Factors that positively contribute to the development of managers into leaders within an organizational hierarchy

Abstract

The need for this research stems from the need for organisations to develop, nurture and grow managers into leadership positions and identifying the factors that positively contribute to this growth within organisational hierarchy. In this study, leadership and management skill requirements are conceptualised as being layered or segmented, and are described using a one-by-one grid matrix. Based on this grid, this study utilises up to of five categories of management and leadership requirements: managing oneself, managing others, managing teams, managing functions and managing companies. The model is then tested in a sample of ninety two (92), junior, midlevel, and senior managers, within an organisation hierarchy. A quantitative research methodology was utilised, with self-administered questionnaires, developed to test for management and leadership dimensions among employees within an organisational hierarchy. Based on this the study explores those factors that contributed the transitioning of employees from managers into leadership positions. Findings support the element of the model through the emergence of the leadership skill requirement categories. Findings also support the second portion of the model in that different categories of leadership skill requirements emerge at different organisational levels, and that jobs at higher levels of the organisation require higher levels of all leadership skills. In addition, although certain skill requirements are important across organisational levels, certain strategic skill requirements only fully emerge at the highest levels in the organisation. However on management skill levels, it was found to be not conclusive, the findings show that management skill requirements are important across organisational levels, irrespective of the employee’s level in the hierarchy, be it at the lower or highest levels in the organisation. Lastly it shows that for management and leadership development, individual and personal traits are not as critical for managers and management development, however they are extremely critical for leaders and leadership development, as one transitions up the hierarchy within an organisation. This proved to be a valuable tool for conceptualising leadership skill requirements across organisational levels. Copyright