Contributory Factors to Dick Smiths Charisma - Case Study Example

CASE STUDY: DICK SMITH By Student’s Name Code + Course Name Professor’s Name University Cite, State Date Case Study: Dick Smith Introduction Dick Smith is a well-known public figure in the Australian market. He has been able to attain most of the goals set despite the different levels of criticism he faced amongst some of the Australian. His model of leadership is based on appreciation and service to others, which has enhanced his charisma capabilities thus far. A transformative leader is able to create a distinctive visionary position and thereafter, allow others to join them (Calvin, 2003). The leader opts to go above the management of daily operations and assume risks needed for catapulting their respective organisations to higher levels. Dick Smith can be seen to have achieved most aspects mainly due to his ability to take risks. It is important to note that transformative leaders tend to focus more on business-based objectives (Giroux & Mclarney, 2014). The leadership model involves a unique process that facilitates the developing commitment to organisational objectives and thereafter, strengthening the followers to attain these set objectives. These types of leaders will rely more on idealised influence to execute tasks effectively (Calvin, 2003). Thus, this paper tries to examine some of Dick Smith’s well-known attributes that have contributed to his business successes and charisma as well as determine whether or not he is a transformative leader. 1. Contributory Factors to Dick Smith’s Business Success The fundamental attribute that has ensured Dick Smith’s success is emphasised on his personal philosophy, which was instilled on him in the course of his childhood years. The philosophy is based on appreciation as well as service to others. He has been able to offer both a transformative leadership as well as incorporate servant leadership models. Given the fact that he values free enterprise system and, also the imminent virtues of hard work and freedom of speech, Dick Smith has blossomed in his business acumen. The aforementioned values and attributes have facilitated a stronger foundation for his rather philanthropic and business success. Most importantly, Dick Smith has been able to ensure that he maintains a positive public image that has been able to attract a substantial level of respect and admiration of both employees and the overall Australian society as a whole. Subsequently, it is noted that the entrepreneur has always upheld a stringent perspective towards his vision. He has never allowed any form of intrusion or rather embraced the current internationalism aspect that is being emphasised within the marketplace. As a result, the perspective has allowed him to operate a successful business like Dick Smith Foods that has always promoted; to the Australians, food manufactured within the Australian market. In essence, his capacity to incorporate his visionary capabilities with the promotion of national identity, pride and self-confidence to both his employees as well as the entire Australian consumer base has ensured the success of his business developments over the years (Smith, 2014). In fact, as an unconventional leader, Dick Smith has ensured that his has attained distinctive prowess in linking his visionary perspective with the immediate values that constitutes a significant section of the Australian community. It is noted that servant leadership; as exercised by Dick Smith, allows the creation of visionary perspective that gains a substantial level of credibility as well as trust and honesty from employees and acts towards influencing them in a positive manner (De Poel, Stoker, & Van der Zee, 2012). Due to this framework, these leaders enjoy greater level of success as employees’ works towards attaining productivity hence business success. Notwithstanding, Dick Smith has ensured that he attains a substantial level of business success by way of adopting and formulating distinctive operational formula. He strives in his endeavours of making more money by emulating the success of other entrepreneurs, conducting intensive research and development on this idea by asking for professional advice and thereafter, working hard towards attaining perfection and ensuring to maintain the operational overheads at a relatively lower level. 2. Contributory Factors to Dick Smith’s “Charisma Dick Smith’s charisma is mainly attributed to his ability to attract idealised level of influence amongst his followers whether as employees or the larger Australian population. According to Stone, Russell and Patterson (2004,p.350-51), idealised influence or rather charismatic influence is the immediate charismatic aspect present in every transformational leader under which these leaders are portrayed as role models that are admired, respected and, also emulated by their respective followers. On the other hand, followers showcase a great deal of trust and respect in these leaders (Smith, 2014). The influence is also manifested in terms of integrity in relation to ethical and moral conduct considerations. Of particular interest, transformative leadership allows a platform necessary for creating and developing a shared visionary perspective that is incorporated in certain distinctive roles. Following this line of argument, Dick Smith’s charisma has been manifested when strives to demonstrate a higher capacity to link with the public and gain substantive levels of respect as well as admiration of both employees and business leaders as well. Subsequently, it is established that he has always maintained a stringent vision that is deemed to be inflexible enough to adopt the current practices of modernism but has however; managed to connect with the values of a larger section of the entire Australian community that has indeed provided a platform for his level of success. It is noted that his manner of speech is significantly emotive, articulate and self-confident in nature. This way, he has been able to gain personality mileage amongst his followers despite visible elements of criticism. For instance, he is said to always portray a higher degree of honesty as well as a significant sense of social responsibility on a personal level. He also engages in providing sufficient levels of encouragement to all of his followers. Ilsever (2014, p.48-56) notes that charismatic leaders will always assist others especially their followers to perceive the futuristic situation while still instilling a significant level of acceptance through encouraging allegiance to personal values as well as interests to the overall collective interests of the group. 3. Is Dick Smith A Transformational Leader? Yes. In my opinion, Dick Smith is a transformational leader because he has been able to develop commitment to organisational goals and objectives and thereafter, empowering their respective followers to attain them. The accomplishment of these organisational objectives has been facilitated by a way of creating a visionary path that is protective in nature and has been able to link with the personal values of Australian population at large. Dick Smith has thrived in many business ventures as well as positions because he aligns to the transformative way of leading by emphasising more on progress and development of business operations. Particularly, as a transformative leader, Dick Smith has ensured positive transformation of his followers’ personal values in order to support organisational objectives and visions that were already in place. This was achieved by ensuring that there was an environment already set that facilitated the formation of employee relations as well as creating a platform of trust so that these visions could be freely shared. There are a number of ways for which Dick Smith showcases his allegiance to the transformative leadership model. For instance, he emphasises on a charismatic level of influence in his undertakings. Under this attribute, he presents himself as a leader that acts as a role to the entire Australian community. He is admired, respected and embraced by his employees. He is also fairly positioned to develop and dictate his visionary path that has been incorporated as an integral aspect of his numerous roles. He has been able to assume and share risks with his followers by advocating for a “fair go” philosophy as well as freedom of speech phenomenon. Consequently, he epitomises intellectual level of stimulation so that his followers are allowed an opportunity to be innovative and creative in conducting assigned tasks and responsibilities (Şahin, Çubuk, & Uslu, 2014). For instance, he is known to copying and pasting the business ideas of others before putting in hard work and professional advice. This conforms to the idea that transformational leaders will always solicit for their followers’ ideas and establish creative solutions to any possible issue that might arise in the future (Shafie, Siti-Nabiha, & Cheng Ling, 2014). Conclusion To sum up, the discussion has been able to establish that Dick Smith is a charismatic leader that exercises transformative leadership styles in his undertakings. The capacity to create and impact his visionary path and link it with personal values has allowed him business ideas greater success levels. He is also known for his capacity to incorporate his visionary capabilities with the promotion of national identity, pride and self-confidence to both his employees as well as the entire Australian consumer base has ensured the success of his business developments over the years. References List Calvin, JR 2003, 'Leadership Networking and Active Transitions in the Workplace: Freedoms, Energy, and Transformative Relationships', SAM Advanced Management Journal (07497075), vol. 68, no. 4, pp. 42-59. De Poel, F, Stoker, J, & Van der Zee, K 2012, 'Climate control? The relationship between leadership, climate for change, and work outcomes', International Journal of Human Resource Management, 23, 3, pp. 694-713 Giroux, T, & Mclarney, C 2014, 'Exploring the Leadership Continuum: The Relevance of Transformational Leadership on Organizational Performance', Proceedings for the Northeast Region Decision Sciences Institute (NEDSI), pp. 862-886. Ilsever, O 2014, 'How Relevant Is Transformational Leadership to Technology Adoption and Infusion in Sales Channels?’ Business Studies Journal, vol. 6, pp. 45-57. Şahin, DR, Çubuk, D, & Uslu, T 2014, 'The Effect of Organizational Support, Transformational Leadership, Personnel Empowerment, Work Engagement, Performance and Demographical Variables on the Factors of Psychological Capital', EMAJ: Emerging Markets Journal, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 1-17. 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