Effective leadership in change management

[Nero99]

Hi. The question is, what are the benefits of effective leadership in regards to change?
If anyone could help me it would e highly appreciated

[Shaye]

It's not in my text book but I found this exam question before I did my Change management SAC. It's from the 2008 exam, Q1e


Q1e) Explain how leadership is essential in effective change management. 2 marks

Leading is the process of influencing staff to achieve organisational goals. It involves activities such as communication,
negotiation and motivation.

Leadership, with its emphasis on communication, employee engagement and the ability to facilitate work relationships,
is essential for successful change to occur. If leaders do not have the skills to implement change it can lead to a situation
where employees resist and become confused, and a decline in morale levels could occur.

Weaker responses to this question generally suggested that leadership was the leading of staff. It is important that
students know the management roles of planning, organising, leading and controlling, and are able to apply their
intended meaning.

The following is an example of a good response.
"Change involves the alteration of some aspect of an organisation’s internal environment. Whilst leadership is the guiding and
directing of behaviour whilst simultaneously gaining support, confidence, respect and co-operation. With the nature of change
being that it is a time of transition and confusion, effective leadership is imperative for reducing resistance to the change by
communicating the effects of the change and reasons for the change with employees and demonstrating confidence in the change
themselves through their own behaviour. By showing empathy and concern for the welfare of employees during the change
employees are more likely to accept the change."



It helped clarify leadership in management for me, hope it helps you too!