How to Be a Successful Leader - Case Study Example

LEADERSHIP Student’s Name Course Tutor Date LEADERSHIP Introduction Leadership involves helping others to achieve more than what they believe is possible. It is all about unlocking potential at the individual, group, company, organizational or national levels (Hughes et al., 2011). Effective leadership avoids telling people what they are expected to do but instead inspiring them to identify their capabilities then helping them to achieve set goals. Some individuals in different spheres of life effortlessly inspire and lead others. Others’ attempts however end up facing either constant criticism or failure (Adair, 2009). Richard Branson and Donald Trump are examples of successful business leadership, with Branson arguably being better. This paper discusses effective leadership with relation to the two businessmen. Donald Trump One of the most successful examples of leadership is Donald Trump, an American television personality and business magnate. He runs the Trump Organization, an American real-estate development company. He was highly successful, especially during his earlier years. However, during a recession that occurred in 1989 for instance, he made losses that resulted in his bankruptcy. However, he eventually overcame this and by 1994, had managed to pay much of the debt and as from 1997, he made a comeback. His success continued as he built more investments across more American cities and later Canada (Payment, 2008). According to Cohen & Rath (2007), a good leader needs to think big in order to speak to followers’ hearts. Trump is a good example of a leader who inspires the idea of thinking big. He has ventured in making large real estate investments and deals just because he considered them as having potential. Even though he initially ended up in debt, he managed to make stronger comebacks. An effective leader has the ability to bounce back after going down. Donald trump at some point went bankrupt. However, he has always exhibited the self-belief that he is capable of standing up again. His current position is an indication of his tenacity to make come-backs after failure. Adair (2009) explains that failure is a normal occurrence to all people, and especially leaders. In case one is a leader and is constantly involved in the breaking new ground, there is always the risk of failure and this is often greater than if he stays on in the present comfort zone. The important question that arises is not how to best avoid failure, but rather if and how to bounce back in case of failure. This defines a person’s leadership and sets one apart from others who would opt to remain defeated. Trump is reputedly a man full of energy. He also believes that the energy is what drives his passion to work and the passion makes seemingly impossible things to happen. An effective leader needs to be able to inspire rather than command the followers. Leadership works best when the people hardly take notice of the leader’s existence, when he accomplishes his work, his aim is fulfilled and the people end up knowing that they did everything on their own (Payment, 2008). Adair (2009) argues that for an effective leader, the people will not feel the control that he has over them. If a person directs by use of directives and proclamations, there is the likelihood of much resistance and opposition. An effective leadership will help others to believe that whatever they are doing is a product of their own initiative. Trump is described by long-time employees as a strong and merciful leader. Although portrayed otherwise outside the organization, he is more righteous as a leader. He is said to be fair but absolute. When forced to decide on something, he has to think carefully then consult the appropriate personnel in case of an anti-productive or unproductive issue to be dealt with. He is viewed as a leader who has integrity and expresses his concerns and views squarely and fearlessly, features that mark his leadership and management style. He is however also known to have genuine compassion and generosity (Payment, 2008). Richard Branson Richard Branson is a notable leader with great influence both within and outside his business. Through his unique approach to business, he has adopted a style that is unlike conventional practice and created an almost $4 billion international conglomerate. His Virgin brand is one of the most powerful and recognizable in the world and covers a wide variety of products and services. He remains among the most admired Britons. As a leader, he has an affinity for daunting challenges. He considers impossibilities as new business opportunities. Throughout his business career, he has managed to place his Virgin brand against larger competitors such as British Airways, Coca-cola and EMI records as a way of trying to become the best instead of the usual quest to be the biggest. He is able to carry out unique and adventurous publicity stunts for the benefit of his company (Redmond, 2011). According to Cohen & Rath (2007), much of Branson’s work-time is spent on public relations as he believes that it is the most crucial in keeping the brand alive. Branson is a strong business visionary who has come up with a success formula full of lessons for business executives in any business and country. He has inspired the consideration of a consumer-oriented viewpoint in the entire corporate culture and most importantly, pushed it himself. In spite of his wealth, he maintains an ‘ordinary man’ persona through casual dressing, a modest and affable personality and a violation of convention at most times. He has a deep understanding of his employees’ and customers’ needs and acts as a conduit for the fulfillment of the needs. His Virgin brand has been developed into his personal image resulting in the development of a good emotional bond between customers and the Virgin label. The brand is outstanding as it unites more than a hundred diverse Virgin businesses, making it comparable to the large Japanese-style businesses. Branson has an outstanding ethos. He has maintained a great staying power which is associated with adherence to a carefully created set of business core values. From 1969 when he established the present-day Virgin Records, he has identified with a business ethos which started with the rebellious hippie counterculture of the 1960s. Branson identified his winning formula in the antagonistic values of the 1960’s; the consumer versus the corporation, people versus profit, spontaneity versus planning, morality versus money, egalitarianism versus hierarchy and openness versus secrecy. He has always taken a humanistic path but still turned the values back into the business and created a vibrant synthesis. He has personally set his criteria for the use of Virgin as a brand. These are innovativeness, high quality, and provision of value for money, portrayal of a sense of fun and being a challenge to existent alternatives (Redmond, 2011). Through Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Branson created a business that would please him personally as an airline passenger. The main targets here would be better service and low price. In-flight services were also highly improved, creating one of the most entertaining air travel experiences ever both on the ground and in-flight. He would in most instances appear and apologize in person to customers in case of flight delays and flies frequently while actively working as part of the crew. Although he can not be on each flight, Branson’s presence is usually felt through the culture of enthusiasm that he has inculcated among employees, and most of these are happy working there. Branson has insisted on having customers treated like he would personally have wanted to be treated. This has had a direct impact on the brands growth (Cohen & Rath, 2007). Just like other big businessmen, Branson takes risks. However, he does not fear failure. Unlike the others however, he does not stick to one core line of business. This is as long as he is able to get the best people to run the businesses, necessitating a lot of delegation (Redmond, 2011). According to Cohen & Rath (2007), delegation is important in effective leadership. A good leader does not take up several people’s jobs. If one tries to have control everything, there is the possibility of being weighed down by minor issues. It is also an indication of lack of faith or confidence in the others. Followers need to be reassured that they are valued and entrusted with responsibility. Effective leaders delegate work to the appropriate people and only intervene during critical moments. A good leader needs to be passionate. He should exhibit the passion in whatever he is doing and wherever he is headed. A leader who is passionate translates the energy he possesses down to the people he leads, motivating them to go the extra mile, work for an extra hour and fight a but harder to attain an identified cause. As a businessman, Branson is described as a father figure. However, he is also a demanding and astute person. He can be manipulative, ruthless and controlling. For instance, he has to get at least 50% holding in any Virgin brand company and it is his managers who have to run it. His main formula in this case is being able to create workers who deal with people well, are motivated and can equally motivate people. He has emphasized the vision of a company which has practices that are unique from all others, has employees who are proud and whose services or products positively impact on the consumers (Redmond, 2011). Hughes et al. (2011) explain that it is only when a leader manages to maintain a clear vision as to where he wishes to be that the others will be willing to follow. In case a leader shows a great element of self-belief and an iron will, then it becomes possible to powerfully inspire others in their effort to pursue the shared goal or ideal. Effective leaders constantly learn and improve. Branson is well known for this, and walks around with a notebook, whether at work or public gatherings so as to write down any new information (Redmond, 2011). According to Cohen & Rath (2007), effective leadership is able to learn from mistakes made and be keen on counsel given by experts. It is wrong to only focus on having a strong will. Being a good leader requires the humility and wisdom to learn. Leaders who feel they know everything Are likely to be in trouble later. Learning and leadership are synonymous. Conclusion There are characteristics that would define an effective leader and these are the determinants of how successfully one will be able to lead others, whether in business or other spheres of life. Richard Branson and Donald Trump are two examples of successful leadership and the gains that it can produce. The various characteristics can be summed up into honesty, integrity, and competence, being forward looking, inspiring and intelligent. Successful leadership displays humility, broadmindedness, courage and straightforwardness as well as creativity. Unlike Trump, Branson is therefore a better example as he is able to appeal to both the people in his companies and the outside public through relating with them personally. Trump on the other hand is perceived by the public in a way that differs from the employees.  Bibliography Adair, J, 2009, Effective Leadership: How to be a Successful Leader, Pan Books: London Hughes, R, Ginnett, R and Curphy, G, 2011, Leadership: Enhancing the Lessons of Experience 7th ed, McGraw-Hill Irwin: New York Payment, S, 2008, Donald Trump: Profile of a Real Estate Tycoon, Rosen Publishers: New York Cohen, E and Rath, T, 2007, Leadership without Borders: Successful Strategies from World-Class Leaders, John Wiley & Sons: Hoboken Redmond, S, 2011, Richard Branson: Virgin Megabrand Mogul, Dover: London Read More