Phelps(2000) points out there are eleven skills for leadership. They are getting and giving information, understanding group needs and characteristics, knowing and understanding group resources, controlling the Group, counselling, setting the example, representing the group, planning, Evaluation, Sharing Leadership and Manager of Learning. At first, getting and giving information is competency required of leaders. If they can not communicate effectively, then no other leadership skill will compensate for this lack. Furthermore, they should be exchange information effectively and accurately. Secondly, for a great leader, they should know their group members’ need, their characteristics, what make them motivated, what they need to succeed and how to support and grow the group. The leader should learn about how groups come together and commit to achieving tough goals. Thirdly, a leader can consider the physical resources which include people’s skills, attitudes, background and then they could decide which kind of job suit what kind of people.
As a leader, it is good to introduce activities that help the individuals in the group to become acquainted with one another's skills, knowledge, and abilities. Showing off a school transcript or resume is not what they mean. They are trying to challenge individuals and the group to draw on each other for resources and assistance. In this way they get a hands-on experience about exactly what resources are and how to use them.
A group needs someone to control, control is the throttle on the group’s engine which gives a direction. The leader can balance get the job done and keeping the team together. Then, they need to learn how to control a group in the right way. Control is most often an overt behaviour of the leader. There are specific actions a leader can take to exert influence over a team. The leader in a team deploys the people in his patrol in a manner to promote control, breaking up destructive cliques, to encourage greater participation, etc. He stands at certain times to maintain or assert control. He counsels an individual to help him "set a better example”.
When people have some matters on the work, they will need some help from the leader. Because they are leaders, they should spot people with problems. Counselling is considered pretty difficult. professional counsellors, like lawyers, bankers, clergymen, vocational counsellors, teachers, psychiatrists and others, sometimes spend years learning how to counsel in their fields. People often pay large amounts of money to be counselled. What is more, setting the example is the leader’s personal behaviour, it may be more difficult under some circumstances to set a positive example, but that doesn't stop a leader. Setting the Example is where the leader backbone shows. If they have character, if their character has integrity--that is, if who they are on the outside is lined up with who they are on the inside--they will accomplish far more than you might imagine possible. For this kind of leader, as long as he takes care of his follower's needs, enjoys their respect, loyalty, and even love.
According to Newcomb, K (2005) he thinks there are four tools of effective leadership for the growth of the business enterprises in a dynamic environment. The first tool of leadership tool is continuous assessment which includes understanding and monitoring the business environment opportunities. The second leadership tool is effective planning because strategic planning institutionalizes a culture of continuous improvement, effective decision-making and anticipation of changing business conditions. The third leadership tool is the motivation because the ability to inspire loyalty and build relationships is a key component of leadership and the execution is the last tool of effective leadership skill. According to management researcher Nike at some point, everyone in the organization must execute.
Moats ,Chermack and Dooley( 2008) point out the use of scenarios in training leaders for crisis management. The authors suggest that human resource development (HRD) tools such as scenario-based training and scenario planning can help leaders prevent or respond to crises through decision making skills based on possible outcomes of crises. They cite the U.S. terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina as examples of failures in crisis management and discusses the importance of realism in scenarios when simulating crisis conditions.
Recommendation:
As far as I am concerned, a people who can be training to be a leader in the future and to adapt today’s business environment. So the business school students who study business and management could have some copy practise activities. Such as, they are working in a company, one plays the leader. Other one plays the employer. Thus, this kind of activities can let them learn how to do the management. On the other hand, the school can provide some courses which include how to be a good leader and some key leadership skills to make the students more confident about the management and leader.
Reference List.
Moats, J., Chermack, T., & Dooley, L. (2008). Using Scenarios to Develop Crisis Managers: Applications of Scenario Planning and Scenario-Based Training. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 10(3), 397-424. [Online] Retrieved from: Business Source Complete. [Accessed on 8 November 2009]
Newcomb, K. (2005). Transformational Leadership: Four Keys to Help You and Your Organization. Debt Cubed, 20(6), 34-36. [Online] Retrieved from: Business Source Complete database. [Accessed on 9 November 2009]
O'Brien, E., & Robertson, P. (2009). Future leadership competencies: from foresight to current practice. Journal of European Industrial Training, 33(4), 5. Retrieved from: Business Source Complete.
Thornton & Linda, F (2009) Leadership Ethic Training: Why Is It So Hard To Get It Right? T+D, 63(9), 58-61. [Online] Retrieved from: Academic Search Complete. [Accessed on 9 November 2009]
Phelps, B. (2000) Resources for leadership.fifth Edition [Online] Retrieved from: . [Accessed on 9 November 2009]
