Characteristics of modern leadership

Leadership is a key method of management. There are different conceptions of this term. We study it as alternative to traditional directive system of management, as a fundamentally different type of relationship between manager and subordinate. It's not a necessity that leader possesses outstanding talents. Essentially leader should be ready to take responsibility and possess will and aspiration for further development.

First person of the company/team/department is the Leader - he/she creates leadership system that involves all employees without confines of hierarchy levels. In other words this is not purpose of only chiefs of all sorts that have subordinates, but every company employee should be a leader, because leadership means responsibility for success of the enterprise, of the team and for achievement of common goals.

Main goal of leadership is an improvement of organizational system. That means not only eliminating consequences of existing problems but analyzing these problems' sources and reasons. To do this without help of employees is impossible. Outside consultants are not efficient helpers in these questions, because they can receive not adequate information about reasons of defects. That's why average employees should be the leaders of processes and projects for which improvement they are responsible, because leadership is inseparably related with team that performs common work. Person that considers himself a leader works much more efficiently and is much more competitive than a simple executor. Among leaders there cannot be traditional hierarchy: chief - subordinate. Responsibility is the key word for understanding of the new hierarchy. Some leaders have a wide scope of responsibility, other - a narrow one. Leaders with wide competence and responsibility should guide and help leaders with narrow scope of responsibility, but not command what to do. Of course establishment of leadership does not mean canceling of all administrative methods. Formal order of management can remain, but orders coming from persons of higher level of responsibility are not anymore commands that constrain subordinates to do something, even if it does not coincide with their opinion. New orders are verifications of attained consensus about ways and methods of task performance. Achievement of consent is a result of "brain storms", discussions and team collaboration.

Edward Deming has elaborated characteristics of modern manager:

Team leader should monitor the work of each team member and be in touch in case of some issues. It is very important for efficient team leader to possess the instrument that allows team tasks management. Instrument that can help to plan and track tasks, make a schedule for team members, make project performance visible for everyone and measurable.