Leadership: The History And Theory Of Leadership

Leadership and the study of it has roots in the beginning of civilization, Egyptian rulers, Greek heroes, and biblical patriarchs all have one thing in common-leadership (THE HISTORY OF LEADERSHIP FOCUS,2005). There are numerous definitions and theories of leadership, however there are enough similarities in the definitions to conclude that leadership is the effort of influence and the power to induce compliance (Wren,1995).The organizational focus of the leader has evolved over this same period, early organizations with authoritarian leaders who believed employees were intrinsically lazy transitioned into way to make work environments more conducive to increased productivity rates (THE HISTORY OF LEADERSHIP FOCUS,2005).
The industrial Revolution shifted America’s economy from an agriculture base to an industrial one and, thereby, ushered in a change in how leaders would treat their followers. The industrial revolution created a paradigm shift to a new theory of leadership in which “common” people gained power by virtue of their skills (Clawson, 1999).Today, organizations are transforming into places where people empowered, encouraged, and supported in their personal and professional growth throughout their careers and the new technology, however was accompanied and reinforced by mechanization of human thought and action, thus creating hierarchical bureaucracies (Morgan, 1997).

DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP

Leadership is the ability of a superior to influence the behaviour of subordinates and persuade them to follow a particular course of action (Barnard, 1938).It is the ultimate act which brings to success all of the potent potential that is in an organisation and its people and it transforms potential to reality (LEADERSHIP THEORIE...

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...cally due to the challenged and chose the piracy and plagiarism in order to be successful but he chose to be a good leader and followed the ethics and it results to him being an icon to the IT world.
The leaders in businesses can take Bill Gates as their role model and follow the top 10 qualities that make a good manager based on his experience.1.Choose a field thoughtfully as it’s hard to be productive without genuine enthusiasm,2.Hire carefully and be willing to fire,3.Create a productive environment,4.Define success by making it clear to your employees what constitutes success and they should measure their achievements,5.You have to like people and be good at communicating,6.Develop your people to do their jobs better than you,7.Build morale,8.Take on projects yourself,9.Don’t make same decision twice,10.Let people know whom to please.(Bill Gates, New York Times)