Final answer:
Comparing overt and covert leadership reveals that overt leadership works through visible, formal methods of influence, and primarily relies on the recognized right to exercise power, while covert leadership influences indirectly and operates behind the scenes
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparing and contrasting covert and overt leadership is pivotal in understanding their roles in the exercise of power, authority, and decision-making within an organization, especially during times of change. Overt leadership is directly visible and transparent, with leaders asserting their influence in a clear and recognisable manner. These leaders typically wield power and authority openly, utilizing formal channels of communication and implementing decisions through established hierarchies. In contrast, covert leadership operates behind the scenes. It is less visible to the members of the organization, involving indirect forms of influence such as persuasion or manipulation to affect decision-making processes.
In an organizational change context, overt leaders are critical as they provide a sense of order and organization, guiding members through transformation with a visible plan of action. Covert leadership, on the other hand, may work in tandem with overt leadership to subtly influence change and outcomes, ensuring alignment with the organization's goals without being the focal point of attention. While both types of leadership contribute to the organization's evolution, the overt leadership is usually associated with formal authority and a clear display of power, whereas covert leadership depends on the perceived legitimacy and the ability to operate within the sense of hierarchy and power differences while remaining less conspicuous.
Max Weber's study of power and authority highlights the perceived legitimacy as central to these dynamics. In essence, leadership effectiveness during organizational changes relies on the delicate balance and interplay between overt and covert strategies to achieve objectives and maintain stability.