Leadership and Management: An Analysis of Kouzes and Posner's Model

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of leadership, emphasizing its crucial role in organizational success. It delves into the concepts of leadership versus management, highlighting their distinct yet interconnected functions. The core of the essay centers on the Kouzes and Posner model, a framework developed after extensive research, outlining five key practices of exemplary leadership: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart. The paper discusses the practical applications of the model, while also addressing potential challenges leaders may encounter when implementing these practices, such as adjusting to their role, communication gaps, and micro-managing. The essay concludes by reiterating the significance of leadership in fostering a productive and positive work environment, emphasizing the importance of leaders in binding employees and driving organizational growth.

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Executive summary
The paper is an elaborate study of leadership. Leadership has various roles depending
on the area of working. Leadership has numerous dimensions. The paper has been developed
based on the research of Kouzes and Posner on leadership. They have developed a leadership
model understanding the importance and nature of leadership. The paper has been intended to
provide the need and significance of leadership in an organization. Kouzes and Posnerhas
develop the model after twenty years of research on leadership. the model has been made
considering the examples of the great leaders who have brought a change.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Leadership and management..................................................................................................3
Significance of leadership......................................................................................................4
Kouzes and Posner Model..........................................................................................................4
The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership............................................................................5
Model the Way.......................................................................................................................5
Inspire a Shared Vision..........................................................................................................6
Challenge the Process............................................................................................................6
Enabling Others to Act...........................................................................................................6
Encourage the Heart...............................................................................................................7
Challenges Kouzes and Posner Model.......................................................................................7
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8
Reference list............................................................................................................................10
Bibliography.............................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
Leadership is the encompassing ability of an individual or an organization with
research and practical skills. Leadership is the ability that helps in the development of the
organization and an individual. In an organization, leadership is very crucial for the proper
handling of the operation and handling the policies of the organization. A matter of
discipline, intelligence, trustworthiness that followers develop on a particular person or
organization (Herman, Gish, Rosenblum & Herman, 2017). Theories and models have been
developed by various leaders to help in the understanding of leadership and use it
appropriately for better execution of the work.
There was a notable version of the leadership model that has been developed in The
Leadership Challenge, 1987 by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. It has been developed for
leaders such as CEOs for the effective management of an organization. A leader can be
anyone who has inspired someone in developing and succussing. Kouzes and Posner have
developed this model by studying various leadership characters and understanding the nature
of leadership (Kouzes & Posner, 2016). The paper is intended to make an elaborate
description of leadership and its importance. The paper also explains leadership along with
several examples that will help in the development of practicing leadership.
Leadership and management
Management is the process that helps in the proper working of the organization functioning
such as budgeting, planning, resourcing, performance management and allocating jobs or
roles. Whereas leadership is a different perspective. The person who looks after the
management of the organization is the leader. It is the duty of the leader in the management
of communication with the employees and their followers. Leaders help in the motivation and
inspiration of the employees (Lamb, Misener, Lukosius & Latimer, 2018). However, both

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leadership and management are crucial for the organization. It helps in managing and leading
the organization for establishing a successful organization.
Significance of leadership
Leadership is an important aspect in the quality production of the organization. It helps in
developing a relationship between the organization and the employees (Posner, 2018). The
leader ensures a increase in performance form the team, fostering commitment as well as
loyalty, effective in meeting especially in works that are related to the job of the organization,
increase in the degree of credibility and increasing the motivational level of the employees.
The leaders act as an important part of the organization. They help in binding the
organization and ensure quality production from the employees.
Kouzes and Posner Model
Kouzes and Posner have created a leadership model not based on idea or observation
but had researched for 20 years to find out the aspect that can improve leadership. Leadership
is a topic of interest for historians and philosophers for a long time. In the words of
historians, leadership can be of three types. The first stage is the identification of traits of a
leader. Secondly, focusing on leadership behavior and finally, the third stage focuses on the
relationship between the situation a leader faces and leadership style and the way the ;eader
develops a relationship with his employees (Caza & Posner, 2019). However, inconsistent
findings and methodological problems can be a result of the dissatisfactory behavior, trait,
and contingency on the leadership method, which can have a shift in leadership research.
Leadership theories have changed in the past few decades. A practice that helps in the
development of the followers without any sort of pressure created over them. Leadership in
the past was being strict over the employees or followers. Kouzes and Posner have pointed
out the changes that can be brought in the followers with the changes in the style of
leadership.

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The paper is a study of leadership that has been created under a keen observation by Kouzes
and Posner (Hairon & Goh, 2015). The Kouzes and Posner model of leadership operates on
the construct of leadership. As mentioned above, Kouzes and Posner had researched for
almost twenty years and had observed the great leaders find out the traits and behaviors of a
great leader. Finally, after twenty years of hard work the two friends found out the ways of
being established leaders. The model serves guidance for the leaders for accomplishing the
achievements and establish extraordinary leadership qualities. The practice of Kouzes and
Posner's model helps in leadership transformational (Edie, Marshall, Winters & Mariani,
2016). For the development of the leadership there has been an intensive research done on the
current leadership practice that helped in the understanding of the highly effective in
leadership practice.
The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership
Kouzes and Posner have developed five practices of exemplary leadership. The five practices
have been developed based on the researches done on personal experiences of people about
excellent leadership. Hence, Kouzes and Posner says that good leadership is an
understandable and universal process (Cheung, Reinhardt, Stone & Little, 2018). These five
practices are an important aspect of Kouzes and Posner's model of leadership.
Model the Way
Modern-day leadership is completely different from that of the past. In this model,
the researcher wants to portray that the leader must establish an example. In spite of
following the traditional way of leadership find a way that can help in the rise of the
employees or the followers, establishing a healthy relationship with the followers is setting up
examples (Díaz, 2018). The leader must consider himself self-sufficient in taking the decision
and acting accordingly instead of being under-confident. The leader must also ensure to stand

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up with the employees or the followers in their decision and guide them for better
achievements and working.
Inspire a Shared Vision
For establishing a successful organization, the organization must develop a mission and a
vision. The employees or followers must have well knowledge about the vision of the
organization (Kumar & Khiljee, 2016). The knowledge of the vision will help in better
production and quality of the working of the employees. Hence, Kouzes and Posner find
sharing of vision with the followers as an important aspect in developing great leaders.
Moreover, a vision helps in the growth of excitement that helps in achieving the vision of the
leader.
Challenge the Process
For establishing a great leadership, it is important to take up challenges. Challenges
help in the growth of leadership. Hence, the leader must always be in search of opportunities
that help in growth, improvement, and innovation. Moreover, finding opportunities arises
new challenges and successful execution of the problem helps in the growth of the person
(Clough & McClellan, 2016). Taking risks helps in increasing experience. Apart from that
while, taking a risk the leader must keep on questioning himself that helps in seeking new
ideas. This helps in the increase in the knowledge, learning process and identifying mistakes
that help in encouraging in taking up challenges.
Enabling Others to Act
Kouzes and Posner believe that to be an established leader it is important to enabling
others to act or work accordingly. This helps the followers or the employees to take their
responsibilities and take part in the decision-making. This is an act or gesture by the
organization towards the employees to make them feel that they are a part of the organization.

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Allowing the employees or the followers to take part in the decision-making encourages
collaboration promoting in the organization along with cooperative goals and building trust.
This act of the leader encourages confidence growth in the employees, strengthening the
ability by delegating power.
Encourage the Heart
The leader must encourage and celebrate success. In a project, the leader must
recognize the contribution of the employees and must appreciate the contribution and hard
work. This helps in building a relationship with the employees as well as encourage them in
taking up risks and new projects. Kouzes and Posner find that celebration of success is an
important aspect as it helps in making the success memorable (Edie, Marshall, Winters &
Mariani, 2016). Moreover, for the employees, the celebration acts as praise. Showing
appreciation also acts as a cultural value and victory. This provided the follower with
recognition among the group.
Challenges Kouzes and Posner Model
In handling and managing an organization, the leaders are facing various challenges. The
leaders act as a mediator among the employees and the organization. The leader ensures that
he protects the employees as well as maintain the productivity of the organization. He has to
look into the culture and values of the organization. Hence, in the adaptation of the Kouzes
and Posner Model, the leaders are facing various challenges as well. The following are some
of the challenges that the leaders face while utilization of Kouzes and Posner Model.
 Adjusting to the role: The leader must know to manage the role in the organization
as well as to the employees. This can have a great impact on the working of the
employees as well as the organization (Northouse, 2018). The employees must know
his role and act accordingly.

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 Lack of communication: It is the common reason that leads to leadership failure.
The leader must communicate with the employees and provide them the information
that is required to convey on behalf of the organization. Moreover, the leader must
also develop a relationship with the employees that helps the employees to convey
their messages easily.
 No demonstration of job role: The leader must ensure that the employees are
knowing the company and the job role (O’Keeffe, Ozuem & Lancaster, 2016). This
helps in better demonstration of the work and making the employees understand what
they exactly need to do for an increase in production. Sometimes the leaders also need
to be a trainer for a better demonstration of the work.
 No upward feedback: After the employees are provided with feedbacks showing
how important it is to be a manager be a leader and communicate well for increasing
the evaluation of the performance. In most of the case, the leader lacks this quality
hence, creating a challenge for themselves. Moreover, this does not help in
establishing a good example.
 Micro-managing: The leader must ensure proper management of his employees this
ensures better and increase in the production. However, there is a thin line between a
manager and a leader (McKinney & Waite, 2016). The leader must not pressurize the
employees rather provide them space in working this helps in the better working of
the employees.
Conclusion
Leadership is an important aspect of an organization. Leaders help in the development
of the organization increasing g the productivity and quality of the working process. Leaders
help in the binding of the employees and developing a great working environment. In the
paper, the two great leaders Kouzes and Posner's model has been described intensively. The

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model has been developed after a research of twenty tears observing real-life examples of
successful leaders as well as unsuccessful leaders as the unsuccessful leaders help in the
identification of the traits and behaviors that had led to the downfall of the leadership. The
Kouzes and Posner model helps in the understanding of the leadership and provides great
opportunities for the leaders to establish a better relationship with the employees. The model
provides various ways that can mold the characteristics of a leader and help in a better
understanding of the ways to establish leadership. There is also shorty coming of the model
that has been described in the paper. However, the model can be created in a detailed way for
a better understanding. Hence, it can be concluded that the model is extensively prepared for
leaders to develop a great bond with the employees and help the leaders set examples of
leadership.

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Reference list
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Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.
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