WHAT IS LEADERSHIP?
Leadership is a process of social influence, which maximises the efforts of others towards the achievement of the greater good.
It is a process of mutual influence fusing through, feeling and action to produce cooperative effort, services, purposes and values of both the leader and the led – Joan V. Gallos & Jossey – Bass/A Wiley company, 2003.
UNDERSTANDING STRUCTURAL LEADERSHIP
Structural leaders tend to be analytical thinkers whose strength lies in improvement through procedural changes. They are social architects who apply analytical and design skills to diagnose an organization needs and develop structural solutions.
Their approach is more measured and methodical, following standard procedures and processes. Their workers enjoy the simplicity around these processes and procedures, knowing what is expected of them.
CHARACTERISTICS OF STRUCTURAL LEADERS
Structural leaders succeed less through inspiration and more through their ability to design a practical social architecture of strategy, roles and coordination for the times. Structural leaders share several characteristics :
- They do their homework, ensuring enough research is done for an effective strategy.
- They insist on clear goals to guarantee the focus of the team.
- They reanalyze the relationship of structure, strategy and environment.
- They emphasize on detail and implementation.
- They always experiment to test their theories.
STRUCTURAL FRAME
It emphasizes specialised tasks, sequential work, close supervision, goals, roles, technology, formal relationships and so on. Structures put in place fit the organisation.
This frame focuses on the obvious ‘how’ of change. It’s mainly a task-oriented frame. It concentrates on strategy, setting measurable goals, clarifying tasks, responsibilities and reporting lines, agreeing on metrics and deadlines and creating systems and procedures.
BENEFITS OF STRUCTURAL LEADERSHIP
Every type of leadership has its pros and cons. Structural leaders have certain purposes they add to the company. Some benefits are :
- Specialisation is efficient.
- Faster decision making.
- Highly visible set of processes and regulations.
- Very clear roles, responsibility and expectations.
DRAWBACKS OF STRUCTURAL LEADERSHIP
Structural leaders are known for rigidity and dictatorship. They are always bogged down with the details and are sometimes seen as stringent or ‘stuffy’. It seems so because they spend so much time working out the finer details of the company processes.
It is often hard for structural leaders to keep up with rapid changes to the company’s, customer’s, employee’s needs.
OVERVIEW ON STRUCTURAL LEADERSHIP
Structural leaders have an angle of viewing the firm. They see it as a machine that needs to be efficient in its functions. They always plan. They put major emphasis on goals, systems, efficiency, formal authority and so on. The only flaw is the rigidity and tyranny, always following the rule book, their innovative sense is on nought.
Combining two styles of leadership is more effective as they equalize each other, bringing out the most in the team or organisation.
TEAM ILLUMINATE 