The functions of a leader depend on the kind of the group, which is being led. It depends on the structure and the goal of the group. Political, social, or religious leaders have different functions to perform. The general of an army has to perform a different function from that of the priest in the church.
1. THE LEADER AS AN EXECUTIVE:
The leader has a very important function
of co-coordinating the activities of the group. So a leader in his executive
capacity does not carry out work or activities but assigns it to other group
members, as well as sees the proper execution of the policies.
For instance, the leader of a political
party makes it a point to see that the policies of the party are being
executed. He also assigns the work of party propaganda to some persons,
secretarial work to some others while the election work to some other members.
He organizes discussions for the execution of the plan and acts as a guide
during the discussion.
However, sometimes, the leader is not able to delegate responsibilities and authority and feels necessity to be personally involved in each group activity. Such situation may prevent members from sharing responsibilities affecting their involvement in the work of the group.
2. THE LEADER AS A PLANNER:
The leader functions in the capacity of
the planner too. He decides what ways and means are to be adopted to achieve
the objective of the group.
He plans the work of the grouping such a
manner that the goal of the group may be achieved through proper steps being
undertaken at the present and also in future. Thus, his planning may be for
short term.
Frequently, the leaders are the only
persons who know in complete details the plan to be adopted to achieve the
group goal. The members are only told about some of the fragments of the plan
with which they are concerned. Often the plan is drawn in such a manner that
the execution in parts of it would ultimately lead to the attainment of the
group objective.
For example, for the security of
3. THE LEADER AS THE POLICY MAKER:
An important function of the leader of any
social group is to plan out the group goals, objectives and policies. The
leaders may themselves plan the policies or objectives or they may get the
policies or objectives from other sources and then may try to establish then in
the group.
4. THE LEADER AS AN EXPERT:
Leaders are generally viewed as the
sources of readily available information and skills or expertise. The leader must,
therefore, be quite a capable
individual. In many informal groups, often the person demonstrating, the
greatest technical knowledge and skills becomes the leaders.
For example, during camping, the guide may play the role of a leader because of his familiarity and knowledge about the area.
5. THE LEADER AS AN EXTERNAL GROUP
REPRESENTATIVE:
In case of large groups it is not possible
for all members to directly deal with other groups. Thus, the leader assumes
the role of representative of the group in its external relations. All
communications outgoing and incoming are channeled through the leader.
Also, the group’s unity is enhanced when
the leader functions as the symbol of the group.
In
the governing bodies of the various universities, leaders act as the
representative of their own group.
6. CONTROLLER OF INTERNAL RELATIONSHIP:
The leader has also to function as the controller of internal inter-personal relations, among the members of the group. He makes efforts to raise the moral standard of his group. He wishes that the group may progress and there are established good relations among its members.
7. THE LEADER AS PURVEYOR OF REWARD AND
PUNISHMENT:
The group members perceive the leader as
having power to apply rewards and also punishments. This enables the leader to
exercise control over group members. Rewards and punishments may relate to
being promoted to a higher position, giving special honors, or taking away the
responsibility assigned or lowering of the status as the case may be.
8. THE LEADER AS AN ARBITRATOR AND
MEDIATOR:
If there are certain conflicts and
discussions in the group, the leader acts an arbitrator and mediator. He acts
as a judge and gives his judgment regarding the ways in which the conflict can
be resolved.
9. THE LEADER AS AN EXAMPLAR:
The leader should serve as a model of
behavior to the members of the group. He should by his own example, stimulate
them to do such activities with which the group’s objective can be realized.
The commanding officer in the armed forces that leads his troops into the
battlefield serves as an exemplar. Sometimes the leader provides the ideology
of the group. He serves as the source of the beliefs, values and norms of the
individual members.
10. THE LEADER AS THE FATHER FIGURE:
The leader may also play the emotional role of the father figure for the individual members of the group. The leader is the ideal object for identification, for transferring feelings, and providing a focus for positive thinking. The members may have same feelings towards him as the child has towards his father. This role may form the basis of power of a leader in certain circumstances.
| Top |