**4. Leadership in welfare organisations**

What makes leadership in welfare organisations unique and different is that these types of organisations respond to dynamic and continually evolving social problems that confront people in their daily lives. The very dynamic nature of human relationships that most of these organisations have to deal with, also make leading these organisations a unique exercise. It is the nature of problems that are presented by people to these welfare organisations that make leadership in these types of organisations to be complex, multifaceted and therefore requiring what one may call an *all-rounder* kind of a leader, who is fully knowledgeable and in possession of broader skills and techniques to support, guide and enable her/his subordinates to effectively and efficiently respond to issues that are presented by their client systems.

Take an example of a parent seeking assistance from a welfare organisation for a teenage daughter who is a victim of cyber bullying. A leader who is leading such kind of organisation will have to ensure that subordinates are properly equipped with the necessary knowledge regarding cyberbullying and its related dynamics by giving the necessary direction in that regard. She/he should also ensure that they are acquainted to the continuously evolving internet space and the manifestation of cyberbullying as this digital space evolves. Such a leader will also have to ensure that her/his subordinates who will be working on this particular case, are at the same time equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge regarding the generational gap issues in order to enable the parent and this teen to relate and understand one other, while at the same time respecting and appreciating the family culture and values. More importantly, such a leader will also have to ensure that her/his subordinates are fully initiated regarding the organisational culture and mission.

The uniqueness of each case as reported within this organisation may also bring another layer which needs to be considered for example if it's a crisis a leader may adopt a more autocratic approach by giving instructions on how to intervene, or she/he may opt to rather leave it up to subordinates on how to respond to such kind of cases. Of course, her/his approach will also depend on her/his relationship with subordinates. All these factors imply that such a leader, should herself/himself possess superior knowledge regarding all these aspects in order to influence, guide, support and direct this subordinate on how to effectively and efficiently respond to the issues that are presented. In doing so, she/he will therefore not draw from a single approach or theory of leadership. She/he will rather need to possess an integrated approach to leadership, a basket of various approaches, theories and perspectives so that she/he can influence her/his subordinates in responding to this dynamic issue.
