Leadership in the Contemporary Society: Perspectives of Social Work Students

Abstract
Leadership is a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and  coherent. Another popular definition of Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal (Northouse’s (2007, p3). Good leaders are made not born. If you have desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader .Good leaders develop through a never ending process of self study, education, training and experience (jago1982). 

The scientific training in social work education aims at making a career in the field of professional social work imparts necessary training to develop the basic knowledge, skill, techniques and attitudes in students to work with individuals, groups, and communities .Orientation to existing social realities social problems and strategies to deal with the knowledge and method of working with people enables social work students to grow as leaders, recognize themselves as leaders or find out leadership quality in people  they come across, or can act as leader maker.

To truly   understand what is leadership there is need to probe what is in the mind set of the people   with this view point an attempt has been made to understand the concept and perspectives of social work students about issues related to  leadership, characteristics of leaders and leadership crisis .

The study area, Bijapur city, is a district head quarter. It is socio economically backward district. In  Bijapur  Social work education  at post graduation level has history of less than 10 years .There are only four centers which imparts  professional social work education. Out of total 88 students studying in third semester. only 68(77%) students were included in the study comprising of 42(62 %)Female respondents and 26 ( 38 % )Male respondents.
Key words: Social work, leaders, Students, leadership.
              
Introduction
The scientific training in social work education aims at making a career in the field of professional social work, imparts necessary training to develop the basic knowledge, skill, techniques and attitudes in students to work with individuals, groups, and communities. Orientation to existing social realities, social problems and strategies to deal with the knowledge and method of working with people enables social work students to grow as leaders, recognize themselves as leaders or find out leadership quality in people  they come across, can act as leader maker .                                     
Leadership is a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent.  Another popular definition of Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal (Northouse’s (2007, p3).1 

Good leaders are made not born. If you have desire and willpower. You can become an effective leader. Good leaders develop through a never ending process of self study, education, training and experience (jago1982).2  

India is the magical land which has always been a very prime attraction for several western countries and tourists from all over the world. India has cemented her place as a world power for quite a few years now. India is the proud land which host the Taj Mahal. India is the proud mother of world renowned legends like, Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and many other greats. India has been a developing democracy but the rate of improvement has been appreciated by almost all countries. However, in spite of the tremendous scope and potential of the land which was once called the golden bird, the country today is facing a stiff crisis in the context of leadership. 

The country was always used to great personalities as leaders. However, the political scenario has changed a lot. The political field has been corrupted to a very huge extent and the politicians today are mainly people who have taken politics as an occupation. The main reason for this sudden crisis has been because; the best from all fields have stopped from entering the field of politics. 

There was a time when only the best could be a leader and that is what politics demands. When the question is of leading the nation, only a person who has an immense knowledge tank along with several other qualities can. However, the current situation is such that people, who have made a name for themselves in their own field, avoid the subject of politics. This has left such a vacant situation that people who are not apt or could not find any other work to do,  join politics. Thus, naturally, the great country of India is facing a crisis in the context of leadership which is not very good news for not only India, but for the entire world.3

Within  the power structure of every society certain  vital  integral individuals operate  within groups  to promote  stimulate , guide or otherwise  influence members to action, such activity has been  called leadership and the individuals have been referred as  to leaders. power holders, man of power, power centre’s  and power elite. According to Stegdill “leadership may be  considered as the process of  influencing the activities of  an  organized group in its effects  towards goal setting and goal achievement. “According to this definition  the minimum social conditions which permit the existence  of leadership as an follow  a group, common task, differentiated responsibility. Barnord  states that “Leader is any person who is more than  ordinarily efficient  in carrying psycho social stimuli to others and is thus effective  in conditioning collective responses. This being the case  the leader are those  who are able to identify themselves socially and psychologically in the group and work in a manner that result in the fulfillment of the goals of the organized group .4 

The highest quality of  leadership of all is the capacity to evoke its growth  in others .Young should be encouraged  to grow in social and political consciousness so as to maturely respond as citizens to the political  life of the country. Mahatma Gandhi said “ A man of character  will make himself worthy of any position he is given”5

Leadership is a relative concept. No person is a leader universally, in every type of situation, whether a person will become leader will, to a certain extent, depend upon  how for  he satisfies  the needs of the group so the leader has to be extremely sensitive not only to know the needs but to satisfy them also. A leader has to be able to rise  higher than level of the followers. Large difference in mental  level between the two however, is unfavorable. Desirable qualities for leadership are intelligence, popularity, initiative, personal charm, expert skill and so on.6      
                             
To truly   understand what is leadership there is need to probe what is in the mind set of the people. With this view point an attempt has been made to understand the concept and perspectives of social work students about issues related to   leadership, characteristics of leaders and leadership crisis .

The study area, Bijapur city, is a district head quarter. It is socio economically backward district7. In  Bijapur,  Social work education  at post graduation level has history of less than 10 years .There are four centers which imparts professional social work education. Out of total 88 students studying in third semester only 68(77%) students were included in the study comprising of 42(62 %)Female respondents and 26 ( 38 % )Male respondents.
 
Objectives
1. To elicit perspectives of social work student  about leadership; and
2. To know the gender of the respondents and their opinion about different aspects of leadership.
 
Material and methodology
Study area-Bijapur city
Study design –Cross sectional
Sample size-68 students
Study setup- centers imparting MSW education        
Study technique:-  Questionnaire
Statistical analysis:  Percentage and chi   square        
       
Inclusive criteria-All the students studying in third semester MSW course.

Exclusive criteria- students who are absent on health grounds, who are out of station due  to   personal problems, and who are not interested to participate in study.
   
Results
As  the  study  intends  to make an attempt to elicit basic concept, knowledge  and perspectives  about leadership and need of leaders for social development. Out of total 88 students 68 (77%) have participated in  study, comprising of 37 (54 %) female respondents and 31 ( 46 % ) male respondents. The respondents did not have any  question  about type of leaders. Findings are about basic concept of leaders.
 
Table No 1
Opinion of respondents about need of Social development

It is observed that there is lot of difference between essential and more essential need of leaders for social development .out of total respondents 69 % among   male 75% and female 65%  have opined that leaders are essential for social development .Where as among the total 26% and males 19% and female 32 % felt that there is more essential need of leaders for social development ,it is observed that 3% of respondents have not answered
 
Table No 2
Perspective regarding need of leader for Social development

An attempt has made to focuses on respondents Perspectives regarding need of leader for Social development. When asked about need of leaders for social development it is found 74% among all the respondents expressed that there is more essential need of leaders at present social scenario. 3% in general all the categories opinioned that leader are essential. It can be noted that Maximum respondents have felt that   there is more essential need of leaders in our society. 4% male &female respondents said that leaders are not essential for social development. 8% of respondents, 3% male and 5% female respondents have not answered .
 
Table No 3
Awareness about Scarcity of leaders among respondents 

An Attempt is made to know the Awareness about Scarcity of leaders among respondents. Maximum respondents (96%) among the total respondents have expressed that scarcity of leaders exists in our society. only 6% of males   and 3% of  females opinioned  that there is no scarcity of leaders. Such rational outlook itself is foundation for social development
 
Table No 4
Opinion of respondents about commitment of leaders for social development

Future nation builders need to understand social realities. With this view point opinion of respondents was collected about commitment of leaders for social development. It is  found that maximum that is 52 % among total respondents  (48% of male respondents and 54% of female respondents) said that leaders are not committed for social development. At  same time  average 44%  of respondents felt that leaders are less committed for social development. A very least respondents that is 7 % male 3 % females and 4% of total respondents said more commitment is found .
 
Table No 5
Distribution of respondents as per their like to be leaders

To find out a instinct wish, a existing passion for leadership question was asked whether they have liking for leadership. A maximum 87 % males, 49% females and 66% of the total respondents do not like to leaders, it gives researcher a hint that leadership is tough, is a complex phenomena to grow as leaders. Only 28% of the total respondents, 13 % of males and 40 % of female respondents like to be identified as leaders. It clearly gives us an idea that  females have craving  for  leadership status .
 
Major findings
Out of total respondents, 69 % have opined that leaders are essential for social development
It is found 74% males. 73% females and 73 % among all the respondents expressed that there is more essential need of leaders at present social scenario.
The Maximum respondents 96% have expressed that scarcity of leaders exists in our society.
It is  found that maximum that is 52 % among total respondents  48% of male respondents and 54% of female respondents said that leaders are not committed for social development.
40 % of female respondents like to be identified as leaders. It clearly gives us an idea that  females have craving  for  leadership status .
 
Conclusion
The issues, results   related to  the perspectives of social work students about leadership initiates  social work educators to focus on perceptions, and concepts about social realities, burning  social problems and issues related to social development among social work students. Professional social work curriculum should be broadly based  on needs to suit the various needs of  students. Every student cannot  be noted leader, can be a leader but in every one there is a desire to excel, a desire to do the best  and hence a distinguishing mark of an able social work teacher is to recognize the leadership qualities in a   students and make an sincere effort to encourage them, empower them, enable them to excel as future LEADERS.
 
References

1. http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadcon.html#sthash.cdhAucEm.dpuf
2. Donald clark concept of leadership http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadcon.html#sthash.cdhAucEm.dpuf
3. www.proud2bindian.in
4. Dr S Guruswamy Leadership managing cooperatives ,social welfare vol XL no 4 July 1993 p 33
5. Marie Mignon Mascarenhas, Family life education Value education A Text   book for college students p88
6. Shamshuddin what makes a leader Social welfare vol XL issue 4 1993 p-36
7. Dr Nanjundappa report.

Dr. Veena S. Algur
Lecturer, Dept of Community Medicine, BLDEA;s Shri B M Patil Medical College Bijapur.
 
Dr. S. A. Kazi
Chairman, Dept of Social work, Karnataka State Women’s University Bijapur.