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The paper reflects upon the factors of integrative leadership that are essential for the development of leadership.

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Introduction

The paper reflects upon the factors of integrative leadership that are essential for the development of leadership. The greatest leaders within an organization empower, are humble and have a clear vision. The greatest leaders always motivate the employees to achieve their goals to get success. The paper will discuss various problems of leadership that take place within an organization. It will also present different theories and concepts of leadership, follower-ship, and management that plays a significant role within an organization. Following different leadership theory helps the managers to solve the organizational problems effectively. The primary aim is to discuss the lessons learned regarding the factors for the development of leadership. 

 Leadership Problem

Integrative leadership is considered to be a significant leadership approach that presents various actions for different boundaries to attain the target. It together brings leadership practice and concepts that is required in five major sectors such as community, media, nonprofits, government, and society-business. It consists of various advantages and disadvantages that influence the leadership of an organization. Thus, in an organization leader face various leadership problems that put an impact on the organizational activities. For example, High Tech Solutions is a UK-based company manufactures niche technology that provides IT solutions to different industries. The leaders within the organization deal with the problem of acquiring the business in China as it possesses different culture which is determined to be a challenge for the leaders. The leaders are facing with the issues of change in organizational structure that puts an impact on the implementation plan (Shamir and Eilam-Shamir, 2018). The traditional culture of the Chinese influences the group members while executing a team-working process. Also, the collectivist orientation of the Chinese culture also puts an impact on the factors of teamwork such as group orientation, task interdependence, and common purpose.Therefore, the rigidly hierarchical nature of the Chinese community makes the leaders feel uncomfortable to have fully flexible and autonomous working experience needed to have a successful team. Hence, it is noticed that cultural and language differences are regarded as a great challenge for the leaders in the western country.

It is also observed that during the development of leadership, leaders also face various risks such as risk factors related to the employees could directly affect the leaders and the managers of the organization. It could also affect the staff set at a higher level who does not take care of the staffs regarding safety. This could fail operational characteristics within the organization that could disrupt the employee relationship and management or leadership. However, lack of communication within the organization is also considered to be a significant issue in the management of effective leadership. Another factor is setting an unrealistic vision which is negative for morale and leads to negative motivator for the employees hence; the leader presents a negative image before the employees. It may reduce the value of the leader or create disenfranchise. It is observed that while executing business in China leaders face the problem of communication gap, misunderstanding and so on that becomes difficult for the leaders to proceed with the business. Other problems of leadership are lack of negotiation and problem-solving skills that influence the effectiveness of the leaders. Lack of accountability and poor execution of the organizational activities results is a significant reason for leadership failure. 

 Literature review

Leadership is determined to be an ability to enhance a particular group towards achieving the target.Leadership theories mainly focus on the situations and the environment that creates leadership behavior. According to Agarwal, (2016) some of the leadership theories and concepts are, Trait theory, Behavioral theory, Grid theory of management or leadership concepts, Contingency or situational theory, Path-goal theory and Participation theory.

The Trait theory

Trait theory considers intellectual traits, physical, social or personality to distinguish leaders from non-leaders. This particular theory states some of the traits that could result in successful concepts of leadership they are, good personality, flexibility, energy, intelligence, conceptual skills, self-confidence, intellectual ability and so on. Some of the significant traits are cognitive abilities, self-esteem and energy signify leadership behavior. There comprise some limitations based on this theory such as no universal traits have been discovered that predicts leadership in different conditions.

Behavioral theory

Behavioral theories propose some particular behaviors that distinguish leaders from non-leaders. It states the fact that traits of leadership could be taught. This particular theory focuses on the leadership activities that recognize the patterns of behavior that puts an impact on performance and employee satisfaction (Grant, 2017). According to this theory, a leadership behavior provides a huge amount of satisfaction to the followers so that they could consider themselves as an effective leader. This theory is based on the following aspects such as Task-centered leader behavior, employee-centered leader behavior, consideration behavior and initiating structure behavior. All these aspects present the fact that the leader of an organization is simply focused on achieving organizational tasks and goals.

The Grid theory

The Grid theory is based on two factors such as, concern for production and concern for people that generates two significant patterns of behavior. 

Here the grid demonstrates improvised management that lacks in both relationship and task considerations. Another end of the grid shows the results and ideal behavior in team management.

Situational theory

The Situational theory moves away from the leadership personality to the relationship with the followers or group that focuses upon the leadership concepts of contingency or situation. It states the fact that leadership style differs as per different situations. The leadership style depends upon the task, supervisor and subordinate considerations. This particular theory is based upon the scale of Least Preferred Co-worker (LPC) that measures motivation and leadership orientation (Grint, 2007). It focuses on the readiness of the followers based on their willingness and ability to execute work effectively, and the leader states the decreasing needs for supervision and support. The theory comprises different follower’s readiness and leadership styles such as supportive or participative, directive, monitoring and relationship, and high task orientation.

Path-goal theory

The path-goal theory demonstrates the fact that if an individual appreciates the payoff while executing the work, then he must do something to achieve the target. It is observed that leadership behavior is considered to be supportive and motivational especially to the followers. It is the responsibility of the leaders to guide the followers to achieve their targets based on the organizational objectives (Ashford and DeRue, 2012). It guides the subordinates in setting and accomplishing their desired goals. Later the theory emphasizes that the leader within an organization also possess some of the deficiencies in the work environment and subordinates.The path-goal theory states that the leader will do all possible things to motivate the team members along with providing inputs and guidance based on the organizational activities.

Participation theory

Participation theory refers to the styles of leadership concepts to make relevant decisions for the team members. Generally, it works best in the situations that need deciding a new training program or marketing a new product. As stated by Kolk, (2016) this specific theory works better in software design or advertising. It focuses on the programs of leadership development and leadership skills. It is based on the following concepts of leadership such as transformational leadership, leader-member exchange theory and concepts of transactional leadership. All these styles help in bringing positive change within the followers.

On the other hand, implicit followership theories are based on follower-centric approaches that pay attention to the role of the follower in constructing leadership and leaders. It demonstrates the understanding of the leader's beliefs based on the behavior of the follower that puts an impact on the followership. Based on this theory they make use of followership information which is significant for the sense-making of the organizational activities. Therefore, effective followership helps the leader to be self-directed, self-motivated and self-oriented. Thus, it helps the leaders to enhance themselves to become a successful leader within an organization. 

Moreover, management theories are applied to help maximize organizational service quality and productivity. Systems theory, chaos theory, and contingency theory are the significant management theories whereas, Theory X and Y address the strategies of the management for motivating the workforce that also helps to increase the productivity of the employees.

Contingency theory

This theory states the fact that based on certain situations the leaders make decisions. The manager within an organization takes adequate decision according to the present situation. It makes use of a leadership approach or autocratic as per different sectors that involves employee’s participation. 

Systems theory

The leaders who understand this particular theory recognizes the influence of systems theory on the employees and how it affects their work. It is made up of different parts that mutually worked to attain the goals. It helps the leaders to analyze the events and patterns within an organization. This, in turn, helps the leaders to collaborate programs to execute the work to achieve the mission of the organization instead of the departments which are isolated.

Chaos theory

In this particular theory, change is sustainable even though certain circumstances and events could be controlled within an organization. It identifies that the change could be rarely controlled and inevitable. The possibility and complexity for susceptible events increases as the organizations show growth. The new levels of complexity are maintained as the organizations increase energy. With an increase in the energy, there also requires more structures for stability. The Chaos theory continues to change and evolve.

Theory X and Y

Theory X and Y are highly influenced by the beliefs based on the attitudes of the employees.Theory X is followed by leaders who believe the fact that employees lack ambition and requires incentives to maximize productivity (Iszatt-White & Saunders, 2014). Whereas, Theory Y is followed by leaders who believe that employees take responsibility and are naturally driven. Therefore, the leaders who believe in Theory X frequently utilizes an authoritarian style of leadership. While the leaders who believe in Theory Y expects the participation of the employees.

 Lessons learned

Based on the aspect of integrative leadership it has been observed that by being a leader a conflict could be resolved. Leadership provides with the responsibility and the authority to resolve conflict effectively. Being a leader, it helps to influence the thinking process of the people. It is observed that to resolve a conflict; it is essential to discuss the problem in detail and then provide a solution to that problem. Case study one provides with the knowledge of self-management and self-leadership that helps the leaders to proceed with the work systematically.It also helps in gaining knowledge about the differences between leadership and management that makes the employees feel more comfortable while working in an organization. However, case study helps in gaining knowledge about the importance of vision for the development of leadership. It has been learned that to have a clear vision it is significant to develop communication with the group members to understand their needs. The best example is the leader of Walmart Inc. who follows their mission and vision statement to develop a generic strategy of cost leadership and get a competitive advantage in dealing with the rivals (DuBrin, 2015). Another example is of Amazon.com Inc. whose mission is to save money of the people to have a standard quality of life by satisfying the needs of the customers. 

From case study three it has been understood that to expand business in Korea, India or China it is needed for the organization to take help from the local intermediates and people. It helps an organization to stay connected with the stakeholders and understand the culture of that particular country. Therefore, it will help in learning about the language that is used within an organization to interact with each other. It will also help in gathering knowledge about the relationships among the members of the team to understand their psychological state. It has also been understood that it is significant to build strong bonding among the group members to overcome the issues of communication gap and misunderstanding. It also provided with the information based on leadership style which is the mixture of collectivistic and individualistic culture. It has been learned case study four that to develop leadership quality it is significant to be committed and focused towards the work that will increase the tendency of researching anything and observing it deeply. This particular case study provides with some of the essential factors such as, mindful leadership, mindfulness, and innovation at work and cultivating the presence of leadership through mindfulness.

It has been observed that development of leadership needs some of the essential key factors such as, handling risky projects and taking new challenges, motivating the team members, communicating with people and keep learning new innovative things.It has been noticed that regarding the current trend the trait of the leader must be eye to eye and tooth to the tooth where a leader is considered to be a top person. The leader is regarded as the top person as he chooses a correct path for the followers. It helps in learning various new strategies to solve the conflict that takes place within an organization. Such as an authoritative view and self-control influences the people and helps in resolving organizational conflicts. It provides with an ability to understand the problem (Howard, Tang, and Austin, 2015). It provided with the knowledge based on leadership that is to be achieved by focusing on achieving the goals with control and patience. It has been understood that it is important for a leader to apply accountability as a part of the growth that helps the leader to be accountable. It helps an individual to understand the differences between right and wrong. Therefore, it can be seen that one could not develop self without accountability, it is vital for self-growth.

Moreover, it provides information regarding servant leader based on the aspects of subordinates or lower people. It states the fact that to fulfill the personal needs of the servant it is essential for the leader to choose an adequate path. Thus, it has been acknowledged that a leader must be oriented with details and allowed to get personal benefits so that the followers or the servants could follow the path shown by the leader. Thus, humility is an important tool within a community or society that must be followed by every leader to develop his leadership skills within an organization. 

Conclusion

The paper concluded by demonstrating the attributes of the development of leadership within an organization. A good leader is considered to be the one who can understand its leadership roles to enhance people. A good leader helps in setting desired goals to achieve the target. Thus, the paper provided with the problems of leadership that create various barriers for the leaders to accomplish its target. It discussed different theories and concepts of leadership, follower-ship, and management that is needed for the leader to follow within an organization. It also provided with the lessons that have been learned regarding the development of leadership.

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