Leadership in Forestry

Leadership is the art of influencing others towards accomplishment of goals. The approaches to leadership have been divided into two main types that are universalistic and contingency. Leadership behaviours are also translated into three commonly recognized styles as Authoritarian, Paternalistic and participative. Effectiveness of leadership depends upon the organizational levels too. At the executive level, leadership needs to be transformational; at the managerial level, transactional; at the supervisory level, personal. With different frameworks and the contexts, various organizations have varying concepts and style of leadership. More styles a leader exhibits, the better. Leaders, who master four or more leadership styles, have the very best climate and performance. The most effective leaders switch flexibly among the leadership styles as needed which should commensurate with the aspirations of the changing society. In Forestry the general perception is that the leader should be practical administrator, decisive, technically expert, knowledgeable, consistent, competent, responsible, strong willed, leading by example, good communicator and at the same time, he should also be considerate, compassionate, participative and problem solver. Though a long list of attributes and skills, but all can be acquired or refined and are required to be used as per the need of the hour.