Organization Culture and Features of Good Leadership - Literature review Example

Leadership Name: Institution: 1. Top of Form Discuss the way that leadership has changed within the context of a globalized environment, over time. Introduction Yukl (2002) defined leadership as the process of making people understand what should be done, how to do it effectively as well as facilitating their efforts with the view of achieving shared objectives. In most cases, leadership is often confused with management. Though there is a thin line between the two, leadership involves establishing direction, aligning people, as well as motivating and inspiring them with an aim of effecting a change, whereas management is concerned with planning and budgeting, organizing, controlling and problem solving in a much more predictable or orderly manner (Bratton, Nelson, & Grint, 2005). The nature of Leadership Bratton, Nelson, & Grint (2005) noted that in an organizational setting, leadership and management cannot be separated. Instead, the two complement each other, with their interaction being influenced by an employee’s role in the management hierarchy, their ability as well as their bias towards each sub process. According to Bratton, Nelson, & Grint (2005) leadership is one of the most studied topics, mostly due to the assumption that the actions that leaders make, their influence, as well as their personal qualities are of great importance in shaping societal events. With this intense research, varying views regarding leadership have emerged. While some researchers argue that leadership is vital for an organization’s growth, there exists a group of researchers who believe that leadership has no effect on an organization's growth. According to them, growth is driven by employees’ efforts and occurs as long as these employees have the right facilitation to do their work. This thought is informed by the fact that an organization’s performance can still dip even without a change in leadership. Interestingly, continued poor organization performance creates a need for a change in leadership. Another differing opinion is that on leadership behaviors. While some researchers believe that leadership is universal, where a leader can fit in any given situation, others believe that leaders have differing qualities and each leader is best suited to particular organizations (Landrum, Howell, & Paris, 2000). The Global Environment Technology has greatly influenced how organizations do their business. The introduction of cheap telecommunication technologies and development of faster and cheaper transport systems has led to a sharp increase in multinational investment. This is because multinational organizations are able to easily monitor performance and co-r-ordinate the functions of branches spread over different countries. However, Gatignon & Kimberly ( n.d) noted that though immense opportunities lie in the global market, challenges and risks abound in equal measure. In addition, Gatignon & Kimberly (n.d) stated that unlike government leaders who have a choice on whether to venture into global markets, business leaders do not have that luxury. Competitive business leaders recognize that the global market is one big stage, and they are the main actors. In addition, business organizations have a responsibility to build economies through multinational trade. They have a responsibility to produce goods or provide services that suit customers’ needs. In doing this, organizations must ensure a sustainable exploitation of resources as well as sustainable economic development. Gatignon & Kimberly also noted that business leaders are faced with the challenge of managing widely spread enterprises operating in different countries with differing business environments. In addition, venturing into international markets requires restructuring an organization’s supply chain and better evaluation of financial and geopolitical risks. We can, therefore, deduce that despite the many risks and challenges, organizations have no option but to venture in global markets in order to remain competitive. In that case, it is the duty of an organization’s leadership to ensure that strategies to counter these risks and challenges are put in place. Impact of Globalization on Leadership PricewaterhouseCoopers (2008) stated that to achieve success, an organization must be flexible, easily adaptable to change, more networked as well as being less hierarchal. This restructuring is the duty of its leaders who must have the ability to foresee changes in business environments, show authenticity in leadership and encourage social responsibility. To survive in the existing and future global environments, leaders must align their style of leadership such that it fits into the demands of the existing business environment. In fact, despite the differing opinions on leadership, there exists a common stand that approaches to leadership have been changing over the years. Traditionally, leadership was associated with control and command. The days of rigid bureaucracy where the status quo was the order of the day in organizations are being overtaken by a new approach of leadership, which is seen to be democratic and where leaders and junior staff belong to a team. In fact, Bratton, Nelson, & Grint (2005) noted that terms like subordinate and junior employees are being replaced by friendlier ones like team member or associate. This rapid change is being fuelled by globalization, which has brought with it new challenges. Leaders have to make tough choices on not only how to do business, but also with whom. Globalization has increased business opportunities for organizations. Nowadays, businesses can explore international markets as well as source for cheaper resources. However, globalization has also created competition for skilled labor as well as unique talents. Organizations poach for these talents all over the world to enhance their performance. For this reason, it is easier to replace non-performing individuals with talented and creative ones. A leader in a particular organization can, therefore, only choose between performing and quitting. With globalization, change is happening very fast and as such, leaders have to adapt quickly so as to remain relevant. Indeed, agility has been identified as an essential quality for leaders in the prevailing global business environment. Therefore, those leaders who have the ability to foresee changes in the business environment and create efficient strategies to counter these changes have a better chance of succeeding (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2008). In addition, globalization is creating a need for leaders to be authentic in developing strategies. They must be able to create clear visions and make their followers part of these visions. In the existing environment where numerous challenges exist, leaders must exude boldness and be able to withstand pressure by taking firm stands. As opposed to the traditional dictatorial style of leadership, it is being realized that the best way to keep an organization moving forward is by leaders building trust with their associates as well as showing confidence in them. It is also imperative that an organization’s leadership maintains frequent, genuine and clear communication with the rest of the team. Due to the fact that globalization has led to a decline in the pool of unique talents and skilled labor, leaders are now seeing the need to use their employees’ abilities in the best way possible. As opposed to the previous leadership style of control and command, leaders are now taking time to study employees as well as liaise with them in the quest to fit them in roles in which they are best suited. This strategy and new approach by leaders is proving very effective in promoting growth. As noted by Bratton, Nelson, & Grint (2005), this strategy has been used by the popular chairman of the Virgin Group, Richard Branson, who has led the organization since 1973, making it one of the most respected brands in the world. Richard Branson has been able to achieve this by utilizing the talents of his managers. Bratton, Nelson, & Grint (2005) noted that Richard Branson manages his vast business conglomerate remotely from his private boat, by using modern telecommunication technologies to keep contact with managers located in different buildings across London. According to Branson, this gives the managers independence in making decisions. This way, Branson is able to make the best use of their talents. Finally, globalization has further increased the demand for sustainability. In addition to looking at the best way to utilize resources available within the organization, leaders also need to be concerned with how organizations exploit natural resources and the impact of their activities on the environment. The days where organizations were only concerned with reaping maximum profits with little care for the impact of their activities are long gone. The current business environment demands social responsibility from an organization. In fact, customers are nowadays very concerned with an organization's social responsibility. Similarly, employees are getting more concerned with an organization's social responsibility. PricewaterhouseCoopers (2008) noted that when applying for jobs, employees will look out for companies which value their services. This is determined by how well a company trains, develops, deploys and remunerates employees. To be successful, leaders must balance profit making with social responsibilities like philanthropy, sustainable exploitation of resources and environmental conservation, if at all they are focused on building strong brands (Gitsham, Wackrill, Baxter, & Pegg, 2012). Organization Culture Organization culture refers to the established ways or traditional way of doing business within an organization. In an attempt to fit into the demands of the global environment, some leaders may realize that behavior change may need to go hand in hand with a change in organizational culture. However, such changes may not always be welcome as some people within an organization may resist change in favor of established ways. For that reason, it is important that leaders understand the nature of change, its purpose and ways of managing the effects of change. It is the duty of an organization’s leadership to properly manage change or transitions. This can only be done by introducing change gradually while making other employees understand the need for change as well as helping them understand and be part of visions. 2. With reference to the readings for this unit, profile the leadership and communication styles of a global or national leader you admire. Features of Good Leadership While a good leader will take an organization to higher heights of success, a bad leader only pulls down an organization, sometimes bringing it to its knees. Good leaders are good at team building and lead by example. They are examples of good morals and integrity in addition to being fair. Bad leadership, on the other hand, is characterized by lack of consultation, which leads to making of poor and rushed decisions. While good leadership is characterized by constant, clear and honest communication, bad leadership is characterized with the exact opposite of that. With bad leadership, employees become disoriented because they lack space for growth and development. They also lack a purpose or goal because in most cases, they do not understand nor own a leader's vision. To be a good and effective leader, one must allow his followers to explore their talents. Sharing ideas and visions and making others understand them is crucial for the success of an organization. By allowing employees to enjoy some degree of freedom in making decisions, a leader is able to utilize the unique talents they posses. Such leadership, which offers motivation to develop as well as work independently towards a common organizational objective, is the epitome of good, effective leadership. Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership and Communication Style Oprah Winfrey has been described by many as a good leader and has been identified as one of the most influential women of her generation. Oprah is characterized by exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills (Lussier & Achua, 2007). Oprah Winfrey, though coming from a humble background, has grown into one of the most respected media personalities of the century. She hosts a popular television talk show- The Oprah Winfrey Show- in addition to owning a television network and running the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, mostly plating the role of a team leader. Oprah has been described as a charismatic and transformational, intelligent and sociable leader. Considering that she influences the lives of millions of people around the world, Oprah is not just a national but a global leader. Leadership Style a. A Transformational Leader According to Northouse (2013), the transformational style of leadership seeks to transform people through effective communication of visions and ideas. Transformational leaders encourage employees to take part in problem solving in addition to coaching and interacting with them at a personal level. Oprah’s transformative abilities are underlined by her impact on a failing Chicago talk show that gave birth to the Oprah Winfrey show. When Oprah joined WLS-TV in 1984, she had the sole mandate of reviving the AM Chicago, a failing television talk show. After hosting the show for a year, the AM Chicago show rose from its knees to become the most popular talk show in Chicago. To make better use of her incredible abilities, the management increased the show’s air time to an hour. In 1986, the show’s name was changed to the ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’. Since then, Oprah’s profile has always been on the rise. b. A Charismatic Leader Northouse (2013) noted that charismatic leaders exude confidence, good moral values, have an influential personality and have a strong desire to make change through a positive influence. Having come from a poor background which was made worse by sexual molestation at a tender age, Oprah always worked hard to fulfill her dreams. Despite her legendary status, Oprah still strives to promote social justice and offer opportunities to needy persons through her philanthropic work. By sharing her personal struggles with viewers, publicly apologizing for mistakes and her publicly declaring that she is in no way special, Oprah has been able to attract a large following of people who can relate to her stories (Anonymous, 2014). In fact, Anonymous (2014) stated that Oprah Winfrey’s charisma has been demonstrated by her emergence as the first black woman to work as a news anchor, later becoming the first American woman to own a television network, through which she has been able to transform the lives of millions of people worldwide. Oprah is a confident leader who leads best by setting examples. Communication Style Oprah understands the role of technology in the modern global environment and has taken advantage of her television network to build an audience, address social injustices and ultimately change people’s lives. By communicating effectively with her audience, she has been able to build an audience in over a hundred and forty countries (Anonymous, 2014). Oprah also possesses exceptional interpersonal skills that have led to some of her employees seeing her to be more of a sister than a leader. She has been known to publicly apologize (on television) for mistakes made at work and is seen to have strong moral values. Hedeyati (2013) described Oprah as a relatable leader, who has won the trust of numerous people and plays the role of a confidant to many. Hedeyati notes that Oprah has achieved this by sharing her shortcomings with her viewers. In an article titled ‘Oprah Winfrey Leadership Qualities’, Hedeyati states that at one time, Oprah Winfrey was quoted saying that she was a woman in process, trying like anybody else. She stated that she tries to learn from the conflicts and challenges she faces because life, enjoyable as it is, is all about learning lessons. Finally, Oprah Winfrey recognizes the need to lead by example. In addition to being actively involved in producing programs for her television network, Oprah is able to effectively communicate her ideas and vision to her employees. She has set herself as a role model to women in the hope that they will realize and take up their roles in leadership. It is for this reason that she set up a girls’ school in South Africa to help nurture future women leaders. In addition, she publicly shares her childhood experience of sexual abuse in a bid to encourage people to speak up about children molestation in the USA. Through this, she has been able to relate to victims. It is through this campaign that she initiated the National Child Protection Act. What Makes Oprah’s Leadership Exceptional? Oprah Winfrey has, in many occasions, demonstrated her recognition of an organization’s social responsibility. Using her influence and her financial ability, Oprah has been on the forefront of the struggle to solve social problems. For example, she has been striving to help women lead better lives, not just by setting herself as a role model, but also using her financial resources. In addition to awarding scholarships to bright, but poor students, Oprah has established a girls’ boarding school in South Africa, with the aim of empowering young girls in the country through education. One of her most notable contribution in the United States of America is her initiation of the National Child Protection Act in 1991, popularly known as the ‘Oprah bill’. Oprah (2008) stated that Oprah Winfrey's passion and commitment to children and their protection culminated in her initiation of the National Child Protection Act of 1991. In that year, Oprah Winfrey testified before a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee petitioning for the creation of a national database that would contain details of all convicted child abusers. The Impact of Globalization on Oprah’s Leadership It is evident that globalization has impacted on Oprah’s leadership style. Her campaign against social injustices is not only addressed USA citizens but also to millions across the world. It is estimated that her talk show is viewed in over a hundred and forty countries. This way, she has been able to impact on the lives of numerous people around the globe. Her foundation has helped a number of needy persons worldwide, most notable being awarding scholarships to bright, needy students. The fact that she recently established a girls’ school in South Africa to help nurture future women leaders further underlines her position as a global leader. Through the use of modern information technologies, she is able to manage this and many other philanthropic projects around the world run by the Oprah Foundation. Conclusion Oprah’s life is a perfect example of what one can achieve by being determined. Above all, it is an example of what good leadership is, and what is expected of leaders. Leaders should lead from the front, by setting examples that their followers can emulate. In addition, they should effectively communicate ideas to their followers and allow them space to explore their talents. This is, as shown by Oprah, is the best way to show direction and convince followers to follow one’s cause. Bottom of Form References Anonymous. (2014, April 1). Leadership. Retrieved September 20, 2014, from Pennstate University Website: http://sites.psu.edu/leadership/2014/04/01/oprah-winfrey-a-transformational-and-charismatic-leader-3/ Bratton, J., Nelson, D. L., & Grint, K. (2005). Introduction to Leadership. In J. Bratton, D. L. Nelson, & K. Grint, Organizational Leadership (pp. 2-26). Mason: Thomson Publishers. Gatignon, H., & Kimberly, J. (n.d). Globalization and its challenges. In T. I.-W. Globalizing, Strategies for Building Successful Global Businesses (pp. 1-10). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Gitsham, M., Wackrill, J., Baxter, G., & Pegg, M. (2012). Leadership in a Rapidly Changing World: How business leaders are reframing success. Rio+ 20 Conference on Sustainable Development (pp. 1-32). Rio De Janeiro: Ashridge Business School. Hedeyati, F. (2013, November 20). All Blogs. Retrieved September 20, 2014, from Center for Work Life Website: http://www.centerforworklife.com/oprah-winfrey-leadership-qualities/ Landrum, N., Howell, J., & Paris, L. (2000). Leadership for Strategic Change. The Leadership and Organization Development Journal , 21 (3), 150-156. Lussier, R., & Achua, C. (2007). Charismatic and Transformational Leadership. In R. Lussier, & C. Achua, Leadership: theory, application, skill development (3rd Edition ed., pp. 356-395). Mason, Ohio. Northouse, P. (2013). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Los Angeles: Sage Publications. Oprah. (2008, December 09). Oprah: Home. Retrieved September 20, 2014, from Oprah.com: http://www.oprah.com/pressroom/Oprah-Calls-for-Action-Against-Child-Predators PricewaterhouseCoopers. (2008, April). How leadership must change to meet the future. Retrieved September 19, 2014, from pwc Website: http://www.pwc.com/us/en/people-management/publications/how-leadership-meet-future-change.jhtml Yukl, G. (2002), Leadership in Organizations, 5th ed., Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ Read More