Summary: Leader Comparison
Leader Comparison:
The term leadership can be defined in a variety of different ways and is associated with numerous concepts. It is impossible to produce just one individual meaning for the word. Stogdill cited in Yukl (2013, p.18) writes: “There are almost as many definitions of leadership as there are persons who have attempted to define the concept” Not only does this term have a wide range of definitions, there are also multiple theories of leadership methods. This range of different theories have been developed and utilized consistently by many leaders throughout history and even today. Leaders adopt a method which is best suited to them and their environment. The outcome can be positive or negative depending on how the method is applied. …show more content…
The discussion of this essay will go into depth about two leadership theories and two individual leaders that pertain to them. It will explain how each theory assisted in modelling the leaders, alongside my personal understanding and view of each theory and their contribution to leading.
Emotional Intelligence is a modern, alternative approach towards leadership. It focuses on the influence of people’s emotions that they develop in the work environment and argues that emotions can affect people’s behaviour and rationality. The term Emotional intelligence has been described as, “A person’s ability to be self-aware…, detect emotions in others, and manage emotional cues and information” (Robbins, Judge, Millet, Boyle, 2011, p.123). This statement is both describing the term, and giving an insight into the characteristics of emotional intelligence which brings an effect upon the individual person. Emotional Intelligence theory (also referred to as EI theory) was developed by Mayer and Salovey, yet is most commonly linked to theorist Daniel Goleman. The theory was categorised into five competencies by Goleman which are considered to be of extremely high importance in order for a leader to be successful. Goleman states that, “Truly effective leaders are also distinguished by a high degree of emotional intelligence, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill” (2004). This statement is implying that a leader who can learn to demonstrate and apply all five of these emotions in their work will be the most effective.
Jeffrey Bezos is one leader who demonstrates Emotional Intelligence in both his professional and personal life. There are many successful CEO’s and Businesses all over the world yet, there is one thing that stands out in Bezos. That is his ability to demonstrate his leadership method and apply Emotional Intelligence well to his work. He is the founder and CEO of Amazon with a current net worth of over $25 billion. He is considered to be one of the wealthiest people in the world. Bezos graduated Princeton University with a degree in computer science and electrical engineering. In 1995 he opened his Internet-based bookshop to the world. Over the years Amazon branched out and became not only an online book-shop, but an online store selling a vast range of products. Bezos also founded an aerospace company called Blue origin. In 2012 he was named ‘Business Person of the Year’ and in early 2013 he purchased the newspaper division of the Washington post company (Academy of achievement, 1996-2013). By looking at the fundamental achievements of Jeffrey Bezos, an inordinate amount of success over the decades is illustrated. He is particularly customer focused and is a famous business Icon for both his stakeholders.
It is often the analytical and technological skills that are linked to successful leaders, yet Bezos proves that Emotional Intelligence can lead to triumph. He demonstrates Emotional Intelligence by the way he is able to understand his own emotions and the emotions of others around him. He puts a large amount of emphasis on ‘Customer Satisfaction’. He believes that for a business to be successful, a high standard of customer service needs to be displayed. He shows both empathy and excellent social skill by understanding his customer’s wants and adhering to them. Bezos states that, “Our job at Amazon is to build the best customer experience we can in every way and then let customers choose where they shop…We don 't make money when we sell things; we make money when we help customers make purchase decisions” (2013). Not only does Bezos focus on customer satisfaction, he also exhibits a strong sense of self-awareness and motivation. When first starting his company, he was not overly critical or unrealistically hopeful. He knew his limits and had the right amount of self-motivation to succeed. This verifies that Jeffrey Bezos reflects a leader who has adopted and applied Emotional Intelligence as his style of leading. He is also proof that if applied correctly, this style can be highly effective.
Another leadership method which is more of a traditional style of leading is Situational leadership. This was developed by Dr Paul Hersey. The focus of this theory is in aiding Leaders to adapt to their followers. The leader adjusts to whatever limitation is laid out in front of him by his subordinates and the situation itself. The theory has been defined as, “enabling leaders to diagnose the variables of any given situation and adapt their management styles to the behavioral needs of the individual or group they are trying to influence” (Situational leadership model, 2002-2013). This theory is categorised into four directive and supportive behaviours: “Directing, Coaching, Supporting and Delegating” (Blanchard, 2008). Knowing when to apply the right behaviour is dependent on the task at hand or the person in which is being directed. Blanchard explains that, “the right style is primarily a function of the degree of difficulty of the task and the developmental level of the person doing the task” (2008). This style of leadership is relatively simple to understand and is popular among individuals because of its diversity and flexibility.
One individual who demonstrated situational leadership was General George Patton. He was considered as one of the most successful combat generals in U.S history. Patton served in both World War I and World War II. He was the leader of the Third Army and was skilled at tank warfare. He was awarded many distinguished medals, including the service cross for heroism. During his time in the war he worked his way up the ranks due to his leadership abilities. One of Patton’s greatest achievements was assisting in the liberation of Germany from the Nazis (Bio.true story, 2013). Patton was a very successful leader and is frequently remembered for his unique brand of leadership. Patton was recognised as a situational leader, his philosophy to win the war was focused on analysing the situation. The result of the situational analysis became the foundation in planning the course of action. He believed that it was necessary to change plans to fit an unexpected situation. Patton was also a very hard spoken individual; he knew how to speak the right language to his soldiers. He was also able to adapt how he spoke and presented himself depending on whom he was conversing with. The greatest value of a situational leader is their ability to adjust according to what is happening, that is exactly what Patton did. This is why he was, and is still recognised for his great achievements and leadership skills.
Understanding the relationship between emotional intelligence and leadership behaviours may provide a pathway for more effective leadership development. Leadership and Emotional Intelligence are both commonly used today in and out of the workplace. An individual may be unaware that they are using one certain method of leadership, while others may ensure that they are following a method in great detail. Depending on both the leader and technique being applied, success or failure can be the end result. Bezos and Patton are both great examples of successful and moral leaders yet, each demonstrated a different style of leadership in their work. With this in mind, how can it be assumed that only one style of leading is the correct way? Both theories have had a vast amount of research done, resulting both negatively and positively. However, there is no research directly testing the relationship between the two. One style focuses on understanding your own emotions and the emotions of those around you, while the other focuses on adapting yourself to a situation or a person. Feldman cited by Vartanian writes that, “Successful leaders capitalize not only on their position power, but also the power of their relationships” (2006). This statement is demonstrating the link between both theories and arguing that a more successful leader is one that can demonstrate Emotional Intelligence and also adapt to a situation when needed. Being able to read and understand an individual’s emotions increases the leader’s ability to analyse and use them in a manner most appropriate for a certain situation. When discussing the emotions of an individual whom may be experience frustration or a decrease in motivation, Vartanian states that, “An emotionally intelligent leader would recognize these emotions as such and switch from a directing leadership style to a coaching one in order to provide the subordinate with more support and alleviate these negative emotions”(2006, p. 80). In this statement, the Leader recognised the individual to be distressed and changed their method to coaching rather than delegating. This is a great example of the association between the two theories. It clearly establishes that by reading an individual’s emotions, a leader can change their approach to best suit the situation.
I believe that almost every individual will apply both Emotional Intelligence and a situational style of leading throughout their life.
Individuals are often faced with unexpected situations where both theories may need to be implemented. The significance of comparing two leaders and theories is to view how each individual uses and applies the theories to their work, dependant on what they believe best suits them. Every human being is unique. It is impossible to really compare and contrast as to which style is the superior of the two. Both Bezos and Patton were extraordinary leaders whom adopted and utilised their leadership style and used it to its full potential. The main limitation is in knowing which concept to adopt and demonstrate to one’s self. Although each individual was a leader in two completely different forms, both choices of leadership were very effective. A connection between the two concepts is also clear. I believe that this connection between Emotional Intelligence and Leadership theory should become a necessity to researchers. By understanding and recognising certain emotions, it gives an insight into a situation which can then allow a person to adapt to that situation. This confirms the rather detectable link between the two. It also inquires as to why these theories have not been researched together more thoroughly as they work so well with one another. By researching and comparing two theories and leaders, my understanding of leadership has developed …show more content…
significantly. Both theories demonstrate plausible evidence that they can be efficacious. Nonetheless, it is the individual who will determine the outcome of its victory.
References:
Academy of Achievement, (1996-2013).
Inventing E-Commerce. Retrieved from http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/bez0bio-1
Bio. True story. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/george-patton-9434904?page=2
Blanchard, K. (2008). Situational Leadership. Leadership Excellence, 25(5), 19.
Goleman, D. (2004, January). What makes a leader. Harvard Business Review, Retrieved from http://hbr.org/2004/01/what-makes-a-leader
Ignatius, A. (2013). Jeff Bezos on Leading for the Long-Term at Amazon [Podcast]. Retrieved from http://blogs.hbr.org/ideacast/2013/01/jeff- bezos-on-leading-for-the.html
Robbins, S.P., Judge, T.A., Millett, B., Boyle, M. (2011). Organisational Behaviour (6th ed.). Frenchs Forest, New South Wales: Pearson Australia Pty Ltd.
Situational leadership Australia. (2002-2013). Situational leadership model. Retrieved from http://www.sitlead.com.au/
Vartanian, L. (2006). The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Situational Leadership II (Master’s Thesis). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses database.
(304910889).
The term leadership can be defined in a variety of different ways and is associated with numerous concepts. It is impossible to produce just one individual meaning for the word. Stogdill cited in Yukl (2013, p.18) writes: “There are almost as many definitions of leadership as there are persons who have attempted to define the concept” Not only does this term have a wide range of definitions, there are also multiple theories of leadership methods. This range of different theories have been developed and utilized consistently by many leaders throughout history and even today. Leaders adopt a method which is best suited to them and their environment. The outcome can be positive or negative depending on how the method is applied. …show more content…
The discussion of this essay will go into depth about two leadership theories and two individual leaders that pertain to them. It will explain how each theory assisted in modelling the leaders, alongside my personal understanding and view of each theory and their contribution to leading.
Emotional Intelligence is a modern, alternative approach towards leadership. It focuses on the influence of people’s emotions that they develop in the work environment and argues that emotions can affect people’s behaviour and rationality. The term Emotional intelligence has been described as, “A person’s ability to be self-aware…, detect emotions in others, and manage emotional cues and information” (Robbins, Judge, Millet, Boyle, 2011, p.123). This statement is both describing the term, and giving an insight into the characteristics of emotional intelligence which brings an effect upon the individual person. Emotional Intelligence theory (also referred to as EI theory) was developed by Mayer and Salovey, yet is most commonly linked to theorist Daniel Goleman. The theory was categorised into five competencies by Goleman which are considered to be of extremely high importance in order for a leader to be successful. Goleman states that, “Truly effective leaders are also distinguished by a high degree of emotional intelligence, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill” (2004). This statement is implying that a leader who can learn to demonstrate and apply all five of these emotions in their work will be the most effective.
Jeffrey Bezos is one leader who demonstrates Emotional Intelligence in both his professional and personal life. There are many successful CEO’s and Businesses all over the world yet, there is one thing that stands out in Bezos. That is his ability to demonstrate his leadership method and apply Emotional Intelligence well to his work. He is the founder and CEO of Amazon with a current net worth of over $25 billion. He is considered to be one of the wealthiest people in the world. Bezos graduated Princeton University with a degree in computer science and electrical engineering. In 1995 he opened his Internet-based bookshop to the world. Over the years Amazon branched out and became not only an online book-shop, but an online store selling a vast range of products. Bezos also founded an aerospace company called Blue origin. In 2012 he was named ‘Business Person of the Year’ and in early 2013 he purchased the newspaper division of the Washington post company (Academy of achievement, 1996-2013). By looking at the fundamental achievements of Jeffrey Bezos, an inordinate amount of success over the decades is illustrated. He is particularly customer focused and is a famous business Icon for both his stakeholders.
It is often the analytical and technological skills that are linked to successful leaders, yet Bezos proves that Emotional Intelligence can lead to triumph. He demonstrates Emotional Intelligence by the way he is able to understand his own emotions and the emotions of others around him. He puts a large amount of emphasis on ‘Customer Satisfaction’. He believes that for a business to be successful, a high standard of customer service needs to be displayed. He shows both empathy and excellent social skill by understanding his customer’s wants and adhering to them. Bezos states that, “Our job at Amazon is to build the best customer experience we can in every way and then let customers choose where they shop…We don 't make money when we sell things; we make money when we help customers make purchase decisions” (2013). Not only does Bezos focus on customer satisfaction, he also exhibits a strong sense of self-awareness and motivation. When first starting his company, he was not overly critical or unrealistically hopeful. He knew his limits and had the right amount of self-motivation to succeed. This verifies that Jeffrey Bezos reflects a leader who has adopted and applied Emotional Intelligence as his style of leading. He is also proof that if applied correctly, this style can be highly effective.
Another leadership method which is more of a traditional style of leading is Situational leadership. This was developed by Dr Paul Hersey. The focus of this theory is in aiding Leaders to adapt to their followers. The leader adjusts to whatever limitation is laid out in front of him by his subordinates and the situation itself. The theory has been defined as, “enabling leaders to diagnose the variables of any given situation and adapt their management styles to the behavioral needs of the individual or group they are trying to influence” (Situational leadership model, 2002-2013). This theory is categorised into four directive and supportive behaviours: “Directing, Coaching, Supporting and Delegating” (Blanchard, 2008). Knowing when to apply the right behaviour is dependent on the task at hand or the person in which is being directed. Blanchard explains that, “the right style is primarily a function of the degree of difficulty of the task and the developmental level of the person doing the task” (2008). This style of leadership is relatively simple to understand and is popular among individuals because of its diversity and flexibility.
One individual who demonstrated situational leadership was General George Patton. He was considered as one of the most successful combat generals in U.S history. Patton served in both World War I and World War II. He was the leader of the Third Army and was skilled at tank warfare. He was awarded many distinguished medals, including the service cross for heroism. During his time in the war he worked his way up the ranks due to his leadership abilities. One of Patton’s greatest achievements was assisting in the liberation of Germany from the Nazis (Bio.true story, 2013). Patton was a very successful leader and is frequently remembered for his unique brand of leadership. Patton was recognised as a situational leader, his philosophy to win the war was focused on analysing the situation. The result of the situational analysis became the foundation in planning the course of action. He believed that it was necessary to change plans to fit an unexpected situation. Patton was also a very hard spoken individual; he knew how to speak the right language to his soldiers. He was also able to adapt how he spoke and presented himself depending on whom he was conversing with. The greatest value of a situational leader is their ability to adjust according to what is happening, that is exactly what Patton did. This is why he was, and is still recognised for his great achievements and leadership skills.
Understanding the relationship between emotional intelligence and leadership behaviours may provide a pathway for more effective leadership development. Leadership and Emotional Intelligence are both commonly used today in and out of the workplace. An individual may be unaware that they are using one certain method of leadership, while others may ensure that they are following a method in great detail. Depending on both the leader and technique being applied, success or failure can be the end result. Bezos and Patton are both great examples of successful and moral leaders yet, each demonstrated a different style of leadership in their work. With this in mind, how can it be assumed that only one style of leading is the correct way? Both theories have had a vast amount of research done, resulting both negatively and positively. However, there is no research directly testing the relationship between the two. One style focuses on understanding your own emotions and the emotions of those around you, while the other focuses on adapting yourself to a situation or a person. Feldman cited by Vartanian writes that, “Successful leaders capitalize not only on their position power, but also the power of their relationships” (2006). This statement is demonstrating the link between both theories and arguing that a more successful leader is one that can demonstrate Emotional Intelligence and also adapt to a situation when needed. Being able to read and understand an individual’s emotions increases the leader’s ability to analyse and use them in a manner most appropriate for a certain situation. When discussing the emotions of an individual whom may be experience frustration or a decrease in motivation, Vartanian states that, “An emotionally intelligent leader would recognize these emotions as such and switch from a directing leadership style to a coaching one in order to provide the subordinate with more support and alleviate these negative emotions”(2006, p. 80). In this statement, the Leader recognised the individual to be distressed and changed their method to coaching rather than delegating. This is a great example of the association between the two theories. It clearly establishes that by reading an individual’s emotions, a leader can change their approach to best suit the situation.
I believe that almost every individual will apply both Emotional Intelligence and a situational style of leading throughout their life.
Individuals are often faced with unexpected situations where both theories may need to be implemented. The significance of comparing two leaders and theories is to view how each individual uses and applies the theories to their work, dependant on what they believe best suits them. Every human being is unique. It is impossible to really compare and contrast as to which style is the superior of the two. Both Bezos and Patton were extraordinary leaders whom adopted and utilised their leadership style and used it to its full potential. The main limitation is in knowing which concept to adopt and demonstrate to one’s self. Although each individual was a leader in two completely different forms, both choices of leadership were very effective. A connection between the two concepts is also clear. I believe that this connection between Emotional Intelligence and Leadership theory should become a necessity to researchers. By understanding and recognising certain emotions, it gives an insight into a situation which can then allow a person to adapt to that situation. This confirms the rather detectable link between the two. It also inquires as to why these theories have not been researched together more thoroughly as they work so well with one another. By researching and comparing two theories and leaders, my understanding of leadership has developed …show more content…
significantly. Both theories demonstrate plausible evidence that they can be efficacious. Nonetheless, it is the individual who will determine the outcome of its victory.
References:
Academy of Achievement, (1996-2013).
Inventing E-Commerce. Retrieved from http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/bez0bio-1
Bio. True story. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/george-patton-9434904?page=2
Blanchard, K. (2008). Situational Leadership. Leadership Excellence, 25(5), 19.
Goleman, D. (2004, January). What makes a leader. Harvard Business Review, Retrieved from http://hbr.org/2004/01/what-makes-a-leader
Ignatius, A. (2013). Jeff Bezos on Leading for the Long-Term at Amazon [Podcast]. Retrieved from http://blogs.hbr.org/ideacast/2013/01/jeff- bezos-on-leading-for-the.html
Robbins, S.P., Judge, T.A., Millett, B., Boyle, M. (2011). Organisational Behaviour (6th ed.). Frenchs Forest, New South Wales: Pearson Australia Pty Ltd.
Situational leadership Australia. (2002-2013). Situational leadership model. Retrieved from http://www.sitlead.com.au/
Vartanian, L. (2006). The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Situational Leadership II (Master’s Thesis). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses database.
(304910889).