Leadership Styles Adopted by Bill Gates - Case Study Example

RUNNING HEAD: ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR AND PERFORMANCE Title: Organisational behaviour and Performance Name: University Name: Course: Date: Introduction So as to understand leadership concepts, it would be essential to define a leader. A leader is commonly defined as a person who influences other people so as to achieve a common goal. A recognised leader is termed as a person who has followers and his main focus is on the results rather than the popularity, thus he acts as the role model and leads others by example and thus others are motivated to follow the leader. Pinos, Twigg & Olson (2006), notes that, leadership is the process that it is action oriented rather than just a virtue of title and rank. Leadership is concerned with the kind of the decision that we always make in any organisation. This essay sets out to determine on a prominent leader who I admire and it will further describe the leadership and communication style of the leader chosen and explain whether the approach chosen by the leader is well suited to a globalised environment. Discussion Brief Overview of the Leader The most recognised leader that I admire most in the current world is Bill Gates and this is mainly based on his effective and efficient performance and behaviour in Microsoft Corporation. Bill Gates is an American national who was born on October 28, 1955 in Seattle Washington. He developed an interest at Lakeside School in a new field of computer programming and developed his first computer software at the age of 13.Bill co-founded personal computer Revolution Company when he was still a young man when he met with his friend Paul Allen. Initially, he had been criticized both internally and externally for his business tactics but he took the risk and remained determined that made him to be an effective leader in the current world (Gates, 1999). Effective communication is an essential element in any organisation since it enhances the performance of an organisation. Communication prevents conflict from occurring by clearly conveying ones views and vision to the staff of the company (Brown & Baker 2001). This is evident through Bill Gates commitment to the software company. Bill Gates is a heroic leader who I most admire and recognise in the 21st century. Bill Gates has a spectacular achievement in the information age by the starting up Microsoft that has become the world largest software company. Bill Gates is the best known entrepreneur, innovator, computer programmer and philanthropist. Bill practices effective and efficient leadership and communication abilities in the software company that leads to great success in the business (Gates, 1996). Leadership and communication are considered as vital indicators of power. This is evident in the management and organisation of Microsoft that Bill Gates is the CEO and the chief software architecture. The company that Bill introduced made him to be honoured and recognised as a leader as he dedicated himself fully to the company. He even dropped out from Harvard University to spend more time on the architecture of Microsoft. In addition, he is not self-serving rather than he applies all techniques to achieve goals without misusing the authority as well as the society. I am very certain that Bill Gates is the most successful leader who fully exercises effective and efficient leadership and communication styles. The communication style applied by a leader may play an essential role in boosting the morale of the team members as well as the improvement of job satisfaction for the employees working in such organisations (Zaccaroa, Rittmana, & Marks, 2001). Leadership styles adopted by Bill Gates Bill Gates leadership styles have made him to be the best-known entrepreneur of the personal computer revolution. He practices a variety leadership styles over the years in Microsoft. A major leadership style that Gate practises is situational leadership style and he is guided by specific situation and response particularly during the time of designing the company. He is driven by many internal and external forces that made him even to drop out from Harvard University due to commitment to the company and its future success. Bill situational leadership skill is well depicted in his commitment and proficiency to the job (Fielder, 1967). Bill directs the employees by giving them clear and specific instructions. Situational leadership style has over time proved to essential in the attainment of the optimal goals in the company. He shows high support behaviour to his employees especially when it comes to making decisions. Another leadership style that Gates displays is Autocratic leadership style also known as the authoritarian leadership style. Autocratic leaders have full powers and authority in making all the decisions. Bill is the main decision maker in the software company as he is the co-founder and introducer of Microsoft Corporation to the society. Autocratic leadership is beneficial when a quick decision is needed in an emergency situation. Gates initially used autocratic leadership trait and behaviour in the management of Microsoft Corporation (Foti & Hauenstein 2007). Bill Gates, for instance; is the main decision maker as he is the co-founder of the company; he provided the entire input that was required in the formation of the company. He is also dedicated to the work methods and processes that made him even dropout at Harvard University, and he even took risk by starting Microsoft Corporation. Autocratic leadership sometimes is problematic as people abuse this approach by being bossy, controlling, and dictatorial. Bill abused this leadership approach that made his corporate executive view him as notorious as he never picked their calls. He also interrupted the delegate meeting with minor things despite being the main decision maker in the corporate company. Despite this shortcomings, Bill Gates is most revered leader who I really admire and in the present world due to his intelligence in leadership. Bill Gates also uses the democratic leadership style in the management of Microsoft Corporation. Democratic leadership is also referred to as the participative leadership and it means that the leaders need to involve members of the group in the decision making (Duncan, 2009). The trait and behaviours of democratic leaders are that, the leader encourages others to share opinions on certain issues though they are the ones who make the ultimate decisions, creativity is highly encouraged and motivated, and the group members are involved in all the activities of the company (Wood, 2010). Bill Gates depicts this leadership style since he meets regularly with the senior managers and program managers and encourages them to share their share ideas with him and this has made the employees to be involved. Gates main responsibility is on management and executive functions where, he gets opinions and ideas concerning Microsoft Corporation (Gates, 1999). All the leadership styles that Bill Gates applies in Microsoft Corporation are well suited for a globalised environment that current day businesses are operating in. A combination of the various leadership style based on the situation plays an essential role in ensuring that companies yields high productivity among the members. The democratic leadership style is effective since the employees in the modern working environment seem to be more liberated and thus they need to be given the opportunity to be innovative. Additionally, through the democratic leadership style, employee can share their expertise, skills and knowledge with other employees in the company. The employees feel at ease while sharing and contributing to issues, developing plans, and making choices on the best action to be taken (Brook, 1999). This is evident in Microsoft Corporation through practice of democratic leadership by Bill Gates. This results to high profits that yield from the sale of the computers softwares. The leadership approach is always entrusted on taking risks on the employees who are highly specialised and skilled. Gates also showed good leadership when he stepped down in 2000 as the chief executive of Microsoft Corporation that he co-founded further depicting a leader who is selfless. Gates had a strong passion on his company that kept moving him and propelled it to great heights. For instance; in Lakeside Preparatory School, he was curious in programming the GE system and he even invented his first programme. Bill performed his product strategy very attentively that aggressively widened the range of product (Gates, 1996). He also defended Microsoft Company when it was faced by extreme challenges by taking the risk. Bill’s performance and behaviour are efficient in a globalised environment where competition is the day to day objective. Great performance and behaviours are portrayed by Bill on leadership and communication, as they describe him in the meetings as verbally combative, a befitting manager for perceived roles in the business strategy (Gates 1999). Gates is optimistic in nature on leadership as he believes that positive things would occur in Microsoft Corporation by taking risks. Risk taking is very essential in a globalised environment as it creates strong principles that are hard to alter the main objectives of the organisation (Johnson, & Hackman, 2003). Bill Gates is also predictive, for instance, in the interview with the rolling Magazine (Goodell, 2014), he predicted on the range on of issues such as climate change, charitable activities, and various technical companies as well as the people involved in them. He foresaw gloomy things happen in future such as pandemics, nuclear bombing and bioterrorist due to the change of the globalized environment. In his leadership, he acknowledges that innovation will extremely rise in 50 to 100 years, as it has been the driver of economy. Bill has been admired and inspired many globally due to his great influence on business strategies over the century (McKenna, 2000). He also has an uncanny ability to tackle both the managerial and technical sides of Microsoft operations. Generally, am certain that Bill Gates’ leadership approach is well suited in the globalised environment. Leadership and communication styles are the key to effectiveness of every organisation in the attainment of the optimal objectives (Summerfield, 2014). Bill enhances an important resource in the leadership of Microsoft Corporation through a broad scope of talents and abilities. He is even able to influence other members in Software Companies in a shared direction. He is the key director, offers guidance, influences the feelings and behaviour of Microsoft Corporation. These are essential elements that lead to success of leadership and communication in a globalised environment (Martindale, 2011). Gates is more determined in the organisation and the management of the software company where he is able to acquire the best preferred outcome, for instance; the government of India for Gates and Melinda foundation awarded the highest civilian award to Padma for their contribution to social work. Times Magazine also recognised him as the richest man in the 20th century, and much more. This makes Bill to be admired and be recognized globally due to his success in the personal computer software (Goodell, 2014). In the availability of a wide range of talents that are available in globalized environment, the democratic leadership approach seems to is the most profitable for achievement of the maximum result (Wood, 2010). Leadership and communication styles provide assistance in solving different problems and situations. This is evident in Bill Gates performance on leadership as he uses different styles to tackle different situations pertaining the management and organisation of Microsoft Company. Bill Gates has a better know how of when and how much leadership approach is needed in particular situations (Gates, 1999). This approach is an important key to successful leadership in the globalized environment thus I am certain on Bill Gates performance and behaviour. Initially, Bill had to carry out the primary responsibility of the organisation in the development stage where he involved himself in full time work. As the organisation continued to grow and mature, Bill delegated responsibility by introducing new positions in the management and this minimized his roles in the management and organisation of the company. This duty minimization spreads the risk even further in the management of Microsoft Corporation though he maintains a certain level of responsibility to the company. This leadership is applicable in the day today organisation in the globalized environment by any group or committee. Psychologist are certain that developing leaders behaviours based on the way they walk as well as the way they chose to tackle the current issues displays one personality (Judge et al, 2000). Communication styles Bill Gates also uses different communication techniques and styles in managing Microsoft Corporation. Communication process is generally a complex process of passing information, ideas, and feelings, either verbally or non-verbally to others (Brown & Baker, 2001). Communication approach is believed to increase morale in the workplaces. Effective and efficient communication is the key determinant of the group members’ satisfaction. Bill communication techniques are effective and efficient in the globalised environment as he corporate with the executive committee as well as the delegates despite the criticism that he encounters in the management and organisation of Microsoft Corporation. Bill practices the following communication techniques; intrapersonal communication approach, interpersonal communication approach, public communication approach, and intercultural communication approach (Miller, 2006). Bill made use of intrapersonal communication technique when he thought of starting Microsoft software that would improve the welfare of the society at large. Intrapersonal communication involves how we see our self and what lies within us as managers and leaders. He believed that personal computers would be world biggest business vision when he was designing Microsoft. Gates vision is central not only to Microsoft enormous success but also the success of the software industry in the world today. Bill kept on reviewing his past experiences and this made him more focused on Microsoft Corporation (Judge et al, 2000). This is very essential in the globalised environment as it makes a leader to be more dedicated. Interpersonal communication is another approach that Bill Gates uses in the management and organisation of the company. This technique of communication occurs when Bill Gate meets regularly with the delegates and managers to discuss important issues pertaining to the company. Gates is extremely interpersonal in the information age, as he involves himself in the delegates meetings with the corporate executive, senior managers and program managers where they share ideas and opinions based on the progress of the company. Bill had interpersonal communication with his parents regularly, particularly when he dropped out of Harvard University (Gates, 1996). He had a talk with his parents and he expressed his decision to them and they supported him as they saw his interest in starting the software company. Interpersonal communication style is very essential in a globalised environment through the sharing of ideas (Brown, & Baker, 2001). It also enhances a good relationship among a group of individuals in an organisation through leadership. This evident in the management and organisation of the Software Company that Gates co-founded as he has good relationship with his workers that enhances the working environment. Gates being a member of the executive committee meets regularly with Microsoft senior managers and programmers and programme managers. Bill also depicts interpersonal communication which makes him to be a prominent leader. This nature of communication occurs when two or more cultures interact (Roy et al, 2010). Cultures are guided by different beliefs or values that enhance communication to be efficient and effective. Bill has strong values and beliefs that run Microsoft Company. Bill interacted with IBM regarding the upcoming personal computers thus enhancing a good intercultural communication. Intercultural communication enhances an efficient globalised environment where our differences increase awareness and tolerance in dealing with group members in diverse cultural backgrounds (Miller, 2006). Bill gains understanding and tolerance through his interactions with IBM and the Digital Research (DRI). Sometimes intercultural communication may weaken the awareness, for instance; when IBM requested Microsoft Company to make an operating system, Bill directed them to DRI Company but it did not bear fruit as no agreement was met (Gates, 1999). Another communication style that is depicted by Bill Gates is public communication (Roy et al, 2010). Bill’s Microsoft Company encompasses a structured message to the members of the public. The message is more structured and animated by Bill as well as by the executive committee to the public. This creates the room for a good relationship between Bill’s company and the public thus creating awareness of the company’s products (Hershey, Blanchard & Dewey 2000). Gates can be seen as a man of the people through his leadership since he engages in worthy causes where together with his wife, they donate large amounts of money to variety of charitable organisations and scientific research programmes through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Gates, 1996). This shows he had a good relationship with the public thus enhancing public communication when necessary. This kind of communication is mainly effective and useful since managers and leaders can learn and obtain ideas of what the people need in the future. Bill also contributed on Microsoft’s BASIC by writing an open letter to Hobbyists’ requesting them that they should not continue to produce ,distribute, and maintain the software without payment as he had realised that the community widely copied and distributed the software. This letter was open to both the public and MITS thus he enhanced public communication. Public communication is believed to work best as it keeps in touch with the public, thus creating a good relationship as evident in Bill’s performance record. Conclusion Based on the above discussion, for one to become an effective leader like Bill Gates, each individual must analyse his leadership style and determine the scope of leadership style in order to fit in the globalized environment (Martindale, 2010). The effectiveness of a leader is improved by overcoming or compensating the shortcomings by being fully dedicated. Leaders who fail to recognize their leadership style do not grow as they are not aware of their leadership styles. The personality of every leader is very essential in that, it determines the rate at which an organisation develops (Judge et al, 2000). It also contributes to organisation’s growth and equipping individuals with more techniques, for instance; Bill Gates knows his personality as a leader. He even had foregone his education at Harvard University in order to concentrate on architecture and development of software. Bill is a very determined man business wise. Married to Melinda, they combine their efforts and developed Bill and Melinda Gates foundation (Gates, 1996). His approach on leadership and communication is very effective and efficient in the 21st century in a globalized environment. I strongly admire and recognize Bill Gate for being a prominent leader in a globalized environment for introducing Microsoft software industry with a passion. Bill Gates is a transformational leader in his performance and behaviour in Microsoft Corporation. He is a leader who is not limited by his follower’s perceptions as was even criticized when he was bringing up the software company (Judge et al, 2000). Bill is driven by his main objectives to change and transform the personal computer revolution. I trust that he is the best leader who I admire due to his excellence in the information age and his efficient traits and behaviour in the management of Microsoft Corporation as he remains dedicated despite criticism that he faces both internally and externally based on the tactics that he uses. Communication approach that Bill uses is well suited in the globalized environment as it involves both group members and non-members (Gates, 1999). References BBC News. (2004, January 26).Bill Gates. BBC News. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/business/3428721.stm. Bill Gates, B. (1999). Business @ The Speed of Thought. 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