INTRODUCTION
Organizations,
including law enforcement agencies, require leadership. Dependable and apposite leadership is crucial
to the success of any organization (Spinelli, 2006). Leaders aspire for change in people toward a
desired goal. Lussier & Achua (2004)
insisted that leadership was a procedure that not only influenced employees,
but leaders as well, to accomplish the goals of the organization through
change. Leadership entwines leaders-employees,
influence, organizational objectives, change and people. Leading involves people. Everyone is leading someone somewhere, but
the question is where and how. In order
to be a good leader one must be a good employee. Many scholars define leadership as one who
plans, directs, or guides people toward a mutual goal. Hesser (1999) noted,
“Leadership has two component parts, personal and organizational. Success, over time, demands knowledge of and
commitment to both”. Spinelli (2006)
describes a successful leader as being accountable and suitable. Leadership has been described as an influence
relationship among leaders and employees who intend real changes and outcomes
that reflect their shared purposes (Daft, 2005). The qualities for effective leadership and followership
are the same (Daft). The basis for good
leadership is a respectable personality and unselfish service to employees and
the organization (Clark, 1997). “The best leaders are those who are deeply
interested in others and can bring out the best in them” (Daft).
Kouzes & Posner (2007) add that
exemplary leadership comes from modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision,
challenging the process, enabling others to act and encouraging hearts.
Leadership in the law enforcement
culture has changed over the decades, but must continue to change in order to
address modern day problems. The purpose
for this paper is to examine police leadership from a historical and empirical standpoint
and discuss possible theories for change.
An in-depth review of the advantages and disadvantages of two leadership
theories (transactional and transformational) are explored as well as the
possible outcomes of each.
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