Task Oriented Leadership

Definition – Task oriented leadership if to be defined in simple words is,” doing whatever it takes to get the job or work done”. The methodology tends to be tyrannical and focuses on completing tasks that are mandatory to meet the desired goals of the organization.

To manage a company, there must be somebody to look after the members of the team. So, a leader is assigned to each team who helps the members to carry out all the jobs correctly and to manage the work and maintain a healthy work atmosphere. When a leader is appointed to manage the tasks, this sort of leadership is known as task oriented leadership. Here, one emphasizes on tasks that are required to achieve goals.

Many times, task oriented leadership is confused with relations-oriented leadership. While task oriented leadership is about dedicating tasks to reach the desired goals, on the other hand, relations-oriented leadership focuses on relationships that are necessary to keep members and employees of the company satisfied with their job.

Students pursuing leadership need to understand the difference between task-oriented and relations-oriented styles of leadership as they are likely to encounter both the kinds at some point in their careers.

Since it emphasizes majorly on the goals that need to be completed, it often leads to a lack of attention to the well-being of the members. It can end up being a deficiency in many different scenarios.

Strength and weaknesses of Task oriented Leadership

The business strategists consume this leadership style. For setting up their business, they follow a Task-oriented path. More like the autocratic leadership style, this is about the completion of the target. They manage the workplace with defined schedules, deadlines, and assignments.

Here, we have mentioned some of the criteria which either strengthen or weaken this style. None of the techniques are purely beneficial. Each one of them has its demerits. And in this style, it is the same. So we will learn the Strength and weaknesses based on the principles followed by a task oriented leadership style.

1. More comfortable to reach the goals

As this environment has the principle of achieving goals, it focuses on it intensely. While providing the employees with tasks, they are given deadlines and the required tools. Here, management is easy. And this helps in keeping track of employee’s work. To review them on time and report the task on deadline, this leadership is best.

2. Completion of task on deadlines

Task oriented leadership focuses on results. Therefore, the leader provides the employees with easy-to-follow schedules which can help them get the work done quickly. The employees here are trained to work according to the requirement.

Creative activities aren’t encouraged. Here, job responsibilities are to focus only on the given work with provided tools.

3. Low Morale of employees

It is the major drawback of this leadership style. As we know, in this style, the employees are self-motivated. They aren’t encouraged by the leaders. They get all the work and deadlines.

They can ask for help only when there is a dire need for it. Employees can start getting negative thoughts which can ultimately lower their Morale. Overburden and no encouragement can make them feel unrecognized and unwanted.

4. The environment can be suppressing

Here, employees aren’t allowed to think much by themselves. The employees have to follow the procedures provided by leaders. There is no creative thinking. Neither are they appreciated for their creative work, nor are they asked to add any.

It stifles their creativity. No flexibility is required in this style. The problems and tasks have to be sorted with the given strategy. No different way is accepted or encouraged.

Characteristics 

As the entire concentration of a task oriented leader is to plan, strategize, schedule, and structure tasks to ensure that the goals are achieved timely.

A task oriented leadership style may include:

• Step-by-step planning to make sure that work is done properly
• Systems for reward and punishment must be formulated
• Goals, structures, and strategies should be continuously defined to keep all the members on track
• Achievements of specific outcomes should be prioritized
• Abiding by rigid schedules and routines
• Requiring employees to set process-oriented goals and thus formulate appropriate plans to achieve them

A leadership style that has all these qualities as a part of them continues to achieve its goals under the specified time. Thus it maintains the reputation of the company. It even ensures that a healthy environment is sustained.

Drawbacks of Task Oriented Leadership

Everything has its list of pros and cons. It is necessary to keep a balance between the two. A good leader is one who manages it all well and consequently, strategizes and carries out all the tasks properly.

Even though this leadership style is indispensable in a severe form, it can always lead to retention and motivational issues. Having a motivational crisis is indeed a significant concern since it demoralizes and shakes the confidence of any individual. It hence reduces the efficiency with which a person works.

Conclusion

Students need to be flexible since they can encounter either of the two leadership styles during their careers. Although task-oriented leadership increases the turnover rates, and it becomes easier to achieve the target goals still, they end up with specific problems.

The atmosphere of task-oriented leadership can be a little stifling on creative aspects from an employee’s point of view. And this can lead to the creation of a negative effect on their minds.

The workers are restricted to think out of the box. Thus, it increases the pressure on their mind to complete the task in a specific manner. No other way is accepted even to resolve any issue. Flexibility is stifled in this task-oriented leadership style.

So, how important do you consider task oriented leadership for business management purposes? Update us with your views in the comments below.