Leader's role in strengthening the community: the case of 10 communities at Druskininkai municipality

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Kaimo bendruomenė; Lyderystė; Leadership; Rural community.

ENPurpose – The goal of the article is to distinguish the key skills and characteristics of a leader aiming a successfully developing community. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative analysis of empirical data was carried out. The method of the research – a questionnaire-based survey and descriptive statistical analysis. The generalized results of the research are presented in diagrams and tables. Findings – It was determined that in order to be an effective leader in rural communities, a person should be highly initiative and motivated to work for the prosperity of the community. Also, characteristics of responsibility, energy, and ability to summon the members of the community to seek for common goals were distinguished. The results of the research also revealed that trust in the leader is higher in communities that are highly focused on the goal. The respondents link the leader’s ability to rally the members of the community to focus on a goal with better effectiveness of project execution, more successful attraction of funding for activities, better representation of the community members’ interests and strengthening of the community itself. Research limitations/implications – the research was conducted in a frame of a single Lithuanian region – 10 communities in Druskininkai municipality were examined. Due to this limitation, we can only evaluate the insights of the research as general tendencies. Practical implications – the results of this research may be beneficial to community leaders in strengthening their communities and improving the quality of their activities. Originality/Value – based on the results of the research, the authors compiled a concept of leadership expression in rural communities, the purpose of which is to motivate teamwork in rural communities by developing leadership, strengthen the communities and improve the quality of their activities.The article is based on a new approach to a community leader’s ability to reach results relevant to the community. [From the publication]

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