Before she retires, Meena, the head of the accounts department, prepa…

Before she retires, Meena, the head of the accounts department, prepares a junior officer to take over her post, so that the department’s work does not suffer when she leaves. Which importance of leadership does this show?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → A leader builds up a successor and helps in a smooth succession process.

Option (1) A leader handles conflicts effectively and does not allow their adverse effects. — Incorrect. A leader handles conflicts by letting followers express their feelings and disagreement, and then persuading them. Meena is not settling any conflict.

Option (2) A leader introduces required changes with minimum discontentment. — Incorrect. A leader persuades and inspires people to accept changes, so resistance is low. No change is being brought in here.

Option (3) A leader provides confidence, support and encouragement, and creates a congenial work environment. — Incorrect. A leader maintains personal relations and gives confidence and support to followers. This builds a pleasant work environment, but Meena’s act is about her post after she leaves.

Option (4) A leader builds up a successor and helps in a smooth succession process. — Correct. A good leader trains subordinates and builds up a successor. Meena prepares a junior officer to take over her post, so the succession is smooth and the work does not suffer.

NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “Importance of Leadership: … The importance of leadership can be discussed from the following benefits to the organisation:
(i) Leadership influences the behaviour of people and makes them to positively contribute their energies for the benefit of the organisation. Good leaders always produce goods results through their followers.
(ii) A leader maintains personal relations and helps followers in fulfilling their needs. He provides needed confidence, support and encouragement and thereby creates congenial work environment.
(iii) Leader plays a key role in introducing required changes in the organisation. He persuades, clarifies and inspires people to accept changes whole-heartedly. Thus, he overcomes the problem of resistance to change and introduces it with minimum discontentment.
(iv) A leader handles conflicts effectively and does not allow adverse effects resulting from the conflicts. A good leader always allows his followers to ventilate their feelings and disagreement but persuades them by giving suitable clarifications.
(v) Leader provides training to their subordinates. A good leader always builds up his successor and helps in smooth succession process. …”

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → A leader builds up a successor and helps in a smooth succession process.