Reflective Analysis Responses

How Leaders influence Followers
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Abstract
The paper addresses essential factors that create influence among followers. Leaders’ activities can manipulate the way the followers think and consequently have an effect on how they perform their responsibilities. Several leadership approaches that can manipulate followers include transformational leadership, democratic leadership, and autocratic leadership. This paper discusses these strategies and whether they impose a negative of positive change among individuals. The paper also highlights three aspects such as decision-making processes, level of contribution, and satisfaction in manipulating the followers. The type of approach employed by the leader affects these aspects. Additionally, the paper also discusses some of the characteristics that leaders possess that may influence their followers. These characteristics include charisma and inspirational influence. The paper highlights the way in which these qualities play a role in promoting productivity or satisfaction among other individuals. Further, the paper briefly highlights how these qualities benefit the leader in influencing their followers positively.
 

How Leaders Influence Followers
Leaders have the power to manipulate their followers in different ways. The way in which the leaders influence other individuals is through the leadership style adopted. The character of the individual also plays an essential role in influencing others.

Some of the leadership styles that can influence other individuals include transformational leadership, autocratic, and democratic leadership. The qualities possessed by a leader that may manipulate the followers include charisma and inspirational motivation.
Transformational involve their subordinates in working towards a goal. These type of leadership is important in driving influence in other people. The leader can communicate directly with the followers and direct them accordingly. Iqbal (2011) concludes that such leaders also continuously motivate others to focus on achieving success in the responsibilities that they have been assigned. Further, the approach allows the involvement of the subordinates in the decision-making processes. Such an approach manipulates other people in positively performing their tasks.
The autocratic approach leaves most of the decision-making process is undertaken by the leader. The subordinates may feel pressured to perform their responsibilities as directed by their leaders strictly. One of the main reasons why the strategy is influential is the close oversight undertaken by the leader. Although the approach allows fast decision making, the productivity level if the followers may be low due to poor satisfaction and lack of contribution in decision making. Autocratic leadership may have a negative effect on the followers because the environment presented in such an approach does not promote participation.
Democratic leadership is based on sufficient representation and involvement of every member of an organization. The leaders ensure that the followers have an environment where they can share their opinions and make contributions to various issues in the organization. The participation of others in decision making promotes team-work and also creates an enabling environment for productivity among the people involved. The followers also feel comfortable in organization or company where their opinions are considered.
Adeniyi (2007) states that an important quality that a leader may possess to influence others is charisma. A charismatic leader employs charm to help inspire other in achieving a specific goal. The followers may be attracted and help them emulate the leader. It also helps the leaders manipulate the followers in becoming devoted to their tasks which guarantees delivery of quality-driven results. The approach may have both positive and negative effects based on the extent of dominance imposed by the leader.
Another essential characteristic is inspirational motivation which also complements transformation type of leadership. Such a quality ensures that the leader promotes the quality execution of responsibilities by the followers. The goal of inspirational motivation is to enhance productivity and achieving success. The approach is very influential in implementing a positive change in the subordinates. The followers would feel that they are most comfortable under such leadership and also enables self-discipline. The quality also plays an important role in igniting innovation among the individuals in an organization.
In conclusion, leaders can influence their subordinates through the leadership style they adopt and the characteristics that they possess. These factors can either positively or negatively influence the followers. The important leadership approaches include transformational and authoritarian leadership. Important qualities include charisma and inspirational motivation. For effective leadership, individuals should perform assessments and identify their weaknesses and strength and make necessary adjustments that may aid in enhancing their influence on followers.
References
Adeniyi, M. A. (2007). Effective leadership management: An integration of styles, skills & character for today’s CEOs. Bloomington: AuthorHouse.
Iqbal, T. (2011). The impact of leadership styles on organizational effectiveness: Analytical study of selected organizations in IT sector in Karachi. Munich: Grin Verlag.