COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

COURSE OULINE
INTRODUCTION TO LEADERSHIP
MEANING OF LEADERSHIP
IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

THEORIES OF LEADERSHIP
LEADERSHIP THEORIES
RELEVANCE OF LEADERSHIP IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
IMPORTANCE OF COMMUN ITY LEADERSHIP
IMPACT OF LEADERSHIP ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

LEADERSHIP STYLES
CONCEPT OF LEADERSHIP STYLES
TYPES OF LEADERS
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE LEADERSHIP STYLES
IMPACT OF LEADERSHIP STYLES ON DEVELOPMENT
CHALLENEGS OF LEADERSHIP OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS
MEANING OF MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS
ROLE OF MANAGEMENT IN SUCCESS OF COMMUN ITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
ETHICAL PRACTICES IN MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
EMERGING ISSUES AND PRACTICES IN MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITIES

LEADERS AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
STRATEGIES USED TO ENSURE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT
ROLE OF A LEADER IN COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
IMPACT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMNET AND PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES
MEANING OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES
ROLE OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
TYPES OF COMMITTEES IN A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE OF A COMMMITTEE
IMPACT OF COMMITTEES IN COMMUNITY ON DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
CHALLENGES OF COMMITTEES ON DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
INTERVENTION MEASURES
LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
MEANING OF LEADERSHIP RELATIONS
SIGNIFICANCE OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
ESSENTIALS OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
IMPACT OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS ON DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

COMMUNITY CONFLICTS MANAGEMENT

MEANING OF COMMUNITY CONFLICT
CAUSES OF CONFLICT IN THE COMMUNITY
FEATURES OF COMMUNITY CONFLICTS
APPROACHES OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND MANAGEMENT
ROLE OF COMMUNITY LEADERS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND MANAGEMENT
IMPACT OF CONFLICTS IN COMMUNITY DEVLOPMENT ACTIVITIES

COMMUNITY INTERGRATION
MEANING OF COMMUNITY INTERGRATION
IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY INTERGRATION
APPROACHES USED TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY INTERGRATION
IMPACT OF COMMUNITY INTERGRATION ON DEVLOPMENT

EMERGING TRENDS IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

EMERGING TRENDS IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
TOPIC ONE: INTRODUCTION TO LEADERESHIP
Leadership is a concept that many scholars have analyzed and written about. Different scholars
have defined leadership in various words. Thus the average working definition of leadership is as
follows:
1. Leadership is the process through which one member of a group influences other group
members towards attainment of specific goals
2. It is the process of influencing other people to work willingly towards attainment of a
specific goal without applying force on them
3. It is the process of decision taking
Community leadership
Community leadership is the process through which a member of a group through the
community or entire community influences the community members to work together willingly
towards the attainment of specific community goals.
Importance of leadership
1. It ensures proper use of resources by directing various resources to where they are needed
hence used properly
2. It guides decision making and goal setting
3. It provides a symbol of identity thereby maintains group unity
4. It maintains the group by helping reduce tension and hostility among members of the
community (through problem solving)
5. Proper leadership helps the community and its groups to relate with each other well
thereby promoting harmony
6. It is figurehead in all issues relating to the community and the outside world
7. It is a source of expertise in matters of community development (ability in terms of
experience)
TOPIC THREE: LEADERSHIP STYLES
Types of leadership in the community
1. Traditional leadership
Here traditional leader derives his/her powers or authority from a traditional status e.g. a son of a
king becomes a king upon the death of his father.

2. Beaucratic leadership
Here the leader gets its authority from delegation e.g. through election and appointments.
3. Charismatic leadership
The leader creates his / her own authority e.g. political party leader
Styles / techniques of leadership in the community
1. Authoratarian / Autocracy / Anarchy
The leaders determine policies, procedures and activities in the group without involving
community members. It is a dictatorship in its form and procedure. It takes up-bottom approach
to development / trickle down approach.
2. Democracy
This encourages participation of community members in decision making an action in a friendly
and helpful manner.
It takes bottom up approach to development and is believed to be most ideal style used by
successful community leaders.
3. Laisses faire (free market situation)
A leader allows complete freedom for decision making and activities giving his / her own
initiation to a minimum level (leader just comment).
It is applicable where people are fully conscious of their problem and are ready to participate to
achieve their goals.
Note: Studies have shown that the leadership techniques in the community have to be related to
attitude of the community members. There is a partial relationship among members including the
form of relationship among members including leader and the situation in which the leaders
function as part of the group structure should the community be characterized by ignorance and
conservativeness than authoritarian techniques in desirable.
General characteristics of a good leader
 Must be accepted by the community
  Must have the spirit and desire to lead
 Must be able to order the community members
 Must be a good listener and action oriented
 Must have skills to work with people so as to understand and learn human affairs
 Must have ability to mobilize people towards development
Impact of community leadership
 Promote sustainability
 Facilitate development
 Create peace / unity
 Rally people for development
 Ensure proper use of resources
 Guides decision making
Factors influencing leadership styles
 The leader
 The follower
 The goals and objectives
 The settings
The leader
Are important reasons for failure because they may not understand the objectives or fail to
communicate it to the group.
Adopt an inappropriate strategy or allow themselves to be destructed by periphery issues.
Leader’s style of dealing with problems may be so alien thus cannot establish rapport.
Responsible when goals are not obtained / achieved
Goals and objectives
 If unrealistic, things may not work right
 If there are difficulty in translating the general objectives to specific manageable tasks tat
can be carried out.
Followers
Leadership cannot exist without followers
If they lack skills
Select their own leaders whose aims look like others
Forms of leadership styles
1. Simple form
Styles are represented in terms represented in terms of two extremes. Any leader’s way of
leading at any given time will belong to one of the two extremes.
2. Continum leadership
Between the two extreme leadership there is a number of intermediate leadership style e.g.
autocratic and participative in between.
The setting
 Organization is the part of the setting
 Some of their expectations which can change
 Setting of policies of an organization
Impact of leadership styles in development
 It creates enmity e.g. the authoritative
 Risky but important development can be undertaken
 Promotes participation (democratic)
 Motivates e.g. democratic
 Realization of goals (e.g. production) both democratic and authoritative
 Improves community relationship (democratic
 Encourages use of force (e.g. authoritative leadership)
 leads to sustainability of the project (democratic/participatory)
Factors that influence leadership styles
 Nature of tasks
 Nature of group or followers
 Culture of organization (organizational settings
 Intelligence or educational level of the subject
 Community members themselves
 Level of explosive of the community

Factors hindering effective leadership

 1. Poverty – a leader who is eager for wealth will use al the resources of the community to
benefit himself
2. Embezzlement of community development fund
3. Lack of community participation
4. Poor infrastructures facilities
5. Poor communication skills
6. Illiteracy and ignorance among community members hence low adoption innovation and
new ideas
7. Duplication of projects leading to wastage of community resources e.g. one group doing
project on pottery then another group copies they lose the market
8. Political interference and sabotage of community projects
9. Influence of informal leaders

TOPIC FOUR: MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS

Management
It is the process of getting things done through the people informally organized groups. The
purpose of management is to ensure work is done and the objectives of the group or organization
are achieved. Management is totally art and science.
Management as an art
It means one can become an effective manager by practicing or assuming managerial duties.
Management as a science
Is seen as a systematized body of knowledge pertaining the past events to an area of study and
contains some general truth explaining a past event. It implies that management uses scientific
observations.
Management as a professional
As a professional management have the following characteristics:
(i) A system of organized and systematic knowledge
(ii) Formalized methods of acquiring training and experience.
(iii) Charging of fees based on performance
(iv) Existence of a professional association with clear art goals
Who then is a manager?
Manager is an individual who has been given the responsibility to ensure that the work done
through others to achieve organizational / community goals.
Qualities of an effective manager
 Professionally trained
 Creative (self starter)
 Good communication skills
 Honesty and intergrity
 Morally upright
 Good human and public relation skills
 Good decision maker
 Should be descent and smart
 Disciplined
 Respect other people’s rights
 Should always choose the diplomatic path
Principle of management
Various management experts have given various principles to help managers in management.
The most popular principles are those of Henry Feyal. He gave principle of management as
follows:-
1. Division of work / labour
The work should be divided among members of the group or organization to take the advantage
of specialization.
2. Authority and responsibility
Authority should be given to a person who has been delegated some responsibility to ensure that
the work is done. Thus authority should equal responsibility.
3. Discipline
All personnel serving in the organization should be disciplined. Discipline is obedience,
application of the required behaviour and a mark of respect shown by all the members of the
group. All the members of an organization should behave in an orderly manner.
4. Unity of command
It means that very person in an organization should have one boss or should be answerable to
one superior to avoid receiving conflicting instructions.
5. Unity of direction
Unity of direction means one unit and one plan. According to the principle each group of
activities with same objectives must have one head and one plan.
6. Subordination of individual interest to organizational objectives
The principle means that members of the group or the organization where a worker has
conflicting personal interest with those of the organization, association or a group. He / she
should forfeit his / her interest in favour of those of the organization.
7. Remuneration of personnel
Remuneration and methods of payment should be fair and provide maximum possible
satisfaction to employees.
8. Centralization
Similar work activities should be done at the same place. This principle also requires authority to
be decentralized.
9. Scalar chain
There should be a scalar chain of authority and communication ranging from the highest to the
lowest position.
10. Order
This principle requires that everything in the organization should be at the right place at the right
time.
11. Equity
It is the combination of justice and kindness. The application of equity requires good sense
experience and good nature for soliciting loyalty and devotion from subordinates. Treat everyone
fairly in the organization.
12. Stability of tenure / security
Ensure that the workers feel secured in their stability of tenure guarantees continued
employment from the personnel of the organization. Avoid making regular changes.
13. Iniatiative
It is concerned with thinking out and execution of plans. Encourage the personnel in the
organization o be initiative i.e. to come up with new ideas that can bring empowerment.
14. Espirit de-corps
This is the principle of ‘union is strength’ encourages teamwork at the work place.
Ethical practices in management in community development activities
Ethics refers to a systematized body of principles that have to be followed in carrying out one’s
responsibilities.
Ethics are the morals, norms or doctrines that have which have to be adhered to in carrying out
responsibilities.
The following ethical practices should be followed by the leaders / managers in the cause of
performing their duties.
i) Should be morally upright and behave in such a manner that he/she comes out as a
role model
ii) Prosperity of society depends on every members effort
iii) Accountability and transparency should also be guiding moral principles for
managers
iv) Respect for the rules of the day (current rules in the prevailing circumstances)
v) Managers should uphold values meant to enhance and promote success in the areas of
responsibility
vi) Managers should lead by example through hardwork. The personnel they manage
would then emulate their example.
vii) Managers should avoid biases which can come in the form of discrimination.
Discrimination based on class, colour, race, religion etc. should not arise in
workplace.
Emerging issues and practices in management of community development activities
1. Empowerment
Refers to the building of group or individual capacities to make progressive and independent
decisions
Empowerment entails activities like training the people to take decisions, resource conflicts etc.
2. Use of information communication technology
This requires adoption and use of now technology that can enhance work performance and
catalyze development.
Use of machines and appropriate technology is an example.
3. Professionalism
Emphasis is put on good level of education and experience in specific field of expertise.
Professionalism ensures that development activities are technically directed.
4. Accountability and transparency
Both require that leaders go about their duties with openness and be able to explain their actions
in communities / organizations they are managing.
5. Democracy
Stakeholders of community development projects should be allowed to involve and stir such
projects towards goals of their choice.
The involvement can either be by everybody or representative they select freely without
intimidation (discrimination / molestation).
6. Participation and involvement of all stakeholders
For effective management in community development activities, all stakeholders are required to
be involved in the participation in decision making activities.
7. Community initiatives
Community based development activities should originate from the people themselves. In this
case, therefore, the people will prioritize their needs as they arise locally.
8. Use of locally available resources
Emphasis are put on the use of locally available resources to not only empower the people but
also cut on the costs that would bee incurred if resources were to be brought in from somewhere
else.

TOPIC FIVE: LEADERS ANCD COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Meaning of community participation
This is a strategy in community participation which aims at involving collective engagement in
decision making and taking actions on problems of common welfare.
It entails activeness and willingness of the community to take part in development.
It may range from the contribution in cash and labour consultation involvement in administrative
and decision making.
Importance of community participation in community development activities
1. It ensures the success of community initiatives by reducing chances of misuse and
vandalism of project materials which could lead to despair.
2. It helps to promote and encourage the communities to initiate and run self help projects
so as to enable the community to partially / fully meet other development needs.
3. Helps reduce the cost of the projects in the community since its members contribute the
resources
4. It helps empower local communities to take to their own decisions
5. It helps to eliminate the paternalistic approach to development and encourages
communities to depend and pool together their potential manpower and financial
resources to be self reliant instead of becoming passive recipients of government or donor
aid.
6. Community participation also encourages unity among the community members
7. It helps to obtain more information and knowledge about local needs, problems,
capabilities and experience to support evaluation and planning purposes.
Strategies used to ensure success in community participation and involvement in
development activities
Community participation can be promoted through:-
1. Community awareness which is basically done through education and training
2. Field exposure – exposing the community to other development projects that are
successful
3. Moral support
4. Ensuring change agents keep their promises
5. Motivation where they feel induced to take part in the project
6. Involving the community at all levels of development projects from problem
identification to project implementation and evaluation.
7. Community sensitization and mobilization; this involves bringing the community
together to pull resources together for given purpose. It involves bringing them together
to discuss for common problems, identify their needs / effectively participate in a project.
Target for community mobilization
i) Local leaders
ii) Provincial administration
iii) Religious leaders
iv) Social welfare officials
v) Women leaders
vi) Local organized groups
vii) Youths
viii) CBOs and NGOs
Strategies for community mobilization
1. Sensitizing communities through public barazas, meetings, formal and informal
gatherings, group discussions and visiting people in their homes
2. Social and resource mapping
3. Use of historical profiles and vision mapping
4. Action planning
Roles of leaders in community participation
(i) To mobilize people and their resources
(ii) To educate the people to be aware
(iii) To unite community and make it fight a common enemy
(iv) To make the community see the benefit of the reward of the project
(v) To advice the people
(vi) Providing means of meeting the people’s needs
(vii) Helping to provide effective leadership
(viii) Help the people in conflict resolution
(ix) To integrate people
Impacts of community involvement and participation on community development activities
Through community involvement in participation:-
 Services will be provided cheaply
 More is accomplished
  Participation ha san intrinsic value for participants (value one has himself kept inside the
heart)
 It is a catalyst fro future development
 Encourages a sense of responsibility and self actualization
 It guarantees that a felt need is solved
 Ensures that things are done the right way
 Uses valuable indigenous knowledge
 Free people more conscious of causes of their problems and what they can do about it
 Enthusiastic community participation has play a significant role in developing and
increasing community awareness creation, a sense of responsibility and a pride of
ownership which results in success and high level of performance of the system.

TOPIC SIX: MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES

A committee is an individual or group of people who have been appointed and given a particular
task to perform or manage on behalf of the entire group.
A committee comprises individuals who have been delegated the responsibility to carry out a
task with a specific time period.
In an organization there exist various types of committees.
These includes:-
1. Executive committee
This committee manages the organization and has definite powers delegated to it to make
decisions and act on its own initiatives on behalf of the organization.
2. Standing committee
This is normally established to deal with a recurrent matter of an organization such as social
services and finances.
It is concerned with the details of the task delegated to rather than general policy matters. It acts
on its own initiatives within the powers conferred to it and has to report back to the executive
committee.
3. Advisory committee
This committee is formed to advise the executive committee it may form sub-committee whose
findings and recommendations are reported directly to it and in turn present them to the
executive committee.

4. Sub-committtee
A parent committee may appoint a sub-committee. Its members to perform a specific task
(committee divide themselves to smaller groups to investigate on a matter)
5. Ad-hoc committee (temporary committee)
This is appointed to carry out a specific task and once the task is accomplished the committee is
dissolved immediately i.e. Waki Commission
6. Joint consultative committee
This is a committee which comprises management and workers representatives. It is formed to
inform the workers about policies and management decisions and for workers to air their views.
(Committee that comprises different stakeholders in the organization i.e. the student, workers,
lecturers, management etc)
7. Committees found in community
These are various types of committees found in local community whose main role is to steer up
development.
These committees include:-
(a).District Development Committee (DDC)
Comprises all heads of departments at the district level and is chaired by the DC.
It ensures there are resources
It monitors the projects
(b).Divisional Development Committee (DDO)
Is chaired by the do and members are drawn from all sectors in the division e.g. religious leaders,
local administrators, leaders, representatives of town councils etc.
(c).Locational and sub locational management committee
They have the following responsibility:
 Monitoring communities to participate in the project activities
 Organizing committee meetings, mass awareness and elections
 Supervision and coordination of project activities at the sub location and location level
  Monitoring and evaluating project activities and reporting on the same
 Reviewing and planning for the location level; supervision and coordination of village
management on implementing projects
 Determining and approving village needs to begin work
 Distribution of resources to villages in liaison with other location leaders (locating and
re-locating of resources)
 Problem solving and conflict resolution
 Making financial records of the location and sub-location respectively
 Providing financial support of project activities
 Sourcing and putting in place rules and regulations and guiding the activities or
operations
General functions of a committee
 To supervise and manage the tasks assigned
 To make people aware or inform the concerned on the progress
 To identify good leadership and exploit it to the well being of the community
 To generate development ideas
 To set goals which works towards the attainment of development
 To increase the ability in handling their effort
 To help in promotion of desirable relationship in cooperative work
 To demonstrate to a given cost
Organization structure of a committee
Chairman

Deputy Chairperson

Secretary

Treasurer organizing secretary

Members
Guideline / intervention measures for making committee work effectively
The shortcomings of a committee can be minimized if a few simple rules are followed. Whoever
is appointed to a committee should ensure that:
1. The purpose of the committee is clearly stated in writing
2. Ensure that there is proper planning of the committee tasks
3. The size of the committee should be just adequate to obtain the representative and the
intellectual input required
4. Select the right members, in selecting members the following should be taken into
account
 The member should have required knowledge, skills and experience
 Should have interest in the committee purpose
 The member should have time to committee tasks
 The member should be psychologically compatible
5. The chairperson should be able to mange the committee meetings effectively
6. There should be an odd number of committee members so as to avoid dead locking of
important issues
7. The operating procedure should be carefully defined
8. The terms of reference and resources should be clearly stated
9. Provide needed information and assistance
10. Set realistic deadlines for the completion of the assignments
11. Carry out periodic reviews to establish if committee is still on task, track or doing well
12. Require semi-reports or final reports which all committee members are signatories to
ensure their commitment
13. A committee should be disbanded immediately when it has accomplished its purpose or
its period has come to an end
14. Ensure elections are carried out democratically to bring in new leaders
15. Take action on committee report i.e. show seriousness
Roles of management committees in community development
 Supervision and coordination of projects
 Monitoring and evaluation of project activities and reporting the same
 Distribution of resources
  Problem solving and conflict resolution
 Maintain financial records
 Determine and approve needs to begin work
 Source funds for project activities
 Formulate and put in rules and regulations guiding the activities and operations

Impact of committees on development activities

i) Provide an excellent media of discussion, education, training and communication
between management, members and all leaders
ii) It has a pool of knowledge and experience, collective advice, opinions and ideas
iii) Quality decisions can be made
iv) It promotes participation of the community members in decision making thereby
motivating them
v) It eliminates sloppy / not leveled / tilted / favouring and hasty judgements
vi) It is possible to secure full cooperation from all the members
vii) A sense of loyalty and commitment is felt by members when decisions are made
viii) The advice of experts on managed matters can be made available
ix) Development committees are known to receive support from donors than was
compared to projects managed by individuals which are considered to be fragile and
high risk projects
Challenges faced by management committees on development activities
i) No person is responsible for the decisions made by the committees thus weakens
accountability
ii) The decisions made by such groups tend to weaken (decisions are likely to be the
result of compromise hence may not be taken seriously when implemented)
iii) Because of several members, it may be expensive to maintain it since some members
may want sitting allowances
iv) Difference of opinions between some members may lead to delays in decision making
v) Some members may not effectively participate fully in the decision making where
they are not familiar with technical and practical details
 vi) Where chairperson is weak, overbearing of members may dominate the committee
vii) Committees may be misused by weak leaders e.g. politicians, chiefs etc. who are
afraid of making decisions
viii) Since committees have chairman, they are likely to have more powers, through the
powers of casting a vote thus enforce decisions
ix) There is a problem of political interference
Solutions to the challenges (intervention measures adopted to deal with challenges)
1. Provide necessary support to the committee
2. Monitor the committee activities
3. Appoint sizeable membership to the committee e.g. a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 7
members
4. Appoint members who are psychologically compatible to the committee unless otherwise
5. Motivate the members of the committee to participate in decision making e.g. providing
refreshment, sitting allowances, appointment letters, acknowledgement letters etc.
6. Appoint competent person to chair the committee
7. Train committee members in leadership skills
8. Ensure gender balance in terms of membership to the committee
9. If possible the committee should have representatives from all sectors e.g. religious
leaders, local administrative leaders, laymen, teachers etc.
10. Help the committee to resolve conflicts among the members

TOPIC SEVEN: LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Community relation is the same as public relations.
Community relation refers to a planned and sustained campaign to ensure mutual understanding
among the community members.
In his words, Oesophus said that there is nothing that can prosper without a positive name.
Community relations refer to the efforts that are made by the community leaders to ensure that
there are increased good relationships between individuals, groups and organizations in the
community.
This is a deliberate campaign that is undertaken by those in authority to try to create and
maintain good relationship among the community members that leads to good will among all.
Significance of community relations
a) It improved the relationship of the members of the community
b) It create unity among the community members
c) It enables people to work as a team in development activities to attain progress
d) It improves cooperation between community leaders and their members
e) When people are united there is mutual understanding, the community becomes stable
f) Good community relationship leads to goodwill i.e. improved security, lees crime,
improved social welfare facilities amongst others.
g) A positive image of community attracts investors in the community i.e. people invest in
businesses
h) If the country has good relation, it leads to good international relations
Essentials of effective community relations
1. Community leaders must be willing to serve the public
2. Should relate to other people in a friendly manner
3. Leaders should be time conscious in relation to use needs
4. Leaders should be polite and understanding
5. Respect should be encouraged among the people and one self
6. Community leaders should know their people, their potential and limitations
7. The leaders should believe in the abilities of community members and make use of it
8. The leaders should praise those who do right openly and in public when it is due
9. The leaders should be sincerely interested in their members
10. Community leaders should believe and promote teamwork in the community
11. The leaders should not be afraid to share responsibility, names and where they come from
12. Community leaders should not be afraid of relatives, wild complains from their
subordinates but instead analyze conditions beyond criticism and complain
13. Community leader should know the people with their names and where they come from
14. The leader should accentuate (draw attention to)the past while establishing rules for the
people
15. Community leaders should tell the community members why things are to be done i.e.
tell people in advance about the proposed changes, a propose project, tell them why and
try to make them accept the changes
 16. Should let the community members know how they are getting along what you expect out
of them point ways to improve
17. Be a good listener when listening to their problems show them tat you rare listening
18. Be knowledgeable about the diverse cultures of tribes, clans in the community
19. Promote good leadership through democratic style
20. Call public meetings e.g. barazas and inform the people about policy issues
21. Helps to resolve conflict effectively in the community
22. Increase community networks
Roles of community in community relations
All essentials discussed in effective community relations are exactly the roles community leaders
are to undertake. However, community leaders should understand that the purpose of community
relations is promoting good public relations in the community.
It helps people to get along well with one another and therefore the leaders are able to utilize
them to undertake development activities.
Impacts of community relations on development
i) It creates harmony among the community members thereby enabling people to
concentrate on development
ii) It helps to create and maintain good relations among the community members
iii) It enables to maximize output in terms of production in the community
iv) It motivates the community members to do their activities
v) It leads to good public relations between the community and other communities
vi) Much can be done in terms of development since there is increased unity and
solidarity

TOPIC EIGHT: CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

Conflict refers to a situation where there are imbalances due to disagreeing / incompatible
among the various members and groups in the community.
Conflicts create violent acts or fighting between and among community members, individuals or
groups.
Conflict occurs because peace has failed to prevail. It is the responsibility of the community
leaders to try to ensure that they prevent or reduce tensions that lead to conflict.
Conflict has the following adverse effects
a) It is a negative or destructive phenomena
b) It is destabilizing and subversive because it challenges established economic, social or
political structures power in their full potential
c) The existence of violence or conflicts destroys all efforts that can lead to sustainable
development; however in conflict management what matters most is the way conflicts are
resolved.
Causes of conflict in community development
1. Struggle for scarce resources
2. Poor relation e.g. leaders and subjects
3. Different interest / opinions
4. Social stratification (layers of individual in respect of well being in the society)
5. Political incitement
6. Poor distribution of wealth by the government lead to struggle by the poor among the
people where some people may want to become influential (power is the ability to
influence others)
7. Bad organization structures
8. Poor leadership styles
Features of community conflicts
a) Conflict is a process which suggest tat it contains some activities leading to end result
b) Conflict occurs when two or more parties pursue mutually exclusive goals, values or
events since these goals, values or events are incompatible these can be achieved only by
one party at the cost of the other
c) Conflicting goals can be within an individual also
d) Conflict refers to deliberate behaviour if interference occurs accidentally there is no
conflict
e) Conflict can exist either at latent (hidden) or overt (open)
f) Conflicting is different form competition. From the above features, it can be concluded
that conflict is not a desirable situation in community organization
Causes of conflict in community organization
1. Autocratic management of leadership style
 2. Breakdown in communication so that individuals are not fully aware of what they are
expected to do
3. Poor teamwork among members of the community
4. Excessful complicated relationship between members of the organization and the
community
5. Personal differences among members
6. Severe reduction in an organization resources
7. Corruption which is in the knowledge of public domain (within the organization and is
known by the outsiders)
8. Breaking of procedures by individuals or group of individuals
9. Lack of proper coordination between people and various departments resulting in
different perception of goals and roles
10. Poor ranking or undermining of some individuals who perform various tasks or roles in
the community
Indication of conflict in the community
1. Physical attack in the form of tribal clashes
2. Communication problems among community members
3. Frequent and unwarranted arguments
4. The community members exhibiting inflexible and insensitive attitude towards other
members of the community
5. Unfair criticisms of certain individuals in the community
6. Community members refusing to deliberately to share public resources e.g. water, bridge,
etc.
7. Community members withholding information from each other
8. Destructive competition among community members
9. Excessive formal interpersonal relationship between community members
10. Tribal groups
11. Gossips among members in the organization
Approaches to conflict resolution management
There are suggestions of resolving conflict that were put by Peter in 1998. These suggestions can
help the community and at work place, they include:
 1. Leaders are trained to accept and use disagreement within teams in order to arrive at
optimum solutions to problems
2. Mistakes are used as learning opportunities rather than causes of criticism
3. Openness is encouraged concerning issues of community
4. Serious mistakes are dealt with quickly with no victimization (corrective measures taken
but not individuals through rebukes)
5. Assertiveness is encouraged as a way of expressing individuals and team views
6. Leaders have a clear framework objectives and good communication system put in place
Suggestions or ways of conflict resolution available to community organization
a) Use of formal grievances resolution procedures to handle individual grievances
b) Holding inter-departmental meetings or community barazas to permit disagreement to be
aired
c) Regular team meeting to clarify objectives and goals so that you identify problems and crash
them out
Assuming that you area community leader and you are all charged with the responsibility of
resulting conflict, the following suggestions can help you communicate better when you are
trying to solve a community conflict problem.

a) Talk directly
Assuming that there is no threat or physical violence, talk directly to the person with whom you
have the problem.
b) Choose on good time
Learn to talk to other persons at the right time and allow yourselves enough time for a through
discussion.
c) Plan a head
Think out what you want to say ahead of time state clearly what the problem is and what you
would like to solve.
d) Don’t name or recall
Antagonizing the other person or people may only make it harder for them to hear you. Don’t
blame them for everything.
e) Give information
Don’t interprete other person’s / people’s behaviours
f) Listen
Give the other person / people a chance to tell his / her side of the conflict completely. Relax
and listen as you try to learn how the other person feels.
g) Show them that you are listening
Although you may not agree with what is being said, tell the other person / people that you hear
him / her / them and you are glad that you are discussing the problem of conflict together.
h) Work on solution
When you have created this point in the discussion start working on the solution
i) Follow through
Agree to check with ach other at specific time to make sure that the agreement is still working.
Various experts on community resolutions and management have entrenched the following
methods to be used in community conflict resolution
Methods to be sued in conflict resolution
1. Negotiation and conciliation
The parties who conflict in the community get together perhaps under independent chairman e.g.
village elder, D.C, P.C, D.O to negotiate about their different views of achieving their own
resolution of the issues.
2. Mediation
A third party usually an external or internal person al as a broker or peacemaker comes between
the warring factions seeking each side independent trying to assess the reason of their
disagreement and try to provide a base upon which the two sides are prepared to return to
negotiation table. Mediators sometimes put forward specific proposal for the parties to agree on
alternative however the final agreement has to be reached.
3. Arbitration
Is where the third parties have the agreement of both sides examined the other by going to
arbitration, the parties in conflict realize that they cannot reach agreement themselves and give
responsibility to an outsider whose judgement they agree to accept. It is therefore matters of last
result.
4. Use of legal system
Where the issues are taken to a competent court of law to make decisions
This method of resolving conflicts can be summarized as follows:
1) Use of force
2) Smoothing (emphasizing on agreement)
3) Openness (being encouraged)
4) Good communication
5) Use of grievances procedures
6) Holding meetings to thrust out problems
7) Mediation
8) Negotiation and reconciliation
9) Clarifying objectives and goals
10) Promoting good community relation through e.g. sporting activities
11) Arbitration
Impacts of conflict in community development
 Causes fight among the community members
 Leads to destruction of property of the community
 Leads to underdevelopment due to lack of responsibility among the community members
 Delays the decision making process
 Leads to lack of understanding among community members
 Creates bad public relation among community members
 Leads to lack of cooperation among community members
 It leads to inability to work as a team which will retard the community developments
 Leads to unfair competition among the community members
 Drives away investors in the community
 Leads to lack of unity in the community
 Low project sustainability hence project collapse
 Promotes insecurity in the community

TOPIC NINE: COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

Community is a group of people staying in a well defined area, place or province.
Characteristics of a community
 Have common similarities
  Share language
 Share culture
 Share goals
 Aspiration
 Are confronted a with common problem
 Share interest
Integration
The art of bringing people together that si devoid of discrimination, disunity etc
Factors promoting integration
 Equitable distribution of resources
 Balanced development
 Equal opportunity
 Equal consideration in all undertaking e.g. employment, resources, mobilization etc.
 Pragmatic leadership
Importance of community integration
1. Act as a regulative mechanism
2. Can be used to mobilize resources
3. Can be used to mobilize people
4. Sort a common objective and goal
5. Forge unity
6. Rally the community
7. To sort out community problems
8. To bring a positive change
9. To change attitude of the community
Forms of integration
1. Effective conflict resolution
(i) Political integration
(ii) Economic integration
(iii) Social integration (when you have a strong culture)
(iv)Cultural participatory leadership
Approaches used in enhancing community integration
1. Economic approach
Empowerment, opening opportunity, changing mode of production, equitable distribution of
resource, resource mobilization, changing attitude, economic base
2. Social approach
Cultural attitude, lifestyle, language, dressing etc

3. Political approach
Relevant skills and knowledge, rallying people together etc
Community Integration
Community integration can be said to be a fence mending activity which leads to a better
relationship in a community.
It helps the community or citizens to have a stable working relationship within the community.
Community integration aims at promoting effective relationships within the community so that
the community can be able to achieve its goals.
These goals include economic, social, cultural and political goals.
Community is a social organization which has its own territorial boundaries, culture, leadership
pattern and objectives to accomplish. It is an organized group of people who are consciously
aware of their common interest, they have common goals, and it has structure and individuals are
willing to act in a unifying manner.
 From this definition, it can be concluded that a community is a well organized group of
people who are aware of their common problems and satisfy their common needs and
desires.
 It is s form of social organization tied to a physical or geographical place. It focuses on
the people and their social organization that resides in and or is identified by a common
place.
 The community has its highest purpose, the improvement in the quality of life or well
being for those who live their.
 There is interdependent among the community members who are linked to the common
needs, common problems and opportunities fro growth and development.
 From the perspective, the community is viewed as form of social organization that has
come into existence in part because it provides comprehensive arrangement through
 which and by which people can meet their common needs, deal with their common
problems and advance their sense of well being.
 Community integration aims at promoting a sense of belonging, promotion of justice and
peace within the community efforts to meet the members’ needs
 It can be enhanced from observing the behaviour of the leaders and members of the
community
 These include both the individual goals of the members of the community and those of
the various groups that exist within the community.
 An evaluation needs to be carried out to establish the aspirations of the country and the
deficiencies that exist within the community.
Importance of community integration
1. Helps the community to attain its goals, community integration helps the community to
work together in the performance of the production, distribution, consumption and
advocacy function that satisfy the needs of the community. Through the goal attainment
the community is able to reach its destiny.
2. Community integration promotes peaceful co-existence among the members; the people
get socialized into effective relationships as members of one community
3. It promotes justice among community members i.e. helps to eliminate social vices such
as discrimination based on colour, gender ethnic etc. Thus it enhances the capability of
the citizens to perceive themselves as one to work together to accomplish or perform the
integration function.
4. It helps to instill a culture that is based on value of social justice which leads to good
quality relationships and enhancement of role performance within the community
5. Leads to good public relation (community relation) which promotes the attainment of
goals and objectives of the individual members
6. It ensures that the social units that comprised the community, perform the community
relevant functions which are enhancing roles within those units
Approaches (domains) used to enhance community integration
There are several approaches that can be used in enhancing community integration. Some of
these approaches include:
1. Partcipatory leadership approach
This is whereby the community leaders involve the community members in decision making
regarding the welfare of the community. The community leaders jointly with the community
members discuss how the community is to be led and define the destiny by shaping the social
policies of the community and its welfare.
The leaders facilitate the involvement of the community members in social, economic and
political aspect of the community.
2. Economic integration approach
This is whereby the community members are involved in economic system with the aid of
technology and the support of the general business community. There must be clear and
articulate point of view and reason of community centered micro-economic systems. The
leadership in the community must be able to lead the community in such away to allow for the
appreciation of capitalism and for cooperative within parallel economic use.
Capitalism to further both the micro-capitalist system and the micro-community system
3. Political integration approach
Under this approach, the community needs to be empowered so that they are able to participate
in political leadership in the country. It requires the community members to be involved in
making / taking part in political decision making. These includes, taking part in social,
formulation, implementation and evaluation.
It calls upon all sectors of the community life to share a vision of the community and to decide
destiny. The element of empowerment needed involves taking part in elections or having a right
to vote the candidates of their choices.
4. Cultural integration approach
Culture is normally referred to as people’s heritage. Cultural integration requires the community
members to be integrated in cultural issues that are supportive to development and the welfare of
the nation, good culture should be enhanced while the obsolete culture should be done away
with. Cultural integration will also mean adopting good culture that is acceptable and meets the
needs of the current society.
5. Social integration approach
This involves enhancing effective interaction of the members of the community. It is whereby
the community members interact freely among themselves and the environment to ensure social
functioning.
Social functioning is whereby the community is healthy and able to take part in their day to day
activities.
6. Community integration through effective conflict resolution
It is an approach which lays down emphasis on effective conflict resolution among the opposing
forces in the community.
The methods used in conflict resolution includes:-
1. Arbitration
2. Conciliation
3. Reconciliation
4. Mitigation intervention
5. Mediation
Impact of community integration on development
a) It enhances community relations that facilitates participation to development activities
b) The community is able to engage in productive activities in order to transform itself
c) The community becomes empowered to make informed decisions regarding development
d) Ensures that there is no one who is marginalized in the community
The main weakness of this approach in terms of development is that:-
It makes an assumption that everything in the community is ideal e.g. it assumes that the
community is ready and willing to work together and that the community has its own resources.

TOPIC TEN: EMERGING TRENDS IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

It refers to changing situations that are arising in relation to leadership in the community. Some
of these new dimensions include:
1. Team building approach; it involves creating special groups of people to work in
community organizations e.g. vigilante groups fro security purposes
2. Networking and collaboration; it involves working with other individual groups and
organizations in similar programmers, the leaders in the community network with other
stakeholders
3. Community empowerment; this involves empowering (sanctioning/give power to) the
community members through training, counseling and offering resource support to ensure
that development goals and objectives are achieved.
4. Participatory leadership styles; the emphasis is on participatory styles and involvement
in decision making by the community members.
5. Performing contracting; the community members or stakeholders enter into contracts
with the leaders to ensure that the leaders perform and achieve the set targets over a
period of time.
6. Information technology; the emphasis on the adoption of modern means of
communication for effective communication in the community i.e. use of mobile phones,
internets, fax, computer etc.
7. Gender balance; currently women should be involved in community leadership roles
e.g. chiefs, village elders, D.Os, church leaders etc. This course goes with a call for
affirmative action.
8. Democracy – it upholds free speech, religion, politic, the rule of law. It advocates
majority rules that respects the rights of majority.
9. Accountability – it is an explanation that seeks to clear a position of responsibility
10. Transparency – this is openness in one’s action which leaves the clients / community
with no doubt.
11. Professionalism in leadership in community leaders should be professionals in certain
fields (be trained in areas where they lead)