- The 5 main functions of a leader
- 1- Do the planning
- 2- Take
- 3- Delegate
- 4-
- 5- Give support and evaluation
- References
Some of the functions of a leader are planning, delegating tasks, and achieving goals or objectives. A leader is a person who leads a group, organization or country.
It can also be defined as "the individual who constantly exerts more impact than others in the direction of a group activity."
To be a good leader it is necessary to have some specific skills, such as knowing how to communicate, have motivation and flexibility, among others.
The effectiveness of a leader can be measured by the number of goals achieved or by the number of people who follow him.
You may also be interested in this list of types of leadership.
The 5 main functions of a leader
1- Do the planning
Through planning, the way in which the goal will be reached will be defined. That is, the actions and steps to follow are designed to solve any identified problem.
In order to create such a plan, the setting and facts, both external and internal, that may affect the goals set, must be taken into account. The starting point is the current moment or situation.
With the fulfillment of the activities established in the planning, the work team is usually strengthened.
2- Take
It is about selecting the decisions to reach the objectives or solve a conflict.
To accomplish the problem, the leader needs to analyze the data, examine the alternatives, exchange information, and determine a course of action.
3- Delegate
To delegate it is necessary to assign activities to another person. This also has to do with accepting that there is no one way of doing things, and that people have different perspectives on what is being done.
Once it is delegated, efforts are multiplied to achieve the desired result.
4-
Leaders set the objectives that the organization or team has to reach. Therefore, one of the main functions of leaders is to meet these commitments.
Goals are generally planned in the short, medium and long term.
5- Give support and evaluation
In the case of support, it refers to the help that the leader can offer during the planning process and achieving the objectives.
Evaluation is the process not only of control, but of learning and exchange of experiences, taking into account what has been planned and what made it possible to reach the goals or not.
With the evaluation of the results obtained, information can be obtained and data measured to analyze the fulfillment of each of the planned objectives. With these conclusions an effective feedback is achieved.
References
- Kogan Page Publishers, "Develop Your Leadership Skills", John Adair, March 03, 2013.
- SAGE, "Leadership: Theory and Practice", Peter G. Northouse, 2010.
- Kogan Page Publishers, “Leadership MBA masterclass series”, Philip Sadler, 2007.
- "Distinctive Features of the Maya Culture" (July, 2007) in: History on the Net: Mayans. Retrieved on May 8, 2017 from History on the Net: historyonthenet.com.
- Greenwood Publishing Group, “Leadership for the Twenty-first Century”, 1993, Joseph Clarence Rost.