nformationFour Functions of Management and Leadership Styles

by Tamu Browne, studioD

A successful manager is an effective leader

Management is not an unstructured exercise based on intuition. Effective managers undertake specific functions, which when carried out increase a firm's profitability. Managers must have the ability to influence employees toward goal achievement, so the leadership style a manager adopts can affect his success. Successful managers are most often persuasive leaders.

Planning

Planning entails the setting of goals and includes the creation of a blueprint to achieve them. It is essential that managers create objectives, which serve to focus the efforts of employees, motivate them and provide a standard against which performance can be measured. Plans also serve as a guide to action and assist managers in resource allocation. For example, if growth is an objective, a budget may include funds for expansion of facilities.

Organizing

Another important managerial function is organizing, which can be defined as the allocation of resources to achieve goals. It is clear that this function relates to the planning function, as goals must be set before organizational resources can be deployed to assist in the achievement of them. An important component of organizing is the defining of the chain of command and the utilization of human resources.

Leading

Without the ability to influence subordinates toward goal achievement, a manger cannot be effective. No matter how well-crafted the objectives or how well-organized the resources, nothing can be achieved if employees are unwilling or unable to work toward the objectives. Managers who lack the ability to influence subordinates are often ineffective and find it difficult to motivate their workers to increase productivity.

Controlling

Control can be defined as a methodical process through which managers monitor employees and their activities to ensure that they are in alignment with the company's objectives. Control is an extremely important management function, as without it organizational activities would go unchecked, leading to inefficiencies and unfulfilled targets. The control exercise allows managers to take corrective action and contains an element of feedback so that there can be continuous improvement.

Leadership Styles

Leadership is critical to a company's profitability. The methods and manner that a manager uses to spur workers toward the achievement of the company's objectives is termed leadership style. There are four main leadership styles: autocratic, democratic, paternalistic and laissez faire. A manager may have a prevailing style or may change his style depending on the situation. This is known as situational leadership.

Source:http://smallbusiness.chron.com/four-functions-management-leadership-styles-64958.html

Question:

Theresa Baker owns and manages a small cafeteria in Newport.During her two years of operation, she has identified several problems that she has been unable to solve. First, there always seems to be a long line at the checkout register at the end of the lunch hour. Second, customers complain the slices of pie vary greatly from customer to customer. Third, her cafeteria seems to frequently run out of "special of the day" dishes. Fourth, on Sundays, about noon, a large crowd arrives after church and Theresa runs out of seat space.

Theresa has worked at other restaurants, and they all seem to have the same problems. After all, her former boss used to say "You can't please everybody all the time". Theresa is wondering if she should take her boss's position and just accept these problems as part of the business.

1. Leading is one of the four management functions. Is this the function that Theresa would use to improve her situation? Why or why not?

2. Do you have any suggestions for Theresa to improve her situation?