**9.3 Theoretical approaches to leadership in organizations**

The study reviewed some of the theoretical approaches to leadership in organizations from social work perspectives. The study noted that the theoretical approaches in social work organizations are required to help the social workers understand that human beings are important with the sole purpose of fostering effective leadership that produce the services to meet the basic human needs of individuals, families, groups and society at large. These organisations use alternative theories to organizations from social work perspectives to foster effective moral work, upholding social

work values and principles that enhance people's social functioning. The professional and organisational competence in leadership is of paramount importance in both social work and non social work organizations. Mostly, teamwork and collective efforts using different leadership styles appropriate for social work organizations is deemed necessary for effective tasks and activities which lead to the achievement of its goals and objectives. In this context, the provision of organisational services and expert advice in both organizations was an indicative of an important aspect to all social work professionals. Also, within each organisation, fostering effective social work leadership as the management body has a function of constantly and continuously supporting for best ways to influence subordinates to accomplish the organisation goals and objectives [27]. The leaders achieve this by engaging in a continuous process of coordinating the human, financial and material resources using anyone of the social work theories and models. Thus any rules, policies and procedures guiding relationships and activities in an organisation are basically determined by leaders and this in turn determines the effectiveness of the organisation goals and objectives. Thus leadership in social work organisations possess professional and organisational competence and have expertise and knowledge needed across the whole organisation. For the organisation to grow and adapt to the ever changing community and societal needs and demands, social work leaders take much interest in change and innovation which eventually distinguishes them from managers that are more interested in preserving the status quo of the organisation.
