Leadership Styles of Microsoft and Apple - Essay Example

This paper gives a comparison and contrast of the leadership styles of Microsoft, and Apples. This paper takes a stand that the leadership style of Apples is autocratic in nature, while the leadership style of Microsoft is democratic in nature. In defending this point, this paper analyzes the character traits of people responsible for leading these two types of organization, and it thereafter the type of leadership style that they used to lead these organizations. It is important to denote that the leadership styles that these two important leaders introduced in their companies, is what is being used by the company even now. Leadership is a composite of characteristics and abilities of a leader, within an environment in which the leader operates, and the relationship that exists between a leader, and an individual who is being led. It is important for an organization to have good leadership, as this is essential for the success of the business under consideration (Adair, 2010). Employees of an organization will on most occasions follow a charismatic and good leader, and they will respond effectively and positively towards the instructions that they give. An individual possessing good leadership skills will have the capability to get the highest and best quality services from their employees and subordinates (Adair, 2010). True and good leadership is always based on mutual trust and cooperation. A poor leader on the other hand will fail to win the respect of their members of staff, and they will have difficulties communicating with their workforce. Leadership style refers to the ways and methods in which a manager will make decisions, and associates with their members of staff (Adair, 2010). A leadership style that is effective will on most occasions compliment the various tasks and duties to accomplish, the environment of the organization, and the various people that are involved in the organization. It is important to denote that there are a variety of leadership styles, and these styles include democratic, autocratic, laissez-faire, and paternalistic (Adair, 2010). At around the years of 1975, Apple Inc, and Microsoft Corporation were formed. These two companies have played a great role in the evolution and production of personal computers (Shea, 2012). However, as business organizations, these two companies have different leadership styles, and strategies (Lüsted, 2012). Apple, due to its effective leadership style is advancing and achieving some growth in new markets, while Microsoft, due to its leadership style is stagnant. The transformation of Apples into a powerful company occurred through the leadership styles of Steve Jobs. One major characteristic of Steve Jobs is that he was creative, and innovative (Adair, 2010). Steve Jobs was also charismatic, and he had the capability of making the company to adapt to the changing needs and conditions of the market (Shea, 2012). This was one of the main elements and drivers that made Apple to succeed. The leadership style of Steve Jobs helped the company to achieve growth and success, and to be a very respectable company in the technological industry (Lüsted, 2012). For instance, in 1984, when Steve Jobs was amongst the directors of the company, the organization managed to create a graphical user interface which was commercially successful (Shea, 2012). However, when Jobs left the company in the 1980s, the company experienced a dramatic drop in its revenues and growth. On this basis, the company needed a charismatic leader who had the capability of transforming the company into a profitable business venture (Lüsted, 2012). In the 1990s, when Jobs came back to the company, he managed to create a vision for Apples, focusing on the various needs of its customers, and how to carter for these needs (Lemke, 2007). The greatest asset of Steve Jobs as a leader was his ability to emotionally connect with shareholders, customers, and employees of the organization. Steve Jobs developed a strategy whereby the company would continually increase the quality of its products, and this is without an increase in the cost of production. The leadership style of Steve Jobs was autocratic in nature, and he applied the principles of hire and fire at any moment (Lemke, 2007). The reason of this authoritarian rule was to ensure that the employees of the company managed to produce products of very high quality. On this basis therefore, the leadership style of Apples was hierarchical in nature, with a centralized control, revolving around Steve Jobs. The authoritarian characteristic of Steve Jobs emanates from his experiences, whereby he faced very tough and challenging situations, and managed to come out of them successfully (Lemke, 2007). For instance, his work at Pixar, an animation company whereby Steve Jobs bought it, and transformed it into one of the most successful animation companies in United States. Through his authoritarian leadership style, Steve Jobs was able to guide his employees rightly, while at the same time dominating them (Lemke, 2007). He was also able to create a vision amongst his employees; this led to an improvement of the brand name of Apples. Steve Jobs created a culture of accountability and competitiveness in the organization. Each and every employee was accountable to the various works that they did. This was able to improve the efficiency in the design of the organizations products, and hence the satisfaction of customers needs (Lemke, 2007). The culture of competitiveness was facilitated by the grouping of its employees into various groups, and allowing them to design products, while in competition with other groups within the company. This was for purposes of encouraging innovation, aimed at developing products that could better serve the needs of customers. Steve Ballmer on the other hand is the current CEO of Microsoft Corporation, and he is judged by his peers to have under-performed in the company. This is because Steve Ballmer is not innovative as a leader, and he is unable to gain respect from his employees. In as much as his leadership style is democratic, and inclusive, Steve Ballmer has not managed to improve the growth and profitability of the company from where its founder, Bill Gates left it (Gates and Rogak, 2012). The leadership style of Bill Gates was democratic, and visionary. Like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates believed in creating a vision for the company, and his vision was, that every desktop would need a computer. The style of Leadership that Bill Gates used was both authoritarian and democratic. It was authoritarian in the sense that power centered around him, while it was democratic in the sense that Bill Gates allowed every employee to participate in the decision making process of the organization (Gates and Rogak, 2012). The decisions that employees made were vetted by Bill Gates. On this basis, it was not the intention of Bill Gates to dominate and control his employees, but to guide them on the right method of achieving the objectives and vision of the company (Lesinski, 2000). Bill Gates also believed in the transfer of skills from supervisors, to junior employees (Aronson, 2009). Through this transfer of skills, employees will became responsible for their works, and managers of the organization will start concentrating on other aspects/areas that need their attention within the company. Gates also believed in efficient communication, whereby employees of the organization will know more about the company, its vision, strategies, and objectives (Lesinski, 2000). Bill Gates also believed in group work, as this was the most efficient method of achieving the objectives of the company (Aronson, 2009). In as much as Bill Gates was successful in his leadership, it was not effective in making the company a leader in information technology, on this basis, Steve Ballmer managed to take over, but failed to make the company achieve growth, and to be rated as the best technology company, a position that is currently held by Apples (Gates and Rogak, 2012). It is important to denote that in as much as these leaders were successful in their own ways; there were problems in their leadership styles. For example, Steve Jobs was feared by his employees, and on most occasions, he used to shout at his employees, abusing those who did not impress him. This is unethical practice, which may lead to de-motivation of employees (Aronson, 2009). Bill Gates on the other hand was unable to use charisma for purposes of gaining respect from his employees (Lesinski, 2000). He was also unable to identify the various needs of customers, and this made him to cease the leadership of the organization to Steve Ballmer. It is important to denote that these companies were able to retain their employees, especially the senior employees of the organization (Gates and Rogak, 2012). For example, most employees at Apples drew inspiration from Steve Jobs, and this is because he was able to pass through a hard life, and to become successful. Because of such kind of an inspiration, and charisma, Steve Jobs was able to retain most of his managerial employees. Microsoft on the other hand, through better remuneration, and development programs, has managed to retain some of its top managerial employees (Lesinski, 2000). This leadership style of Bill Gates that emphasized on developing and improving talent has seen the company initiates a series of development programs, targeting its employees. Looking at the qualities of these organizational leaders, the leadership qualities of Steve Jobs are the ones that appeal to me. This is because I am innovative, and full of charisma. These are the leadership qualities that made Steve Jobs to succeed into transforming Apples into a number technological firm in the world. Authoritarian leadership is also useful for purposes of improving the efficiency in the manner in which employees of an organization achieve their objectives. On this basis, Apples is the company that meets my aspirations, and can help me to achieve growth and develop as a leader. Bibliography: Adair, J. E. (2010). Develop your leadership skills. Philadelphia: Kogan Page. Aronson, M. (2009). Bill Gates: a twentieth-century life. New York, N.Y.: Viking. Gates, B., & Rogak, L. (2012). Impatient optimist: Bill Gates in his own words. Melbourne, Vic.: Hardie Grant. Lemke, D. B. (2007). Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and the personal computer. Mankato, Minn.: Capstone Press. Lesinski, J. M. (2000). Bill Gates. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Co.. Lüsted, M. A. (2012). Apple: the company and its visionary founder, Steve Jobs. Minneapolis, MN: ABDO Pub.. Shea, T. (2013). Steve Jobs and Apple. New York: Rosen Pub.. Read More