The success or failure of a group depends on how well-managed it is. Even when a group has the most committed and loyal members, it is the leadership aspect that determines how far the group goes. There is a famous saying that goes, “Alexander the Great once said, “An army of sheep led by a lion is better than an army of lions led by a sheep.”
From the onset, you must understand that SHG leadership is about consensus and mutual agreement among members. While group by-laws may state the frequency of elections and change of leadership, members know among themselves who should lead them.
Consequently, the leadership style you adopt must respect the needs, ideas and feelings of the members, as much as possible, while at the same time adhering to the rules and regulations of the group. This is not an easy responsibility and that is why you are the leader.
Here are the main leadership styles / approaches with respective pros and cons
- Democratic Style: This is leadership by members, for the members and of the members. The leader’s work is to facilitate generation and consolidation of ideas from group members. Decisions are arrived at through consensus and collaboration. This is the most appropriate leadership approach in SHGs as it makes members feel they own the group and they are valued. Nonetheless, be careful when using this method because members can uncontrollable and it may take long to arrive at decisions.
- Autocratic style: This is a dictatorial approach whereby the leader makes decisions irrespective of what the other members believe is right. A dictator does not consult and this makes members feel unimportant. This approach can lean to rebellion and disintegration of the group. Considering SHGs are formed by consensus, this id the most disadvantageous approach to leadership. Despite that, a group leader must exercise a degree of autocracy especially when members take too long to make decisions.
- Laissez-Faire style: In this case, the leader provides the tools needed to perform groups tasks then steps aside to let group members exercise their discretion. In essence, this is a hands-off approach to leadership. Members are free to do as they want. As you may have guessed, this approach leads to disorganization and chaos especially when group members are not technically-gifted or self-disciplined. SHGs strike a balance between being formal and informal. Most members need guidance and leadership hence the need for a mix of democratic and autocratic approaches. However, a degree of laissez-faire can help generate creativity in a group.
To sum up, remember it is the members who have elected you to lead them. You are just one among equals. Their opinions and ideas matter. In addition, you bear responsibility for your decisions. Lead with wisdom.
