leadership. In all aspects, leaders must organise with a purpose clearly
in mind at all times.
Leaders should consider their organising skills by reference to the
Task, Team and Individual as follows:- Task: is there a common purpose?
- is it broken down into aims and objectives?
- how is it/are they communicated?
- Team: what are the teams/sub-teams?
- how do they contribute to the purpose?
- do they relate together as a team?
- Individual: do they have freedom and discretion?
- are individual needs being met?
Further questions in surveying your organisation are :- Do the Task/Team/Individual circles overlap sufficiently to
provide and maintain high morale in the face of difficulties? - How are tensions resolved and are there adequate systems /
disciplinary procedures/dispute handling methods in place?
The size of working teams/groups should be examined to assess the
importance of these factors:- Task/technology – complexity narrows the span of control, ie.
is the team too big to control/handle this aspect and does it mesh
properly with other teams? - Communications – especially with geographical/physical
dispersement, are they good enough? - Motivation and autonomy – is the training commensurate with
any wishes to be self-sufficient? - Competence of leaders – are large teams led by good enough
leaders, what are the leader’s other commitments and does
he/she have good/specialist support?
140 The John Adair Handbook of Management and Leadership