Tranformational Leadership And Mahatma Ghandi

Tranformational Leadership And Mahatma Ghandi According to Yukl (2010), leadership is the process of influencing others to understand and agree about what needs to be done and how to do it, and the process of facilitating individual and collective efforts to accomplish shared objectives. To put it simply leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal. The leader is the inspiration. He/she is the person in the group that possesses the combination of personality and skills that make others want to follow his/her direction. Gandhi tells us a tale of how a person can make a difference. The movie describes how he changes the perspective of people and creates a revolutionary change. He was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement. He led the non-violence resistance movement against the British colonial rule in India during the first half of the twentieth century. He pioneered Satyagraha which is defined as the resistance to oppression through mass civil disobedience, a philosophy firmly founded upon ahimsa, or total non-violence. This concept not only helped India gain independence but also inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Known as Mahatma (great soul), Gandhi was the leader of the Indian nationalist movement against British rule, and is widely considered as the father of the nation. His doctrine of non-violent protests, through his weapons of truth and love to achieve political and social progress has been largely influential to leaders across the world. (BBC on Gandhi) The following section deals with several leadership theories that can be used to explain Gandhis leadership style as portrayed in the movie (Gandhi, 1982). TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP THEORY According to Bass (1985, 1996), the leader transforms and motivates followers by making them more aware of the importance of task outcomes, inducing them to transcend their own self interest for the sake of the organization or team, and activating their higher order needs. (Yukl, 2010) Transformational leadership increases follower motivation and performance. The extent, to which a leader is transformational, is measured in terms of his influence on the followers. The followers of such a leader feel trust, admiration, loyalty and respect for the leader and because of these qualities of the transformational leader are willing to work harder than originally expected. These outcomes occur because the transformational leader offers followers something more than just working for self gain; they provide followers with an inspiring mission and vision, and provide them an identity. The leader creates positive change in the followers and induces people to be aware of what they feel to feel their true needs so strongly, to define their values so meaningfully, that they can be moved to purposeful action. In this leadership style, the leader also enhances the motivation, performance and morale of his follower group. Gandhi demonstrated transformational leadership. His followers were influenced by his drastic method of nonviolent protests and he instilled trust, loyalty, admiration and respect amongst his followers. He also transformed his followers in a literal sense changed them in mind and heart, enlarged vision and clarified purposes to make behaviour congruent with his beliefs, principles and values. Bass (1996) further described four types of transformational leadership behaviour Idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration and inspirational motivation. Types of transformational leadership behaviour in context to the movie Transformational Style Meaning Relation to the movie Idealized influence Arouse strong follower emotions and identification with the leader. Setting an example of courage and dedication, and making self sacrifices to benefit the followers. Gandhi talked about truth and love and preached the same through his non-violence resistance movements such as satyagraha and non-cooperation. Sacrifices like time away from family and long fasting periods for social protest. Intellectual stimulation Behaviour that increases follower awareness of problems and influences followers to view problems from a new perspective. Gandhi held several meetings to talk about the issues faced by people and the importance of following his values to fight for the countrys independence. He also ensured that his beliefs were followed in the manner as he preached. Individualized consideration Involves communicating personal respect to followers by providing support, encouragement and coaching. Gandhi was interactive, spoke to everyone and knew what was happening in their lives. Got involved with everyone and made them feel important by providing support whenever possible. Inspirational motivation Inspiring and empowering followers to enthusiastically accept and pursue challenging goals and missions. Gandhi inspired his followers through his principles and protests for which he was also sent to prison on various occasions. He was determined that his beliefs would finally attain swaraj (independence). Two key effects that transformational leaders achieve are to evoke strong emotions and cause identification of the followers with the leader. Mahatma Gandhi is a great example of a transformational leader because of his contribution not just to his country but to social thinking around the world that inspired many other different world leaders. Gandhi is considered as one of the few individuals who embodied the ideals of a transformational leader. SERVANT LEADERSHIP THEORY Servant leadership is primarily about helping people and fostering a relationship of trust and cooperation. Servant leaders must listen to followers; learn about their needs and aspirations, stand for what is good and right, oppose social injustice and inequality, must respect and appreciate the weak and marginal members of society and also empower followers instead of using power to dominate them. Greenleaf (1977) proposed that service to followers is the primary responsibility of leaders. The servant leader is a servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Another important quality of a servant leader is the ability to accept his people unconditionally. It is creative as it stems from a genuine concern for the people rather than external motivations such as the need for power. It also leads to larger issues as it ultimately leads to a desire to serve the society at large. A servant leader is motivated, not by a desire to control others, but by a desire to help them realize their dignity and power. Gandhi preached non-violence and dedicated his life to the achievement of a better life for the downtrodden. He served as a catalyst and example, providing vision and inspiring hope. He empowered the masses to march to the sea to make salt. In doing so they demonstrated their capacity for self governance and impressed upon history a very powerful image. One of the key qualities of the true servant leader is that he is chosen by the people. When Gandhi was returning to India after the conclusion of the case for which he had gone to South Africa, he was given a farewell party. Over there, he expressed his concerns for the bill that was then before the House of Legislature that sought to deprive Indians of their franchise. Before he quite knew it, he had been elected by the people to stay on and fight for their rights. This was the beginning of his mission to serve humanity Servant leaders transform people and bring out what they themselves dont suspect is in them. Gandhi did the same with the Indian masses during their struggle for independence. Gandhi also stated that service to the poor has been my hearts desire and it has always thrown me amongst the poor and enabled me to identify myself with them. Hence we can say that Gandhi was the quintessential servant leader. Key values of a servant leader with examples from the movie- Integrity Gandhi always communicated in an open and honest way. He only preached what he practiced himself and which were consistent with his values. He admitted and accepted responsibility for mistakes and never attempted to manipulate or deceive people. For example Gandhi swore to speak the truth and advocated others to do the same. Altruism Gandhi was willing to make sacrifices to protect and benefit others and always put the needs of others ahead of his own needs. For instance his hunger strike for activities which he believed were wrong such as riots between Hindus and Muslims, his march to the sea to make salt as he believed the British Empires monopoly of salt was wrong. Humility Gandhi always treated others with respect, avoided status symbols and special privileges and was always modest about his achievements. For illustration he respected his colleagues as well as people from all castes and creed. Despite being proclaimed a leader by the masses he always emphasized that he was not a leader and lived in modesty in a village in India with only the basic essentials required by a human being. He also spun the cloth that he wore which was the khadi. Empathy and healing Gandhi helped others cope with emotional distress, encouraged forgiveness and reconciliation after a conflict and acted as a peacemaker. For example upon his return to India he travelled various regions of the country and met with a lot of villagers who were suppressed by the landlords, given measly compensation and lived in extreme poverty. He heard their stories and provided them courage to protest against the landlords for which he was sent to prison also. Also to act as a peacemaker for the religious tensions within the country he stated that I am a Muslim and a Hindu and a Christian and a Jew and so are all of you. Fairness and justice Gandhi encouraged and supported the fair treatment of people, spoke against unjust and unfair policies and opposed violations of civil rights. For instance when he realized that the laws in South Africa were biased against the Indians, he decided to start a non-violent protest campaign to obtain basic rights for all Indians. He quoted that The function of a civil resistance is to provoke response and we will continue to provoke until they respond or change the law. They are not in control; we are. The government finally relented by recognizing rights for Indians. DEVELOPMENT OF A LEADER Leadership can be learnt unlike the trait theory which states that leaders are born with certain characteristics that make them a leader. The development of Gandhi as a leader explains how people or environments affect the actions of leaders. Gandhi was not a leader by birth, he developed the skills required to be an effective leader. In the movie it is very explicitly clear that Gandhi learnt and developed his leadership skills in South Africa and honed them in India. He had a feeling for his followers, but he developed tools and methods to become an effective leader over time. He had rock solid values from which his activities stemmed, and he had a totally interdependent relation with his followers.

What Are Years? by Marianne Moore :: Poems, Poetry Analysis

I’ve read this poem quite a few times. I still don’t completely understand it but I do like this poem. I think what’s great about this particular poem is the fact that it has not left my mind since the first time I read it. I have read it again and again. There is something about the first lines â€Å"What is our innocence, what is our guilt? All are naked, none are safe.† Within those lines my attention was caught and I just knew that this was going to be a very interesting poem. I also like the last line â€Å"This is mortality, this is eternity.† It has this lasting, lingering quality that makes what you’ve just read stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it. Something in the way Moore wrote this poem really got under my skin and made me take a deeper look at what this poem trully means. I think what Moore is really talking about is satisfaction with the life you're living. Thre is no prefection in life, but if you can be happy with who you are as a person you will find joy.

Mattel’s Toy Recall And Supply Chain Management Essay

Why do firms contract overseas for production of products they sell? Answer: The firms contract overseas for production of the products they sell to gain certain advantages from the different countries. One of the biggest advantages is cheap labor that cut down the cost of the products. To get the advantage of the cheap fuel prices and raw materials to make the products at effective cost. The companies can get the tax benefits and other government policy advantages by producing their products at overseas. The companies can also get the lower cost suppliers from different countries. The company can get the advantage of currency fluctuation to produce the products at lower currency rate. What were the primary causes of Mattel’s recall problems? Answer: There were several causes for Mattel’s toy recall. But the primary causes are problems in manufacturing, design and usage. Manufacturing Problems: One primary problem is the use of excessive lead paint in toys. Lead was commonly used in paint. However, it is a neurotoxin and is harmful to developing brains in children. Repeated exposure can cause serious brain damage. Design problems: A second cause for recall was defect in product design. That was the result of increasing use of small powerful magnets in children’s toys. If the designs of these toys were deficient and did not adequately encase the magnets, they could become dislodged and swallowed by the children. When a child ingested more than one magnet, the ingested magnet could be bind together across intestinal folds, eventually perforating the intestine and causing serious injury or death. Product misuse: Some recalls were due to the potential for misuse. Some features of the toys generally were not a ca use for concern if children used the toy in intended way, but children often found creative ways to play that were not anticipated by designers. So, if potential danger was brought to the  company’s attention, the toy might be subject to recall. What actions taken by whom to deal with the recall problems? Do you think these actions were the right one? Why or why not? Answer: In early July 2007, one of the Mattel’s European retailer discovered excessive lead on some of the company’s toys. Mattel stopped production and launched investigation of the problem. The company received data that convinced that recall is necessary. In August Mattel announced voluntary recall of 83 Fisher-Price products sold from May 1 to August 1, 2007. The recall involved about 1.5 million toys worldwide. Two-third of the toys were pulled from inventory before they reached retail customers. After first recall Mattel announced second voluntary recall for toys with excessive lead content. The recall involved 436,000 toys worldwide. After the second recall Mattel announced to recall the Sarge toy cars, an expansion of earlier recall due to small magnets. It recalled 18.2 million toys worldwide. All of the toys recalled had been manufactured in China. Two weeks after the August 2nd recall, the owner of the Chinese factory that used the lead paint committed suicide. According to my opinion, the actions taken by Mattel were absolutely right. Mattel has been criticized heavily for having to recall not once but twice in as many weeks 20 million toys manufactured in China with lead paint and/or loose, potentially dangerous magnets. Clearly Mattel did not have sufficiently tight quality control procedures in its supply chain to compensate for the extra risks of outsourcing to relatively new Chinese subcontractors. Clearly there were design flaws in the toys with the magnets that could come loose. Though the recall of the products had created serious problems for Mattel and for manufacturers of China, the products were highly dangerous for the children which needed serious concern. But the positive point was both the Governments of China and U.S. tightened the rules regarding product safety. They also raised the product quality standards and product testing. The CEO of the Mattel had taken personal charge of the situation. He has apologized publicly and taken immediate steps to tighten quality assurance requirements on Mattel’s suppliers. What should Mattel do now? What should China do now? Answer: Mattel has faced a series of difficult and potentially crippling challenges, including the lawsuits. Mattel should attempt to rectify its mistakes and to prevent future mistakes as well. Mattel should work hard for  restoring goodwill and faith in its brands, even as it continues to be plagued with residual distrust over the lead paint scandal. Mattel should upgrade its safety standards and quality control. Mattel should be careful for approaching international supply chain management strategies. Mattel should make sure its Chinese suppliers operate ethically, including treating their workers fairly. Whereas Mattel can do randomly test finished toys, as it should now test every single batch of toys produced. Safety checks should also get beefed up at the supplier and subcontractor level prior to the finishing of the product. Reputations are hard won and easily lost, but Mattel should appear to be steadfast in its commitment to restoring its reputation. After the recall by M attel, China’s export manufacturing sector, an important factor driving country’s economic growth, had been stung by suffering highly visible problems. The â€Å"made in china† brand was in real danger. At that point China needed to prove that they could produce products to the quality and safety standards expected by the rest of the world. China should ask companies to hire full time inspection staff and allow their customers to inspect their plants. China should enforce quality licensing system for product exports. Chinese agency should increase efforts to certify exporters and should severely punish and blacklist the companies that fail to meet performance requirements. Though Mattel had taken full responsibility for these recalls and apologizes personally to the Chinese people and all of their customers who received the toys, China was fighting with the brand image in the international market. How can accountability be increased and better managed when production is moved overseas to other firms in the supply chain? Answer: There are many criticisms levelled at multinational organizations for choosing to relocate their manufacturing operations from domestic markets in developed countries to developing countries many thousands of miles away. Suspicion is often focused on cheap labor and possibly lower or less enforced health, safety and environmental legislation all contributing to lower production costs. But to increase accountability and better production management at overseas the company needs to have law inventories, flexible manufacturing and close relationship with suppliers and customers. Better managed supply chain requires close coordination with suppliers to achieve the desire level of quality and delivery. It also needs to have frequent communications with the suppliers  and customers. It entails to have close coordination among product design, engineering, the manufacturing plant, and suppliers. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure that its products are produced to the highest safety standards that its workers are not exploited and that health and safety and environmental standards not compromised in the search for lower prices. In this case the stakes are very high since the safety of all our children is at stake as well as the acceptance of the ‘Made in China’ designation in world markets.

Organisational Behaviour essays

Organisational Behaviour essays Organisational behaviour is the study of individuals or employees within an organisational environment, aimed at providing the ability to understand subordinate behaviour. A firm understanding of employee behaviour and the factors and attributes that influence this behaviour will enable managers to identify what measures will encourage high performance and satisfy employees. There are many measures and techniques available to encourage optimal performance and ensure job satisfaction. We shall examine motivation and empowerment approaches managers should use to create a satisfying working environment characterised by high performing employees. The Macquarie Concise Dictionary defines motivation as 1. A motivating; providing of a motive; 2. giving purpose There has been many theories established over time that assist managers to understand how motivation works, and what employees value in order to understand what measures can be used to motivate them, below is an explanation on a handful of these theories. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs presents the concept that individuals have varying and different needs and puts these needs in order of importance. Maslows formulation suggests that some needs have higher priority than others and therefore must be satisfied before the other needs may serve as motivators. (Wood, J.M., Wallace, J.P. and Zeffane, R. 2001 ). As shown in the diagram following, Maslow argues that the most pressing need has to be satisfied before another, higher in the hierarchy becomes active. At the most basic level, people have physiological needs - needs stem...

3 Things You Need to Do Before You Apply For a New Job

3 Things You Need to Do Before You Apply For a New Job If your current job isn’t keeping you challenged and on your toes, stepping out into the field might be a great idea. So take a deep breath, make sure you’re sure you want to quit  your job, and do the following three things. 1. Re-evaluate your current gigWhat did you love about this job? Can you remember why you were excited about it in the first place? What did you learn? These questions will help you to make the best choice about your next gig. By being honest about the good and bad aspects of your current job, you’ll know better what you’re really looking for with your next.2. Don’t burn any bridgesYou need to look for new connections and new mentors, but you also need to keep up the relationships you already have. Be as active as possible in recruiting new talent into your network, and getting yourself out there in your new industry or work group, but don’t let your existing network fizzle. You’ll never know when you might need those contacts.3. Come out in the openThe hardest part will be telling your current boss that you are leaving- or thinking about leaving. But it is much better to be up front about this. It’s the classy and professional move. Your boss will thank you for the lead time to fill your position- and a month to six weeks notice is much better than the standard two.As long as you’re honest with yourself and your current boss, you can walk clear-eyed and contented into your next opportunity.

Amusement Park Promotion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Amusement Park Promotion - Essay Example You know what you are doing, but nobody else does† (as cited in Huddle, 2011, p.2). In this respect, the work of marketing department plays one of the most important roles in the future performance of any company, influencing on its profitability and prosperity. To satisfy the requirements of leadership, concerning season ticket holders of amusement park, it is imperative to implement the most effective instruments of promotion policy that is directed to give customers full information about services and persuade potential consumers to purchase them. Therefore the main goal of promotion is to raise demand for park’s services and convert occasional visitors to constant clients. Analyzing effectiveness and costs of all types of promotion, it is recommended to use advertising and sales promotion methods. First of all, it is important to influence on customers’ decision to choose amusement park with a help of flexible policy of discounts. It may be useful to reduce th e price of season ticket such way that buying occasional ticket will be less economic for visitors.

Find a web site about a vernacular dance forms. It could be anything Essay

Find a web site about a vernacular dance forms. It could be anything to do with ethnic, folk, ballroom, jazz, or tap dancing - Essay Example Shopping is divided into videos, music, books, gift cards, and customer service. The classifieds section offers a partner search and a dancewear section, while the directory offers teachers, studios, dance locations, vendors, services, clubs and teams, organizations, and other dance sites. The forum, or message board, is comprised of just about any topic that the reader may think of, as well as some others that may not be imagined. People can ask anything about anything related to dance. The site itself is full of a wide variety of information, and the information is arranged in a useful and easy to navigate manner. While the content provided is clear and concise, the site itself leaves much to be desired in terms of design. The site itself tried to appear fancy, though the colors, the fonts, and the attempts at adding sparkles to the fonts just end up making it look tacky. The videos themselves attempt to show the dances in a professional manner, however, the people look cheesy and fake, instead of like people who are genuinely interested in dancing; the overlaid text at the beginning of the videos is the same tacky fonts that are in use on the homepage of the site itself. If the site used something other than XHTML and javascript, the site could be done in a far more professional manner. Likewise, if the forum was to use phpBB instead of javascript, it would offer a far more professional look and feel. Overall, the site itself has a host of valuable information, and it is presented in an easy to use and easy to navigate manner, however, the style of the site leaves much to be desired. Ballroom dancing is supposed to be elegant and beautiful, and a poorly designed site tends to not only detract from that, but also shows disrespect to the art