Contemporary Issues in Leadership : Finding and Creating effective leaders in Public Organization

 By : Melati Monikasari 

Presented on Seminar Online Fast Track Student on Tuesday, March 27th 2012 

 1.Introduction

    Leadership in an organization is a very important factor in determining the achievement of organizational goals. Leadership is the central point and policy makers of the activities to be implemented in the organization. Leadership is an activity to influence the other behavior in order that they would be directed to achieve spesific goals. Mean while, according to Robbins (2002 : 163) Leadership is abality to influence a group to achieve a goals.

    A leader should have the knowledge, skills, able to analyze in depth information to take an appropriate decision, he should be able to involbe the appropriate stakeholders in the decision making process. An effective leader is someone who can inspire his followers to achieve a better and higher than present. In fact an effective leader is someone who able to read situations, solve problems, be responsible, willing to develop followers and have integrity and ethics, because he has to give an example or act as role model for his followers. In the globalization era, a leader, especially in public organizations should be able to become a central figure who can unite the groups to interact and conduct cooperation for the achievement of organizational goals. With his ability be able to collaberate on one or few individuals of excellence in a group to complete a job.

 2. Analysis 

 2.1 Framing : Using Words to shape Meaning and Inspire Others 

       Framing is a way to use language to manage meaning. It’s a way for leaders to influence how events are seen and understood. It involves the selection and highlighting of one or more aspects of a subject while excluding others. Framing is analogous to what a photographer does. The visual world that exist is essentially ambiguous. When the photographer aims a camera and focuses on a spesific shot, he frames a photo.Others then see what he wanted them to see. They see his point of view. This is precisely what leaders do when they frame an issue. They choose which aspects or portions of the subject they want others to focus on and which portions they want to be excluded.

      We can look at Martin Luther King Jr.’s Influential “ I Have a Dream” speech, delivered on steps of the licoln memoriam in 1963, succeeded in putting the civil rights movement into vivid and moving terms that all could understand. King’s framing statement had a profound effect on the way people saw the struggle for justice in the years that followed.

    Framing is relevan to leadership today because in the complex and chaotic environtment in which increasing number of leaders work, there is typically considerable maneuverability with respect to the facts. Leaders can use language to influence follower’s perceptions of the world, the meaning of events, beliefs abaout causes and consequences, and vision of the future. It’s through framing that leaders determine whether people notice problems, how they react to problems. Thus, framing is a powerful tool by which leaders influence how others see and interpret reality.

 2.2 Inspirational Approaches to Leadership 

• Charismatic Leadership 

  According to charismatic leadership theory, followers make attributions of heroic or extraordinary leadership abilities when they observe certain behaviors. Charismatic eaders tend to be open, confident and have a strong determination to achieve result.

    The key characteristics of charismatic leaders following :

1.  Have a vision. Has a vision that proposes a future better than the status quo; and is able to clarify the                                importance of the vision in terms that are understandable to others. 
2. Personal risk. Are willing to take personal risks to achieve the vision. 
3.  Sensitivity to follower needs. Perceptive of others’ abilities and responsive to their needs and feelings
4. Unconventional behavior. Exhibit behaviors that are out of the ordinary 

     For example, Ir. Soekarno was one of a charismatic leader in the history of Indonesia. The people who follow Ir. Soekarno, leader of the magnitude, which has brought them towards independence, which is well understood and pervanding with the soul of the people and his speeches that continue to arouse the people to achive a glorious future.

 • Trasformational Leadeship

 Transformational leaders inspire followers to transcend their own self-interest for the good of the organization and ara capable of having a profound and extraordinary effect on their followers. These kind of leaders guide or motivate their followers in the direction of established goals by clarifying role and task requiments. The characteristics of transformasional leaders is (Robbins and Judge : 2008, 387) : 

1. Idealized Influence : Provides vision and sense of mission, instills pride, gains respect and trust
2. Inspirational Motivation : Communicates high expectations, uses symbols to focus efforts, expresses important purposes in simple ways. 
3. Intellectual Stimulation : Promotes intelligence, rationality, and careful problem solving 
4.  Individualized Consideration: Gives personal attention, treats each employee individually, coaches, advises. 

    Transformational leaders encourage followers to be more innovative and creative. Transformational leaders are more effective because they are not only more creative but also mpre effective because it can encourage its followers to be more creative too. The followers of transformational leaders tend to pursue ambitious goals, understand, and approve the organization’s strategic goals, and believe that they are pursuing the important goals. In the end, transformational leadership also resulted in a commitment on the part of the followers and instill greater confidence in themselves.

    Indonesia have a transformasional leader, he is Ir H. Joko Widodo is often called Jokowi since inauguration of Mayor of Surakarta on July 28th 2004 as the beginning of a breakthrough after breaktrough. One of the most often mentioned is his successfull in the process of relocating cadgers (PKL) is elegant. He moved to a thousand merchant of the monument to Klitikan Market Banjarsari without rejection. Under his leadership, the goverment of Surakarta patienly explained the significance of the move. Jokowi have to eat 54 times to persuade the cadgers for the past seven months. Jokowi success in managing cadger in Surakarta judged impartially on the micro economy and traditional markets. In fact, not only in terms of cadgers, Jokowi also considered to have a appreciation in building the economy and courage the growth of Micro Small Enterprises (SMEs) in Surakarta, by empowering traditional market limit the construction of the mall. The branding of Surakarta “The spirit of Java” is blown Jokowi not only able to boost performance and increase revenue (PAD) of Surakarta, but also it has become an inspiration for political of goverment in many areas.

 • Authentic Ledership

   Authentic leadership is leaders who know who they are, know what they believe in and value, and act on those values and beliefs openly and candidly. Their followers would consider them to be ethical people. The primary quality, therefore, produced by authentic leadership is trust. The authentic leadership build trust by share information, encourage open communication, and stick their ideals. The result is pepople come to have faith in authentic leaders.

   Ethics contact with the leadership in some point. The leader described as a bearer of moral values when they try to change attidues and behavior of his followers. If not unethical leaders tend to use their charisma to control his followers, which eventually led to complacency. While the ethical leader is believed to use their charisma to serve others. Because a moral standard for an organization, top excecutives need to set high etchical standards, such standards to show their behavior, and to encourage and respect the integrity of others. 

    Effectiveness of leadership means by which to be concerned about a leader in its effort to achieve the goals and content of the goal. Leadership is not free of value. Before you judge a leader as someone who is effective, we must consider the ways in which these leaders to achieve the goals and moral values of the objective. 

 2.3 Leadership Challenges for Public Organization in Global Era 

    First, the challenges og globalization is qualified human resources and the ability of national competitiveness. We all know that the global era has opened a new chances especially ini economics will bring a positive influence on prospects of national economics growth . However Indonesia have a great chance, it will be nothing for Indonesia society, if we do not have capacity, especially human resources quality like the technical expertise, skill, profesionalism, and competitiveness. In the context, a solid and reliable leadership is needed to consolidate the power and potential of Indonesian society. 

         Second the challenge of keeping national integration. Indonesia is a pluralistic nation that both in terms of ethnic, cultural, religious, and geography. Therefore, all levels of society and social components should strive to maintain and preserve the integrity of the nation. The reality of puralism of Indonesian society should remain a treasure, and therefore required an adhesive power to keep the integration of the nation. In this context, Indonesia still needs a leader figure who is able to integrate all the streghth of this pluralistic nation.   

      Third, the challenge of building a knowledgeable public ( knowledge society). This challenge is very important and serious, especially linked with the progress of science and technology are very high. Building a knowledge society is to build public awareness about thr importance of having the vision and sights of science and technology in preparation to face the global era. 

     Fourth, the challenge of openness and democratization. Society has changed so rapidly, and getting strong demands openness and democratization in life on nation and state. Therefore, the leader ship in future should be open, responsive, and accommodating to the aspirations of change and renewal. Without a commitment to be open and democratic, a leader will not have legitimacy from the public. In addtion, leaders will beobsolete, and irrelevant to the development of society. 

 3. Conclusion

       Leadership is a form of domination based on the capabilities / personal skills, which is able to encourage and invite others to do something in order to achieve common goals. Leadership is a unique combination of leadership, friends, teachers.A leader who has the spirit of leadership is a skillful leader who can do a combination of improvisation and to influence the behavior of followers in various situations. 

      Public organizatios are increasly searching for leader who can exhibit transformational lerdership qualities. They want leader with vision and the charisma to carry those vision out. And although true leadership effectiveness may be a result of exhibiting the right behavior at the right time, the evidence is quite strong that people have a relatively uniform perception of what a leader should look like. The attribute “leadership” to people who are smart, personable, verbally adept, and the like. 

          In order to face the large and complex problems in the globa era, in fact a great nation requires strong and firm leadership. With strong and firm leadership, is expected to bring Indonesia into the global era, there are four matters of strategic importance, the challenge of leadership in future is qualified human resources and the ability of national competitiveness, keeping national integration, building a knowledgeable public ( knowledge society) and openness and democratization.

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