According to Northouse (2017), some people are leaders because they hold a position of formality while other people become leaders because of the way that others respond to them. An example of this can be seen in the school in which I work. Our division was seeking to hire a principal for the current school year. The superintendent and the assistant superintendent looked at the employees in our school. They recognized people who demonstrated leadership qualities and recognized that these individuals are emergent leaders. These people were encouraged to apply for the position.At the same time, the division searched among people who were looking for a job and who had applied. One of these people was the successful candidate for the job. She is an assigned leader. Northouse (2017) suggests that an assigned leader is someone who is a team leader, plant manager, department head, director or an administrator. The principal of our school has been assigned a formal position and is therefore an assigned leader.
In 2016, I experienced emergent leadership. The school was seeking an individual who demonstrated Catholic leadership qualities who would take on the role of being the religious education coordinator for our school. The administrative staff spoke with other staff members and it became clear that I would be an exceptional candidate to fill the roll. Northouse (2017) describes emergent leaders as people who are not assigned a position of leadership, but rather emerge over a period of time through communication.
Although leadership and management are different, they are two concepts that overlap. (Northouse, 2017) As outlined by Northouse (2017), the essential activities of a manager include planning and budgeting, organizing and staffing, as well as controlling and problem solving. The essential activities of a leader include establishing direction, aligning people and motivating and inspiring. (Northouse, 2017) Managers and leaders can effectively play out these tasks by working together to encourage, inspire and motivate a group of people to effectively accomplish a common goal. (Northouse, 2017)
In order for an organization to prosper, I believe that the most effective approaches to leadership and management include effective planning and budgeting, controlling and problem solving, aligning people together and motivating and inspiring people. (Northouse, 2017) I believe that a person who wants to be effective in a management position must demonstrate strong leadership qualities.
Northouse 2017 states that there are clear differences between management and leadership but these two concepts overlap. A question that I have for further discussion is whether a person who exhibits exceptional management qualities can learn effective leadership skills or are effective leadership skills something that are inherent personality traits.
Northouse, P. (2017). Leadership: Theory and Practice.