Leadership of Southwest Airlines
Leadership of Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines is often a modeled by other companies for its organizational structure. Organizations that have an effective management team are successful in developing a strong organizational culture, utilizing managerial controls, and leveraging diversity. Effective management teams are developed by cultivating leadership skills in those that supervise the company’s associates. Organizations want managers that can motivate their associates to achieve the goals and vision of the company. Managers that are able to utilize the leadership principles to engage their associates to share the success of the company are considered effective. Leaders are able to develop a strong vision and communicate that vision to their employees. At Southwest Airlines, the mission the managers strive for is the dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit (Culture is the key at Southwest Airlines, 2005). In its early years, Southwest struggled as many young companies do, but with its effective leadership, got the buy-in from its employees to make the necessary changes which affected the company’s position. This was accomplished by recognizing that their employees were their number one customer. By the leadership team shifting its focus to the employees, the employees focused on the company (Culture is the key at Southwest Airlines, 2005).
Southwest Airlines has a relaxed organizational culture which has made the company known for having the lowest turnover rate in the industry (Culture is the key at Southwest Airlines, 2005). The founders of airline and their management team implement the leadership principles that contribute to a healthy organizational culture. At Southwest, leaders challenge the process by going against the status quo. This has caused their culture to be described by outsiders as “goofy”. To inspire a shared vision, Southwest
Southwest Airlines is often a modeled by other companies for its organizational structure. Organizations that have an effective management team are successful in developing a strong organizational culture, utilizing managerial controls, and leveraging diversity. Effective management teams are developed by cultivating leadership skills in those that supervise the company’s associates. Organizations want managers that can motivate their associates to achieve the goals and vision of the company. Managers that are able to utilize the leadership principles to engage their associates to share the success of the company are considered effective. Leaders are able to develop a strong vision and communicate that vision to their employees. At Southwest Airlines, the mission the managers strive for is the dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit (Culture is the key at Southwest Airlines, 2005). In its early years, Southwest struggled as many young companies do, but with its effective leadership, got the buy-in from its employees to make the necessary changes which affected the company’s position. This was accomplished by recognizing that their employees were their number one customer. By the leadership team shifting its focus to the employees, the employees focused on the company (Culture is the key at Southwest Airlines, 2005).
Southwest Airlines has a relaxed organizational culture which has made the company known for having the lowest turnover rate in the industry (Culture is the key at Southwest Airlines, 2005). The founders of airline and their management team implement the leadership principles that contribute to a healthy organizational culture. At Southwest, leaders challenge the process by going against the status quo. This has caused their culture to be described by outsiders as “goofy”. To inspire a shared vision, Southwest
Bibliography: Culture is the key at Southwest Airlines. (2005). Emerald for Managers. Retrieved July 6, 2013, from http://managers.emeraldinsight.com/quality/articles/pdf/southwest.pdf African American Partnerships. (2013). Retrieved July 6, 2013, from Southwest: http://www.southwest.com/html/southwest-difference/community-involvement/african-american/partners.html Asian Partnerships. (2013). Retrieved July 7, 2013, from Southwest: http://www.southwest.com/html/southwest-difference/community-involvement/asian/partners.html LGBT Outreach. (2013). Retrieved July 7, 2013, from Southwest: http://www.southwest.com/html/southwest-difference/community-involvement/glbt/index.html Bateman, T. (2011). Management: Leading and Collaborating in a Competitive World, 9e. McGraw-Hill.