ABSTRACT
That being so, what are the characteristics of the man who best leads in a complex problem-solving environment where he is supported by an able set of executives? This seems a straightforward enough question. But a straightforward answer is not possible without first clarifying the question further. Is the best leader the one who is most acceptable to the group, with the personal behaviour and image that most fit what people look for in a leader? Or is the best leader the one most likely, during the tenure of his office, to enable the team to reach its goals? That important differences exist between elected and effective leaders is well attested in the research literature. Unfortunately for the cause of democracy, elected leaders are not necessarily effective in achieving their goals. If a choice is to be made between these two types of leader, then from a management standpoint there is only one option: the effective leader has to be chosen. A more popular but less effective leader creates a fool’s paradise with long-term benefits being sacrificed for short-term gain. The very essence of a manager is that he achieves the goals he sets himself or which belong to that corporate body of which he is a part.
