FORMAL LEADERSH

CO N TEN T

Definition
Formal leader
Formal group
Types of formal group
Advantages
Disadvantages
Scholar quotes
Women in leadership
D EFIN ITIO N

Formal leader is a person

exercising authority conferred upon
him by the organization pursuant to
the individual's position in the
organization. An example of formal
leadership is the ability of a company
president to exert control over
employees, which is based upon his
status as president of the company.
KEY CO N CEPT

a formal leader in an organisation

who holds the post fixed by the
management, possesses the
organisational authority to direct and
control the activities of his
subordinates,
 FO RM AL LEAD ER

Managers, directors are formal leaders in a

typical organization.
formal leader is officially bind to drive
members towards organizational goal and is
responsible for results or outcome of efforts
at the end.
In todays competitive world, most of the
managerial jobs demand leadership
qualities, inter personal and inter group
interaction and a manager has to manage
different type of responsibilities and roles.
 FO RM AL G RO U P

Origin :A formal group is deliberately

structured and planned to sub serve
organizational interest. The manager decides
about the activities of each individual and his
interaction with others. They come together
because of the interdependence of their
operations or their mutual dependence on
their common boss
the members develop their activities,
interactions and sentiments towards each
other which are not cared for by the formal
organization.
 FO RM AL G RO U P

Purpose of the Group Formation :The main

purpose of formal groups is to serve the
organization as means to formal ends.

Authority :The authority to a formal group is

given by the institution according to the
position on the organization chart. It is given to
the position and not to the man concerned.
Whosoever be in that position, will enjoy the
authority. Authority in such groups is acquired
through delegation from the above to the
downward
 FO RM AL G RO U P

Communication :All messages-

upward or downward-pass through
the chain of command strictly as
given on the organization chart.
Control on Behaviour :Behaviour
of the people of the formal group is
regulated by the rules and
regulations.Violation of any rule
attracts penalty and punishment.
 FO RM AL G RO U P

Size :Formal groups are quite large

because personal relations have no
concern there.
Nature of Group :Formal groups
are stable in character and continues
for a longer period.
Sanctions to Members :Members
are suitably rewarded or punished for
their work done in a formal group
according to the formal rules and
 FO RM AL G RO U P

Abolition of the Group :As formal

groups are subject to management
control, they can be abolished at the
discretion of the proper authority.
Number of Groups :The whole
organization (formal group) is divided
into several units and sub-units
working for the common cause
EXAM PLES O F FO RM AL
G RO U PS
Examples of formal groups, or formal
organizations, in society include
military units, corporations,
churches, court systems,
universities, sports teams and
charities. Formal organizations
denote a social system defined by
clearly stated rules, norms and goals.
Formal groups have several sets and
subsystems that work to achieve
these goals for both short- and long-
D if e
frent Types of Form al
G roups
Permanent and Temporary Formal
Groups.
Command Group such as sections,
department etc.
Functional Groups
Status Groups involve the
members of the same status in the
organization.
3.FunctionalG roups

Team groupspecifies no fixed role

to its members.
(b)Task groupspecifies a fixed job
to each of its members.
(c)Technological groupis allotted
the roles by the management.
 Indian defence has three main
divisions the main goal of all three
divisions is to safeguard the country
but each divisions achieve this
differently through air water or land
power
Within each branch of the armed
forces, special units attain smaller
goals.
eg.surgical strike by
Advantages ofForm al
O rganization
Security:A formal organization is
more established and the entity of
the company is not dependent on
individual losses. So working in such
a organization provides a secured
financial financial support to the
employees and the employees
working here is more devoted to
work.
Advantages ofForm al
O rganization
Commissioned ranks open to
men and women graduates:A
formal organization will always put
preference to recruit graduate or
highly educated personnel I the
company in a way creating job
opportunities for this class of people.
Advantages ofForm al
O rganization
Good retirement benefits:The
organization of such value will
arrange a plan for the employees so
that they can retire with benefits.
Advantages ofForm al
O rganization
Clarity in chain of command:In a
formal organization the chain of
command is clearly drawn so that
personnel in the organization can
follow them as per and ordered to do
so. In a formal organization the chain
of command is strictly followed to
achieve the company goal.
Advantages ofForm al
O rganization
Decision Making Process:It
provides a structure for laying down
pay scales and taking other decisions
linked to organizational levels. A
formal organization is logical
distribution of resources to achieve
the company goal in a most efficient
manner. Any decision making
regarding the organization is easy
and easy to implement.
D isadvantages ofForm al
O rganization
Limited Flexibility:As this type of
organization is very specific in every
activates there is very little margin of
flexibility and spontaneous decision
making in the company. Such
practice in the company can be
demotivating to the employees.
D isadvantages ofForm al
O rganization
Slowness of processing:In a
formal organization for performing a
task needs many formal procedures
to accompany. Such formalities often
slow down the implementations of
decision making.
D isadvantages ofForm al
O rganization
Quality of decision:Sometimes the
quality of the decision made in the
top management may not be most
compatible for the company but the
chance of correction is very scarce.
1.Eff
ective com m unication

Chankya quotes- When in the court,

he shall never cause his petitioners
to wait at the door, for when a king
makes himself inaccessible to his
people and entrusts his work to his
immediate officers, he may be sure
to engender confusion in business,
and to cause thereby public
disaffection, and himself a prey to his
enemies.
2.D ecision M aking

Chanakya quotes- All urgent calls he

shall hear at once, but never put off;
for when postponed, they will prove
too hard or impossible to
accomplish.
3.Addressing the needs ofthe
O rganization and Keeping
em ployees H appy
Chanakya quotes- In the happiness
of his subjects lies his happiness; in
their welfare his welfare; whatever
pleases himself he shall not consider
as good, but whatever pleases his
subjects he shall consider as good.
4.Accountability

Chanakya quotes- Whoever imposes

severe punishment becomes
repulsive to the people; while he who
awards mild punishment becomes
contemptible. But whoever imposes
punishment as deserved becomes
respectable.