Strategic Leadership and Future Leaders: Influence Processes (Research Paper Sample)

Strategic Leadership and Future Leaders: Influence Processes
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Influence Processes
Introduction
Good leadership involves the ability to influence others thoughts, opinions and decisions. The influence processes are paramount for strategic leadership. Leadership entails a clear and worthy vision and the ability to accomplish the vision (Burns, 2012). The purpose of this study is to compare the leadership style of three US presidents, Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and George Washington and their ability to use the influence processes to impact others.
For a strategic leader to achieve a vision, the leader must possess the ability to influence others. Influence refers to a force exerted on a person by another to induce change in the targeted or specific individual. Influence is very powerful because it can change the behavior of an individual, goals, attitude, needs, opinions and values. Therefore, influence is a necessary factor for strategic leadership as it focuses on how a leader impacts change or affects others. In fact, in leadership, the dimension of influence mandates the leader to impact the lives of the followers or people being led. However, making change in the lives of other people is associated with a tremendous amount of ethical and social burden (Porter, Angle & Allen, 2003).
Strategic leaders use various influence processes to alter the behavior of their followers. Therefore, the influence processes are described as the five critical aspects that leaders use to mold the characteristics of an organization, resources and people (Rush, 2012) as discussed below.
The uses of direct decisions by leaders provide them with influence ability to alter their followers’ choices. Direct decision is closely linked with control as leaders use it to formulate visions and mission aspects of an organization. Furthermore, leadership power is very important because it gives them the ability to influence the factors that affect their followers via direct decisions. In addition, the ability of leaders to make judgments that affects the structure of an organization, gives them the power to dictate decisions to be followed by the members of an organization (Porter, Angle & Allen, 2003).
Leaders use the allocation of resources because they have the power to control the various organizational resources, for instance, human resource, technology and monetary resources that have an impact on how work is done in the organization. A leader has the power to allocate funds to department that is struggling to meet its organization’s objective due to shortage of funds (Rush, 2012).
Moreover, through the use of power, leaders can choose to reward the behavior and actions of employees. The reward system is very fruitful because it motivates employees to work hard, which in turn impacts performance and job satisfaction. For example, a leader can offer monetary incentives to hardworking employees (Burns, 2012).
Similarly, leaders have the ability to influence others by strategically using their power to promote the leaders who are at par with the organizational objectives and goals as well as those leaders who strive to achieve (Porter, Angle & Allen, 2003).
Lastly, leaders can use the influence process of role modeling to shape and nurture the opinions and behavior of their followers simply by acting as a role model. According to research, followers generally pursue the path taken by a strategic leader (Burns, 2012).
US Presidents
George Washington
George Washington was the 1st US President. He is greatly remembered for leading the Continental Army and defeating the British Colonialists during the American Revolution. He is a national hero who wrote the American Constitution (Bibliography.com, 2015).
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is arguably one of the greatest American Presidents. He was the 16th President of the United States who preserved the US during the civil war and led about the abolition of slavery. His story is one of starting from a humble background an ascending to power to one of the most prestigious positions in the world (HISTORY.com, n.d.).
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of America. He impacted the world by helping to redefine the government’s purpose and ended the Cold War era by pressurizing the Soviets to end it. In addition, he was a key figure that solidified the conservative agenda for years even after the end of presidency (HISTORY.com, n.d.).
After clearly understanding the brief about the three US Presidents, the next segment is focused on comparing their leadership styles, with reference to the use of influence processes. As stated earlier, the influence processes are critical for efficient leadership. The above highlighted Presidents were great leaders recognized worldwide.
Leadership Analysis
Decision Process

George Washington

Abraham Lincoln

Ronald Reagan

Direct decisions

Washington was a visionary leader and a strategist. He influenced the colonial army to fight against British occupation. In fact, he influenced his army to use the Fabian strategy of quick attacks and retreats. After defeating the British, he gave up being the President after risking his life in battle. This decision greatly influenced the American democracy to grant Washington the Presidency reign (Brookhiser, 2009).

Abraham Lincoln was benevolent leader who influenced his followers by his decision for emancipation of slavery (Lincoln & Distinti, 2011). He also made the decision to fight and protect his country from falling apart during the civil war.

President Reagan made the decision to communicate his vision. A vision which impacted others that he created a vast number of followers. He also made the decision not to micro-manage but to lead people (Preston, 2001).

Allocation of resources

President Washington during the crusades against the British led an army that was not as equipped as the Colonialists. He allocated resources wisely to feed the army and boost their morale to soldier on (Brookhiser, 2009). During his presidency, allocated resources to show the federal authority against the Whiskey Rebellion.

President Lincoln allocated resources to nurture the American foreign policy that prevented other countries from interfering with the civil war. He also supported the transcontinental railroad by signing a bill to charter the railroad, a strategic decision to lead America to growth (Lincoln & Distinti, 2011).

President Reagan allocated resources to the neglected US military and engineers that promoted the defeat of the Soviets. He also set up resources to foster economic growth and prosperity (Preston, 2001).

Reward system

George Washington moved the US capital from New York to Philadelphia before the government settled for DC. Philadelphia’s city of Pennsylvania was rewarded to host the
Federal government until 1800 (Brookhiser, 2009).

President Lincoln shared credits to the most outstanding cabinet members. It was a very good reward system because it lured other cabinet members to achieve.

Reagan rewarded the Ame...