LEADERSHIP Leadership is an important subject for managers because of the critical role played by leaders in group and organisational effectiveness. Leadership may be defined as the process of influencing and directing the task related activities of group members. Approaches to Leadership Three approaches to to the study of leadership have been identified: the trait,behavior and contingency approaches. The trait approach has not proved useful,since no one combination of traits consistently distinguishes leaders from nonleaders or effective leaders from ineffective leaders. The behavior approach has focussed on leadership functions and styles. Studies have found the both task related functions and group maintenance functions have to be performed by one or more other group members in order for a group to function effectively. Studies of leadership styles have distinguished between a task oriented ,authoritarian or initiating structure on the one hand and an employee cente...