Leadership and Management at Tesco: Steps, Skills, and Analysis Report

This report delves into the concepts of leadership and management, with a specific focus on the grocery retailer Tesco. It begins by defining the importance of leadership and management in organizational growth, emphasizing their roles in employee engagement and performance improvement. The report then outlines key steps for becoming a successful leader, including confidence, honesty, effective communication, task prioritization, creative thinking, commitment, inspiration, positivity, and trust. It also explores the Path Goal Theory. Furthermore, the report discusses ways to develop leadership skills, such as practicing discipline, learning from others, inspiring others, developing situational awareness, continuous learning, conflict resolution, effective listening, and proper delegation. Finally, the report distinguishes between leadership and management, highlighting their differing aims, working styles, and risk-taking approaches. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of leadership and its practical application within a business context.

Leadership and
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
TASK...............................................................................................................................................1
1) Steps involved in being a successful leader............................................................................1
2) Ways to develop good leadership ..........................................................................................3
3) Difference between leadership and management ..................................................................4
4) Individual reflection ..............................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Management and Leadership are the terms which often considered as similar. Leadership
is an important part of an effective management. For every organisation, both are necessary as
both plays an important in growth and development of an organisation as well as its individuals.
Manager emphasize on structures and systems and manage all the activities of an organisation
and leaders focuses on employees. Leadership and management skills assists in increasing
employee engagement in the activities of the firm. It increases motivation level of employees and
creates a sense of belongingness among them. It also helps in improving performance of the
company as well as its employees (Azhar, 2011). A successful leader identifies the needs of its
team members and provide them training in order to fulfil their needs and it assist in their career
growth. In the present assignment, chosen company is Tesco which is leading grocery retailer of
UK. The firm deals in clothing, furniture, electronics, toys, petrol, books and software and offer
its products worldwide. The report covers various steps that are involved in being a successful
leader and the ways to develop good leadership skills. Apart from this, the attributes that
distinguish leadership and management is also defined.
TASK
1) Steps involved in being a successful leader
A leader is an individual who have the ability to influence others with their actions,
communication and leadership skills, attitude etc. Leaders are visionary and they have clear
picture in their mind of what to do next in order to accomplish goals and objectives. They
provide directions to its team members and motivate them in order to achieve targets. Successful
leaders are those people who allow their group members to add value and develop autonomy as
per their personal strength. They are instinctual decision makers. There are many characteristics
that assists to become a successful leader (Dignam and et. al., 2012). Here are some key steps
than can take by an individual in order to develop skills of a leader. These are as follows:
Have confidence: It is necessary for an individual to keep confidence in its leadership
skills. At times, leaders find a point where they doubt on their ability, in that case, they need to
stay calm and do not lose sight in the situation of high pressure. Their team members look
toward them for direction and assurance.
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Always be honest: In order to be a successful leader at workplace and in personal life, it
is necessary for an individual to be honest. The reflection of the values a leader uphold is its
team, therefore, it is essential for a person to be genuine and honest in its role and do what they
say. Some leaders create a list of values and core beliefs that they want to deliver with its team
member.
Communicate constantly: It is a key attribute of a successful leader. If an individual
wants to be a good leader, communication skills are necessary. They have clear picture of what
they are trying to accomplish but if their communication is not good, they are not able to share
their vision with the team and the goals will not achieve as their group members do not
understand properly what the leader is trying to say. So, an effective communication with team
members on continuous basis is necessary for a successful leader.
Prioritize and delegate tasks: A successful leader should have the ability to manage
tasks. In order to complete work successfully in definite period of time, it is necessary for an
individual to prioritize each task and delegate responsibilities when working in team. A leader
should emphasize on management of task and determine the strength and abilities of each
member of the team and delegate responsibility as per their skills in order to ensure that they
enjoy their work (Fry and et. al., 2011).
Think creatively: Sometimes, a leader might be approached with unfamiliar situations or
challenges. They should try that not to let their past experience dictate their decision. Creative
thinking acts like a key to be a good leader. It enables an individual to think outside the box and
assists in developing innovative skills.
Commit yourself: In order to develop leadership skills in proper way, an individual
should search education pathways that can assist to get better understanding of it. Equal level of
commitment should be demonstrate to ways of thinking that are new that expect from members
of the team. A leader facilitates learning to their team members.
Aim to inspire: It is necessary to unite a group of people by a shared vision in order to be
a successful leader. Emphasize on working to high standard & push boundaries to show team
members that you are focused towards goals. Celebrate achievements with team and keep their
morale high. It will encourage staff members to work hard.
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Lead with positivity: Positive attitude of a leader is the way to keep its team motivated. It
is necessary to transform frustration into proactive and positive approach. 'Can do' attitude
prevent team from burning out and becoming too overwhelmed.
Follow your Institution: As a successful leader, a person must be able to faith or trust on
its decisions. It is necessary for an individual to trust on themselves that they can make right
decision and follow its gut instinct. Training will be assistive in broaden the abilities and
increase confidence level.
Tailor approach: When we are working with different individuals, then only leadership
approach will not work. Develop those skills which are dynamic in nature and able to respond
needs of individual. It is necessary for a leader to build understanding of preference of each
person in order to meet their needs.
Path Goal Theory:
This theory rely on Vroom's expectancy theory. This theory specify the behaviour and
style of leader that best suits the workforce and work environment to attain a goal. Main aim is is
to increase the motivation, satisfaction and empowerment of employees so that they become
productive individual of the firm. It generally follows below mentioned steps:
 Select an effective leadership style
 Determine environmental and worker characteristics
 Focus on different motivation theories and factors that increase the employee
productivity.
This is useful approach of leadership that a leader used in an organisation in order to
motivate employees and encourage them to work. By the application of this theory, behaviour of
employees are enhanced and their performance is improved. It helps in increasing productivity of
the firm.
2) Ways to develop good leadership
Any individual can develop good leadership by developing some skills that are needed.
There are some strategies that assists in developing leadership skills and advance career. Here
are some skill sets that help to become good leader. These are as follows:
Practice discipline: It is necessary to develop discipline in professional as well as
personal life in order to become an effective leader & inspire others. The capacity of leader will
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be judged by people from the amount of discipline they show at workplace. Discipline can be
demonstrate by doing work on time in an organised manner.
Learn to follow: It is essential for an individual to learn from others and follow those
people who are good leaders. In case, when someone disagrees with their opinion, they must not
feel vulnerable. It is not easy but, if a person learn to respect and value others in team then they
will stand up for them always (Goetsch and Davis, 2014).
Inspire others: A leader, as a part of team should have ability to inspire and motivate
those individuals with whom they work. It is the responsibility of a leader to offer
encouragement and guidance to its team members whenever they need.
Develop situational awareness: A good leader have the ability to see big picture and
forecast issues before they happen. This skill assists in handling difficult projects with deadlines.
The capability to anticipate and administer suggestions in order to avoid problems is invaluable.
It assists leaders in recognising those opportunities that overlook by others.
Keep learning: The best way to be a good leader is continuous learning. It keeps skills
fresh and mind sharp. Constant learning provides the ability to face challenges in an effective
way. This is the skill which differentiate leaders from others so, it is necessary to keep learning.
Resolve conflicts: A successful leader should have the ability to solve issues that takes
place at workplace in an effective way. They should have ability to take right decision and
provide right solutions to the problems so that conflicts can easily be resolved. It is not easy, a lot
of courage is required in it.
Listening effectively: Leaders should have good listening skills. They should listen ideas,
feedback and suggestions from others. Without this skill, good and effective communication is
not possible. In order to listen effectively, a leader needs to avoid distractions, maintain eye
contact & respond properly (Hallinger and Bryant, 2013).
Proper delegation of work: Delegate work to right individual as per their skills & let
them feel authorized is the ability of a leader. They won't micromanage and divide their work
freely. This increases the engagement of employees and they feel a sense of belongingness.
Delegation allows to concentrate on goals that they need to achieve.
Take on projects more: The best way to develop leadership skills is to take more
responsibility. Not beyond the ability, but they need to do more work than others in order to
grow. Leave our comfort zone is the only way by which we can learn new things.
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3) Difference between leadership and management
Basis Leadership Management
Definition The fine art of motivating
employees/subordinates of an
organisation so that they can
achieve set targets in an
efficient manner can be known
as Leadership. Good leading
can only be considered when a
leader has a clear vision and
show the ways to workers by
which they can achieve their
goals.
Management means the
administration of business in a
company whether if it is a
profit based or non profit based
organisation depending on
nature of it. It also can be
viewed as planning and
making strategies for firms
including the efforts of
workers to complete the
objective with minimum usage
of resources in a given time
frame.
Aims In leadership the leaders do
have a different style of
working as they try to inspire
workers and shows them what
he/she sees. So that dreams
that a leader has seen for the
organisation comes true
(Hallinger, 2011).
Management is a part where
managers makes plans,
organises situations, recruit
people, train or educate
subordinates and set goals in
the organisation so that it can
be achieved as soon as possible
with the help of workers.
Working style and risk taking
factors
Leaders do prefer changes and
believes in innovations for
betterment of the company.
They also know that these
changes can effect in both the
ways good or bad. So a leader
Managers tries to stick to the
plans that they have made in
starting point of whatever the
project is. Managers also don't
try to use any different style of
working they tries to keep on
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should have a strong decision
making and analytical power.
Leaders takes risks and tries to
do new things where they
know that decision that has
been taken could go wrong but
it is a path of an going process
to reach to the success.
doing on what they do usually
so that goals can be achieved
in a set time frame. Manager
don't try to do new things or
apply new policies as they
think that it can be a risk factor
so that copy things from others
and don't try any innovations
from themselves.
Short term and long term
thinking and skills
Leaders aims their thinking for
long term success or goal for
the organisation where they
remains motivated and tries to
motivate others as well
without being awarded and
they also believes in learning
or knowing new things every
single day which keeps them
motivated and also these
things brings new and
innovative ideas for improving
the organisation.
Managers do believes in short
term goals where they also like
to get awarded from the
organisations. They motivates
there teams so that they can
complete the given target in
effective ways. And they do
follows the tried and tested
methods of past which made
them successful. They try to
modify previous policies and
don't believe in innovations.
Qualities of both Managers
and Leaders
Leaders keeps there focus on
the stakeholders and
continuously try to increase
there trust and loyalty by
continuously completing given
tasks (Hechanova and
Cementina-Olpoc, 2013).
Managers keeps on building
the statistics to achieve and set
the goals. They try to follow
past analytical structures to
achieve desired goal.
Role in the organisation Leaders have the followers They have the employees or
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which can help them by
promoting brand and also be
helpful in achieving set goals
they also knows that the team
work for them do have the
solutions and if not then how
to find it in a short period of
time.
workers who works as per the
directions given by him/her to
attain the set objective.
Managers assign tasks to
employees depending on
capabilities of individual and
sometimes also trains them
that how to accomplish the
task in an efficient way.
4) Individual reflection
I have learned from my own experience that leadership skills are valuable factors in order
to lead people at work place and assign direction to employees so they can easily carry out all
their assigned targets in right directions in order to achieve growth and success in their overall
business operations. As a leader I should guide all my employees to work according to plans and
policies in order to make organisation achieve growth and development thus their sales and
profitability factors will be greatly enhanced (Osland and Turner, 2011). I am playing the role of
leader at work place and I am guiding all my employees to walk on the right path and develop
new and innovative ideas by which firms can easily attain competitive advantages at work
places.
I as a leader, my major focus is on involving all the employees in the decision making so
that all the difficulties they face at workplace can be resolve in proper way and they are able to
share their thoughts and views freely. It increase the motivation level of employees and they are
able to perform well towards the attainment of set targets and objectives of an organisation. I
also plays an important role in improving the relationship between employer and workforce so
that work is performed in effective way and chances of arising conflicts can be reduced.
As per the view point of Susan Ward (2017), leadership is defined as an art of motivating
people or group of individuals to perform towards the attainment of common goal. The basis of
effective leadership is ideas and these are necessary to communicate with others in order to attain
them. From this, I have learned the ways to motivate employees and encourage them to perform
in a better way. I also learn to prioritize tasks and delegate responsibilities of each task as per the
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skills and abilities of individual. Leadership assists in increasing confidence level and enable me
to inspire others by my actions. It encourage me to put my cent percent efforts in effectively
completion of task on definite period of time. When I perform leadership role in organisation I
will treat my team members equally and provide them guidance to follow right path so that they
are able to complete tasks on time (Kelly, 2011). Leadership fosters team spirit and mutual
understanding among employees and develops a community of people with common interest
through harmonizing goals of organisation & individual interest of employees. I am able to solve
conflicts and acts as arbitrator between opposing parties.
Leaders are often considered as change agents and convince people about necessity of
change. I have learned from my own experience to set objectives and administer direction to
attain them. As a leader, I represent my work group at workplace. By my leadership skills, I am
able to identify the needs of employees and understand them. It assists me in providing
appropriate training to them and fulfil their needs so that they can work in better way and their
skills and abilities can be improved. Appropriate training programme provides them knowledge
and learning about new things which help them in future growth. It administer organisational as
well as personal development of individual. Leadership plays an important role in attaining
success of an organisation. It is must for an organisation to adopt the various styles of leadership
so that appropriate guidance should be provided to the team members and effective output can be
observed. Moreover, I feel that innovation and creative mind is required to to maintain the
leadership quality within workplace because various adverse situations arises where there
effective guidance is being required so that situation can be resolved and proper measurement
should be taken so that it can be avoidable in future (Renz, 2016). Being a leader it is my priority
to analyse the capabilities and skills of my team members and thus allocate them tasks and
objectives so that it can be attained in smooth and effectual manner.
Apart from that, its is required to analyse the personal demands and desires of my team
members because if they will be satisfied and happy, tasks and activities will be performed
highly and that in turn will uplift the performance level of an organisation and affect the
goodwill in positive manner. While making this report, I also learned that being a leader and
managing all the elements is not an easy task and thus it is important that I should have proper
education about it and along with that regular training sessions are also required because that will
help me to lead the team and complete the project in allocated time with innovative ways.
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Currently, I motivate employees of my organisation by providing them good incentives,
healthy work environment and other benefits. In future, from my personal experience, I motivate
them by providing them appropriate training and conduct learning sessions. It improves their
skills and abilities and help them to perform their tasks in better way. I empower them to work in
their own way that will help firm in increasing productivity and leads the company towards
growth and success. Open door policy should be incorporated in the organisation so that
employees can able to freely communicate with each and every member of the firm and express
their thoughts and views. It will reduce the chances of conflicts and issues faced by workforce. It
also improve thinking skills of employees and they are able to provide creative and effective
solutions of problems. It overall helps in growth and sustainability of the company. Employee
motivation is beneficial for organisation because if they are motivated, they encourage to work
towards attainment of goals and targets of firm and it will ultimately benefits the company and
provides it competitive advantage in the market. Effective leadership and management helps the
firm in increasing its productivity as well as profitability in effective and efficient manner.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that for making any organisation effective and
successful it is required to have highly experienced leaders who can provide right guideline to
the employees for attaining the mission and vision of company. Apart from that, there are
various learning styles which can be adopted by a leader for making team performance more
effective. In this report, there are various number of things which are being discussed like
various leadership styles for making effective and good leaders for future. Apart from that,
difference between management and leadership is also been discussed and theories of
management for achieving aims and objectives of firm in effectual manner.
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REFERENCES
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