Dimensions of Culture in a Comparative Perspective, Essay Example

Model the Way

The concept behind this practice is that leaders are essentially figures who set the tone for the rest of the organization. Effective leadership is realized when leaders back their words through action, even better yet, lead through action while reducing the amount of time consumed in discourse.

Inspire a Shared Vision

This practice is founded on the notion that leaders are meant to give forward direction to where the organization is heading. Leaders should be able to develop an image of the potential that the organization holds and where it can be (Vinken, Soesters, & Ester, 2004). Through this foresight, they can use their influence and persuasion, they can help others see this perceived image and get them to believe in it.

Challenge the Process

This practice is founded on the perception that effective and successful leaders are willing to take risks and instigate change so as to take on the challenge of improving the organization. Any organization realizes improvement if, and only if, they instigate change. Successful leaders take on challenges.

Enable Others to Act

This practice is founded on the notion of teamwork. Any leader cannot accomplish success undertaking all responsibilities. Leaders are only efficient when they have a capable team to execute the required functions and processes. Empowering other team members allows for the delegation of duties and responsibilities, reducing lead times and increasing efficiency.

Encourage the Heart

This practice if founded on the idea that the process to realizing a vision and a mission are a long and times frustrating process. It is easy to lose momentum over time when such a process becomes demanding (Schein, 2010). As such, the leader has the responsibility of rallying his troops by keeping them motivate through genuine acts of caring.

Organization

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is one of the most prominent and recognized organizations in the world. It is a humanitarian movement boasting overs 97 million volunteers, staff and members worldwide (Borda, 2010). The organization was founded on three main reasons that form its objectives and mission in its operations. Namely:

1. To protect human life and health
2. To ensure respect for all human beings
3. To prevent and alleviate human suffering

Employees

Given the opportunity to be a leader in this organization, I would be willing to lead a group of five to seven individuals. Working in a team of 5 to 7 allows for flexibility and objectivity, while ensuring there is a considerable amount of creativity to allow for growth and development. Given the number is beyond 7, for example, a department of 15 to 20 employees, I would institute teams to help break down this number. An ideal scenario would be 5 leaders representing teams of 4 employees.

The five practice of exemplary leadership can be effectively applied throughout the organization to assist in improving performance and realizing its goals and objectives. The five practices would act as pillars and a benchmark for all leaders. Leaders can model the way through respecting and taking into consideration the opinions of all team members. This is integral in fostering a positive and conducive work environment for efficient flow of information between the specific functional units.

Leaders can inspire a share vision through developing an image of what the organization’s potential could be and getting others to believe in this vision. However, for leaders to effectively inspire a shared vision, they also have to listen and take into consideration the aspirations and ideologies that others have for the organization. This is the collective vision for the organization shared by all employees.

The world is constantly changing, and organizations and businesses have to adopt new procedures and measures so as to ensure it remains relevant and true to its cause. The Red Cross and Red Crescent movement can employ this practice and find new ways to respond to disaster when it happens. With the global threat of terrorism ever looming, it has become imperative that the organization forges new ways of responding to disaster.

Leaders within the organization can enable team members and staff to act so as to increase efficiency within the organization. The structure of the organization is suited for team work and collaborations. This model can only be sustained when individual functional units are able to realize their optimal potential. As such, leaders can create an environment that enables all staff members while availing all required resources.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent movement can employ the “encourage others to heart” to ensure its staff are motivated. The nature of work conducted by the organization can have considerable effects on an individual’s psychology and may cause them to waiver in their commitment. It is vital that leaders be able to encourage their team members to help maintain momentum towards realizing the organization’s goals and objectives.

Trait and Behavioral Theories

The trait theory is one of the core leadership theories studied in modern day business management. According to this theory, individuals are inherently born as good leaders and certain characteristics, commonly known as traits, that define a good leader have to be inherited. The behavioral theory supplements the trait theory by focusing on the internal or mental qualities and states. The theory postulates that leadership can be taught as they also employ observation. These theories will be integral in assisting in the development of the three key areas of improvement identified.

Taking Responsibility

Responsibility is an essential aspect of efficiency and optimal performance. In order for functions to be effected, they have to be delegated. The trustees of these functions would realize optimal output when they take responsibility of their performance, as well as the group’s performance, and apply remedies to improve such results. The trait theory identifies the virtues of a good leader, one of which is integrity. Upholding integrity dictates that leaders take responsibility for their actions, and those of their subordinates.

Assertiveness

An effective leader has to be able to take control of situations so as to ensure calm and order. In doing so, assertiveness is a quality that is critical and useful in complex situations. Assertiveness is a quality that is associated with autocratic and task-oriented leaders, as described by the behavioral theory (Lussier & Achua, 2013). The trait theory recognizes the need for assertiveness to create a balance in leadership. This is also in line with the democratic style of leadership in the behavioral theories.

Effectively Communicate

Performance is optimal at the point where information flow is seamless throughout all functional areas and units. The behavioral theory attributes bureaucratic, democratic/participative and people oriented/relations oriented leaders to be very effective at communicating (Northouse, 2013). The trait theory highlights effective communication as a characteristic of good leaders. The democratic style of leadership embodied in the behavioral theories is also highly dependent on effective communication.

References

Borda, A. Z. (2010). International humanitarian law and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.London: Routledge.

Lussier, R. N., & Achua, C. F. (2013). Leadership : theory, application, & skill development. Mason: South-Western Cengage Learning.

Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership : theory and practice. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Schein, E. H. (2010). Organizational Culture and Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Vinken, H., Soesters, J., & Ester, P. (2004). Comparing cultures: Dimensions of culture in a comparative perspective.Leiden: Brill.