Comparative Leadership Approches Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Comparative Leadership Approches - Essay ExampleA number of contemporary leaders manifest distinct approaches by exhibiting traits, knowledge, skills, and abilities that set them apart from the rest. Among the two organizational leaders that have been deemed to contribute to the extraordinary development and professional increment of their respective organizations ar John Frances Welch Jr., known as Jack Welch to many, the former CEO of General Electric and Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, Inc.In this regard, the current research aims to match and contrast the approaches of these two leaders Welch and Jobs, by using relevant leadership theories. Initially, a brief background on the definition of leadership would be provided as well as pertinent contemporary leadership theories that are applied by both leaders identified would be presented. Further, the lessons that leaders in organizations could turn back from these leaders would be proffered. Leadership ConceptsThe study conducted by perdition and Patterson (2005) perused the history of leadership theories and the origin was traced in the beginning of civilization. As averred, Egyptian rulers, Greek heroes, and biblical patriarchs all have one thing in commonleadership. According to Martires and Fule, leadership is the process of influencing people so that they will seek defined objectives enthusiastically. It is concerned with eliciting behavioral responses that are more than routine. More clearly, Tannenbaum and Massarik describe the relationship between leadership and influence by saying that leadership is interpersonal influence, exercised in situations and directed, through the communication process, toward the attainment of specified goal or goals. Leadership always involves attempts on the part of a leader (influencer) to affect (influence) the behavior of a follower (influence) or followers in a situation ((1957, p. 3). The definitions would reveal the important elements particularly emerging in a lead ership situation the goals that are aimed to be achieved, the process of influencing, and the transformation from where the organization was to where to plans to be. Contemporary leadership theories have emphasized the concepts of transformational leadership on the organization (Stone and Patterson, 2005, pp. 6 - 11). As cited by Stone and Patterson, with transformational leadership, the leaders focus is directed toward the organization, but leader behavior builds follower commitment toward the organizational objectives through empowering followers to accomplish those objectives (Yukl, 2002, cited in Stone and Patterson, 2005, p. 8). Jack Welchs Leadership Approach In a comprehensive discourse written by Byrne (1998), Welch was identified to exude the following leadership roles as teacher, mentor, coach, the management theorist, strategic thinker, business teacher, and corporate icon (par. 9). Due to the remarkable growth of GE under Welchs helm, Byrne (1998) emphasized the transfor mation of the organization to attest on Welchs exemplary ability as a leader the growth in market value of GE from just $12 billion in 1981 to near $280 billion today. No one, not Microsofts (MSFT) William H. Gates III or Intels (INTC) Andrew S. Grove, not Walt Disneys (DIS) Michael D. Eisner or Berkshire Hathaways (BKR.A) Warren E. Buffett, not even the modern Coca-Cola (KO) chieftain Roberto C. Goizueta or the late Wal-Mart (WMT) founder Sam Walton has created more shareholder value than Jack Welch (Byrne, 1998, par. 12). The analysis of Welch leadership approach and style revealed that an interplay of traits and application of leadership theori