developed.
Yes, good, effective and successful can be developed which will led the company in
accomplishing organisational goals and objectives effectively and efficiently (Ljungholm,
2014). In Amazon, leader can develop good leadership by various ways and they are discussed
below :
 Be an inspiration : Being a good leadership depends on how to get things done. And
effective leader will be able to motivate and inspire others and urges them to give their
best in the worst situations. For this, leader will train itself to become better everyday and
makes sure that they learn and grow as the organisation grows.
 Communicate : It is very important in every business organisation. Leader of Amazon
will develop effective communication skills so that they can make people clear with the
mission and vision of the company which will help organisation to work in accordance
with it (McCaffery, 2018). It will also act as link between management and employees to
communicate workers problems to the management so that effective solutions can be
taken and thus, minimises the chances of conflicts.
 Training and development : Every leader is accountable to analyse the need of training
and guidance and provide the same to the people. It is required for the development of the
people. This will be useful in effectively accomplishing the objectives and workers will
work with full zeal and confidence.

 Resolve conflicts : Effective leadership will be useful in identifying the cause of the
conflict which will help them in developing the solution such that it will give advantage
to the conflicting parties without hurting the sentiments of any one (Molchanov, 2016).
Apart from this, by adopting various theories in practising leadership in Amazon,
effective leadership will be developed such as :
Three skill model
It is a leadership skill model developed by Robert Katz which divides the model into
three skills which are discussed below :
 Technical skills : It is a knowledge and proficiency about a specific type of work or
activity. This includes competencies in a specialized area, analytical ability and the
potential to use the suitable tools and techniques. These skills are required at all the levels
of the management in an Amazon. For instance, Amazon is a computer based company
so technical skill will be low in top management, medium in middle level management
and low at supervisory level.
 Human skills : They are the abilities of the leader to work effectively with the employees
and sub ordinates. This enables leaders to assist group members in working cooperatively
as a group to accomplish common goal. It also creates an environment of trust where
employees will fell comfortable (Noe and et. al., 2017). These skills are also required at
various levels in an Amazon and it will be high in top level management, high in middle
level management and low in lower level.
 Conceptual skills : At this stage, leader goes higher in the organisation and provides
strategic direction, creates the vision and motivate the folks to devotedly pursue the
organisational goals and objectives. It is least important for supervisory level, most
important to the top management and less important to the middle management.
Strength Weakness

It provides competency based toolkit to
organisation to recruit, train and grow leaders
in the organisation. Apart from this, it also
makes it easy to select a leader by getting
products of each potential leaders in important
areas.
It focuses on identifying skills rather than
clarifying the essentialness of influencing
leadership processes. This lacks the
explanation of importance of these skills that
affect leadership.
Source : Katz’s Three-Skill Approach. 2018
Lewin leadership style
This is the oldest situational model developed by Kurt Lewin. It identified behaviour
styles among leaders by dividing the model into three styles of leadership which leader of
Amazon will adopt depending upon the various situations. The following are the styles discussed
below :
 Democratic style : In this, leader involves people in decision making but the power of
taking final decision is help with leader only. In this, leader takes suggestions, ideas,
advices from the sub ordinates (Pihlainen and et. al.,2016). This makes them feel
attentive and produces more creative solutions. It does not work in case where quick
decisions are required.
I
llustration 1: Katz’s Three-Skill Approach. 2018

 Autocratic style : In this, decision taking power and ability is help with leader and they
do not discuss or share anything with the subordinates. They directly inform people about
their decision and expects people to work according to that. This is appropriate in case
when quick decisions are needed to be taken with less time.
 Laissez faire : In this methods, leader leaves the power of decision making and using
various methods to the group of people only and they are only responsible for taking
actions in a company. In this, leader has the full trust on their team and leaves them on
their own way of performing the task. But leader is always available whenever the team
needs.
Strength Weakness
These styles are very effective in practising
leadership. Democratic style helps in making
people feel attentive and motivated which
produces better results.
Practising authoritarian style in every situation
will make people unwilling to do the work.
This can create high labour turnover rate and
also affects the accomplishment of goals.
Path goal theory
This theory was developed by Robert House and it is supported on the assumption that an
employees conceptualization of anticipation between their attempts and performance is largely
affected by leaders action (Răducan and Răducan, 2014). It helps group members in fulfilling
rewards by clarifying the paths for the goals and eliminating obstruction to the difficulties. In
this, leader of Amazon will follow four styles of leadership and they are :
 Directive: In this, leader furnishes the guidelines to the subordinates which makes them
clear about the work they have to perform. They also set the standards of performance
and monitors and controls them if they are not met. And it is regarded as task oriented.
 Supportive : In this leader maintain an informal relation with their subordinates. This is
regarded as people oriented styles because leader is friendly towards their employees and
reveals personal concern for needs, welfare and well health.
 Participative : In this leaders believes in involvement and engagement of employees for
sharing information, taking part in decision making (Renz, 2016).

 Achievement oriented : In this, leaders sets the challenging goals for the employees and
motivates them to work with full potential to reach at the highest level in the
performance.
Strength Weakness
The ideas of this theory are easy to understand
and it is flexible. It is suitable for situations
where something is to be done instantly and
urgently.
This assumes that group members are not
aware about what is advantageous for them and
regarded as undemocratic. Also if leader has
any fault then the whole team will be lead to
the failure.
3. Distinguish between management and leadership.
Management is an individual person or group which accepts the roles and responsibilities
to run an organisation effectively and efficiently. Good management is the backbone of
successful organisation (Swanwick and McKimm, 2017). So management is the set of principles
which is related to the function of planning, organising, directing and controlling. In other
words, it is the act of knowing what to do, when to do and how to do so that organisational goals
are accomplished effectively and efficiently.
Leadership is the process or act performed by leader for influencing people to work for
the attainment of business objectives. It deals with human psychology and expert tactics. It
stresses on developing leadership skills and abilities that are relevant across the organisation.
Effective and efficient leadership helps in developing individuals and contributes in
accomplishing organisational goal and objectives.
Difference between management and leadership
Basis Management Leadership
Meaning It is the action of work done
which systematically
organises, coordinates things
in an efficient way.
It is the skill of influencing
people in an organisation to
attain goals and objectives.
Focus It focus is on managing work. It emphasis on inspiring and

managing people.
Formulation It formulates procedures and
programmes.
This formulates principles and
guidelines.
Approach It is reactive in nature. This is proactive.
For instance, in an Amazon while introducing new innovative product, the role and
responsibility of management will be to decide the rules and procedures for developing
innovative product. Management will plan the activities which will be required for effectively
developing the product. This will also establish control and monitors that activities are going as
per the plan and deviations are corrected. In this, leadership will provide training and guidance to
the people regarding the plans set by the management of the Amazon. This will help people in
knowing what has to be done and how work has to be done (Thorpe, 2016).
4. Own experience and reflection.
Earlier I used to think that leadership is one of the important function in the management
of activities. But through this report, I came to know the importance of leadership. I have also
understood that leadership and management are two different terms and both have separate set of
roles and responsibilities. By learning various types of leadership styles, I came to know that if
organisation wants to be successful then leader must follow different types of styles depending
upon various situations and not only single style. This will be useful in attainment of
organisational goals and objectives. Through this report, I have understood that leadership is
very crucial in the organisation because :
 It influences the behaviour of other people to accomplishing the common goal in an
organisation.
 It is an inter personal process between leaders and followers and relationship between
them decides that objectives will be effectively and efficiently achieved or not.
 It is a continuous process and leader trains their employees every time. They also monitor
their activities to confirm that they are working as per the plans and helps in eliminating
the deviations.
 Every leadership style is bound to some or the other situations.