Contemporary Leadership Styles: How Relevant Are They in Today's Changing World?

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The blog discusses the different leadership theories and their relevance in today's world. It also highlights the challenges faced by leaders and the example of Tesco.
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Running Head: LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 0
Student’s Name -
Leading in a
changing
world
December 13
2018
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 1
BLOG 1
Blog Link: https://leadinginachangingworlddotblog.wordpress.com/2018/12/20/can-
cultures-be-managed-within-organizations/
The culture of an organization consistent the visible pattern of behavior in an
organization. In the organization the business emphasis most on the strategies and the
leadership, however for a successful running business there are many other aspects
that an organization needs to give attention to them. The culture of an organization
includes the repeated behavior and the habits of an organization. Culture signifies the
theories, beliefs, practices, strategies, and the policies of an organization. Culture also
includes the forces that give the shape to behavior in the organization. Culture eats
strategies for the breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A strong culture is critical to the
organizational achievement as it allows employees to be assured about what they think
and feel, and making them more committed towards the organization. This blog will
focus on the several cultural models in the perspective of an organization such as
Debenhams and its well-managed tools for the success (Scher, 2015).
When discussing about the organizational culture management, understanding the
meaning of the terms ‘culture’, and ‘organizational culture’ is important (Scher, 2015).
Culture
Culture is the regular, social, behavioral patterns unique to a group of individuals.
(Source: Michael Scher, 2015)
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 2
Organizational culture
It defines the fundamental beliefs, expectations, values, and the ways of cooperating or
interacting that underwrites to the unique community and psychological atmosphere of
the organization (Douglas, 2018).
(Source: Aaron Douglas, 2018)
Implementing change in organizational culture
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 3
(Source: Lycia Harper, 2018)
With the use of iceberg model, it has been discovered that there is more culture than
the people observe in an organization. There are various levels of culture in an
organization, and the culture that lies below the surface can only be seen by the people
in the organization. The first two level of culture includes the objects and the beliefs that
are treated as practical appearances of cultural essence that are the basic expectations.
Most of the leaders fail to implant the changes they apply due to the ignorance of these
basic assumptions that helps in driving the culture (Harper, 2018).
There are four challenges a leader faces when implement change in an organization.
Cognitive- For implementing changes in the culture of an organization, people working
in the organization must have some insights or the vision as to the causes behind the
changes (Hunt, 2014).
Limited Resources- Change in strategy is the basic and important part for a change in
organizational culture that requires pulling resources in the service of others (Hunt,
2014).
Motivation- Recognizing and rewarding behavior for the employees in an organization
gives a motivation to them for the better work (Hunt, 2014).
Institutional Politics- Internal policies works as the barriers in the organization for
implementing the change management (Hunt, 2014).
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 4
(Source: Rikki Hunt, 2014)
There is also a challenge that might a leader can face is the probability of failure of
initiatives. According to Boris Ewenstein, Wesley Smith, and Ashvin Sologar in an article
of “changing changes management”,’70 percent of change initiatives fails’
Change of strategy in Debenhams
Debenhams is a retail department store in the UK that has been suffering from the
change in consumer purchasing behavior and the weak consumer spending because of
the e-commerce trend. The culture that Debenhams follows is a traditional British
retailer. It is one of the factors that contributes to the declined company’s profit and
failed to develop along with the change in consumer behavior. Debenhams has to close
it's up to 50 of its departmental stores because of the record of annual losses (Jefford,
2018).
The Debenhams uses bureaucratic or inflexible system of culture that includes the
restriction for the company member’s roles and responsibility. Now Debenhams is
looking for the digital development that includes the multichannel strategy for the stores
as well for the online services. Those strategies includes the ‘Mobile and cross-
channel’, ‘Merchandising’, ‘Customer engagement’, ‘Social store formats’ and,
‘operations and logistics’. The certainty of this strategy is showing the positive effects on
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 5
the organization’s profits which is still yet to be confirmed but there will be a drop in the
cost of the operations (Rigby, 2018).
According to the chief executive of the Debenhams Sergio Bucher, the Debenhams is
moving faster than its previous records in respond to the ‘Profound Change’ by
delivering its redesigned strategy in the UK retail market (Rigby, 2018).
Managing culture effectively
A strong corporate culture involves the crucial success factor the any of the
organization. Nevertheless, an emphasis or focus on the strong organizational culture
has been donated to the departure of some of the major businesses. For example, in
the case of Enron, where they were following the culture of ’win at all costs’, have
contributed majorly in the frauds which caused the collapse of the Enron. Employees at
Enron were instructed to achieve the success by all means that lead to the unethical
character and the behavior (Sutherland, 2018).
To conclude it, for handling the corporate culture it is vital to lead by the examples.
Leadership is the procedure of influencing the others, as people always having a habit
to follow their leader’s viewpoints. In the case of Debenhams, new strategy creation was
not enough to recover the business, but providing training to their employees effectively
and paying consideration to the basic norms that helps in driving the way of working in
order to ensure the triumph of the planning and strategy (Sutherland, 2018).
References
Douglas, A. (2018) Culture: How To Fail At Digital Marketing [Online]. Available from:
http://www.deepripples.com/culture-how-to-fail-at-digital-marketing/ [Accessed:
13/12/2018].
Ewenstein, B., Smith, W. and Sologar, A. (2015) Changing change management
[Online]. Available from:
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/leadership/changing-change-management
[Accessed: 13/12/2018].
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 6
Harper, L. (2018) Involved in transformation? People love the iceberg model! [Online].
Available from: https://futureconsiderations.com/iceberg-model/ [Accessed: 13/12/2018].
Hunt, R. (2014) Understanding the changes journey & the art of receiving feedback
[Online]. Available from: https://rikkihuntassociates.com/receiving-feedback/ [Accessed:
13/12/2018].
Jefford, K. (2018) Debenhams to Close Up To 50 Stores As It Reveals Record Annual
Loss [Online]. Available from:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kasmirajefford/2018/10/25/debenhams-to-close-up-to-50-
stores-as-it-reveals-record-annual-loss/#24bc32265536 [Accessed: 13/12/2018].
Michael, S. (2015) Why Corporate Culture Matters [Online]. Available from:
https://indrapublicrelations.com/2015/06/16/why-corporate-culture-matters/ [Accessed:
13/12/2018].
Rigby, C. (2018) Debenhams: pressing on with social shopping strategy despite falling
sales and profits [Online]. Available from: https://internetretailing.net/strategy-and-
innovation/strategy-and-innovation/debenhams-pressing-on-with-social-shopping-
strategy-despite-falling-sales-and-profits-17552 [Accessed: 13/12/2018].
Sutherland, A. (2018) Debenhams Redesigned – a mission to make shopping sociable
[Online]. Available from:
https://www.drapersonline.com/business-operations/debenhams-redesigned-a-mission-
to-make-shopping-sociable/7032307.article [Accessed: 13/12/2018].
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 7
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 8
BLOG 2
Blog Link:
https://leadinginachangingworlddotblog.wordpress.com/2018/12/20/contemporary-
leadership-styles-how-relevant-are-they-in-todays-changing-world/
In this blog the discussion is about ‘what leaders are’. Leaders are the persons who
help in correcting things to others as well as to themselves. Leader is the one who
influences an individual or group of individuals for achieving the organizational goals.
Leaders help themselves as well as the others to do the right things. The last century’s
leadership modules have mostly the bureaucratic styles. These styles are suitable for
an economy premised on the physical production is not well-suited to the more
knowledge oriented economy (Uhl-Bien et al., 2007: 298). There are some specialists
and the practitioners who have critiqued the leadership theories and are more
masculine oriented.
There are many important knowledgeable and instructive personalities came up with the
different ideologies on the leadership traits and the styles that fits to the methodology for
that era. The researchers, psychologist worked widely to reach close to finding the
correct preparation of the theory till they came up with the behavior trait symptoms
thesis. They even have observed the leadership styles, qualities, mindset and the
behavior of an individual and its characteristics (Wheatley, 2011).
Leadership Theories
To explain the practices and the concept of the leadership theory there are many
leaders and the psychologists who have shared their thoughts.
The psychologist Kurt Lewin with his researching group settled a very inspiring context
on leaders and their performance. Also, they identified the three different styles:
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 9
Autocratic style of the leadership, where the leadership takes all the authority to take all
necessary decisions and the team just follows their orders. Such leaders who do not
take input from their teams related to decision-making are just expect conformity
(Wheatley, 2011).
The Democratic style of leadership involves the decision-making from their team as well
from one or more than one of their employees. But the leader does not give all his
decision making authority to their employees but takes input from them. This leadership
style includes the shared information and knowledge between the leaders and their
teams and gives more diversity of ideas to the subject (Antonakis, and Day, 2017).
Laissez fair style of leadership gives the free environment to the employees, where the
leaders get minimized at the point of taking decision and teams and other employees in
the organization are allowed to take all the decision for the betterment of their work
(Miner, 2015).
There are many other theories that have been categorized such as, trait theory,
transactional theory, behavioral theory, transformational theory etc.
Which Leadership theory is the best?
In this knowledge era, the ancient leadership theories are not much affecting in this
modern world. Leaders keep changing their essential style of leadership for getting
more results and effectiveness. No, any leadership style fits in all kind of condition. The
authoritarian is the theory which used to be the core or main theory for many years,
later on, participative theory came up in the existence until the laissez-faire theory have
not become the most popular. Presently, the transformational style is one of the best
approaches that many of the leaders are adapting (Miner, 2015).
What leaders do?
The leaders has to set an example for every individual in the organization, he has to
help their teams and teach them with all the skill of leadership which will help an
organization to move forward from today’s position, to where the organization aim to be
in the future. Also, the leader has to provide solution for all the issues and fixes the
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 10
breakdown in the tough time and enthusiasm and motivates all the employees
(Antonakis, and Day, 2017).
Challenges for the leaders and leadership
Leadership has been always overstated with the direct and indirect challenges. From
creating or building a team and put plans in the action has always been a tough job of
leaders. Taking all the responsibilities and the blames and motivating team in any
situation to achieve the goals is the core challenge for today's’ leaders. Rising from the
tough situation is the example of a leader (Miner, 2015).
Challenges for TESCO:
Tesco is one of the top supermarkets in the world and has stores in more than 10
countries all over the world. It was founded in 1919 by Jack Cohen (Tesco, 2018).
Since last few years, Tesco is facing litigation issues, rate fixing issues, publicizing
issues etc. It has been a target of numerous other issues in several part of the world but
under the strong leadership of CEO Dave Lewis, the Tesco always counts in the top
retailers of the world (Tesco, 2018).
To conclude, the leadership theories have been changing now and leaders are not
afraid to use the feminine style of leadership from the old styles. Leaders know the need
of this knowledge era and keep trying to mold themselves according to this.
References
Antonakis, J. and Day, D.V. eds., (2017 )The nature of leadership. London: Sage
publications.
Miner, J.B., (2015) Organizational Behavior 1: Essential theories of motivation and
leadership. London: Routledge.
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 11
Tesco PLC. (2018) Tesco launches Jack's to celebrate 100 years of great value
[Online]. Available from: https://www.tescoplc.com/news/news-releases/2018/tesco-
launches-jacks-to-celebrate-100-years-of-great-value/ [Accessed: 13/12/2018].
Uhl-Bien, M., Marion, R. and McKelvey, B., (2007) Complexity leadership theory:
Shifting leadership from the industrial age to the knowledge era. The leadership
quarterly, 18(4), pp.298-318.
Wheatley, M., (2011) Leadership and the new science: Discovering order in a chaotic
world. California: ReadHowYouWant. com.
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 12
BLOG 3
Blog Link: https://leadinginachangingworlddotblog.wordpress.com/2018/12/20/change-
management/
Change management is an approach that guaranteeing the changes is analytically and
efficiently implemented in an organization. The focus is on the more wide effects of
changes especially on an individuals and the group of people to move from the current
state to new one. The changes that will be discussed in this blog are regarding the
Brexit. UK has voted to leave the European Union. The UK is scheduled to leave at 11
pm UK time on Friday, 29th March 2019. UK and EU have accepted to the three
“separation” that how much UK owes the EU. In the end result of the Northern Ireland
border and for UK residents living somewhere in EU and EU residents are living in the
UK (Hunt and Wheeler, 2017). Brexit will have a huge impact on UK based businesses
as well.
Impact of Brexit change businesses in UK
If an individual is doing business in UK, but the majority of the raw materials initiate from
the EU countries. For reflecting the impact of the Brexit deeper, the discussion will be
about EasyJet as a real business. EasyJet is a British airline and operates domestic and
international services on over 900 routs in more than 30 countries and the most of the
flights are operating between EU countries (Routes Online, 2018).
EU bureaucrats have notified UK- based carriers that they should move their
headquarters to the EU or they can sell shares to the EU residents for avoiding the
routes within the continental Europe hacked out after the Brexit. As to drive the intra-
European routes a carries should have vast base on EU region and the mainstream of
their capital offers must be EU controlled. This indicates that after the Brexit, to keep up-
the authorities to fly in the European cities like Paris and Barcelona some of their
airlines would require to sell off their shares. This can be a problem for the EasyJet as
their profits will be depend on procedure in EU countries. This would surely be a
stimulating task for the leader Johan Lundgren who recently appointed as CEO of
EasyJet to overcome this problem. If Johan manages to achieve the goals on the basis
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 13
of Henri Fayol’s five principles of management than this problem can be managed and
will create a huge problem for him (EasyJet, 2017).
(Source: EPM (Expert Program Management, 2017)
As most of the vital elements for the EasyJet to sustain its business are based on the
Henri Fayol’s principles such as include planning, organizing, and controlling (Golden
Pryor, and Taneja, 2010).
Planning: Leaders need to plan for the future conditions, obtain strategic objectives and
safe the achievement of upcoming goals. Along with these objects, leaders must
evaluate the future potentials that influence the organization, and form the future
processes of the organization. In the case of EasyJet, the leader Johan must have a
planning and a strategic idea to overcome the problems after Brexit. For maintaining
the revenue of EasyJet the company should implement the idea to set up headquarters
outside UK in other countries as it still would be able to operate its flight within UK
(Golden Pryor, and Taneja, 2010).
Organizing: For organizing the workforce in an effective way and align them to the
practices of an organization. The leaders would require preparing and enrolling an
individual to a correct job and constantly secure sufficiently skilled and trained
workforce. There are many changes that will come up at the time of setting up a new
headquarter in other country in terms of workforce. Therefore, it is vital for EasyJet
leaders to organizing the workforce in an effective way to provide benefits to the
company (Golden Pryor, and Taneja, 2010).
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 14
Controlling: The organization practices should be according to the general
organization policies and purposes, the leaders have to control on such things while
implementing changes on a new headquarter. Business objectives should still be the
same. Hence, If the EasyJet is setting up a new headquarters, leaders of the company
have to keep an eye on the activities that are going inside the organization to control the
operational practices proficiently (Golden Pryor, and Taneja, 2010).
EasyJet was counting to impulse for negotiators to reach a flying contract that will
enable the flights between the UK and EU. However, if the contract does not give any
benefits then the EasyJet will still have the option to setting up a new headquarter in
other countries including European countries. Although, the decision of setting up new
headquarter will not be so inexpensive but this strategy will be crucial for the EasyJet to
maintaining its operations in European countries if the Brexit finally happens
(Bloomberg, 2018).
References
Bloomberg. (2018) EasyJet CEO on Earnings, Oil Prices, Brexit [Online]. Available
from: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2018-11-20/easyjet-ceo-on-earnings-oil-
prices-brexit-video [Accessed: 13/12/2018].
EasyJet. (2017) easyJet announces appointment of Johan Lundgren as Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) [Online]. Available from:
https://mediacentre.easyjet.com/en/stories/11883-easyjet-announces-appointment-of-
johan-lundgren-as-chief-executive-officer-ceo [Accessed: 13/12/2018].
EPM. (2017) Five Functions of Management [Online]. Available from:
https://expertprogrammanagement.com/2017/11/five-functions-of-management/
[Accessed: 13/12/2018].
Golden Pryor, M., and Taneja, S., (2010) Henri Fayol, practitioner and theoretician–
revered and reviled. Journal of Management History, 16(4), pp.489-503.
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 15
Hunt, A. and Wheeler, B. ( 2018) Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the
EU [Online]. Available from: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887
[Accessed: 13/12/2018].
RotesOnline.(2018) EasyJet [Online]. Available from:
https://www.routesonline.com/airlines/3452/easyjet/ [Accessed: 13/12/2018].
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BLOG 4
Blog Link: https://leadinginachangingworlddotblog.wordpress.com/2018/12/20/my-
development-as-a-future-leader/
The autocratic leadership theory is beneficial in terms of high control over an individual
or group of individuals. It provides the variety of advantages to accomplish the goals.
However, while working in an agriculture company in UK it was clear that democratic
leadership style could give a variety of benefits for the leaders as well as the members
of the company. The difference between the autocratic and the democratic style of
leadership is that the autocratic leader includes the command, where the democratic
leaders include other employees or team in decision-making.
Douglas McGregor’s separates the autocratic and the democratic leadership theory by
using the X and theory Y, where the X theory refers to the autocratic style and the
theory Y refers to the democratic style of leadership (Anastasia, 2016).
Table that compare the X and Y theory
(So
urce: Anastasia, 2016)
The democratic leadership can be a trustworthy and the relevant as it is initiated by the
diversity of advantages that democratic style of leadership offers to a leader. There are
many great leaders such as, Steve Jobs, George Washington, and Bill Gates etc. They
all have used and remain are still continuing on this leadership style to create good
relationship with their employees and increased organization performances (Anastasia,
2016).
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 17
The democratic style of leadership was created by the Lewin, Lippitt and white in 1939,
and effectively used by many of the great and famous leaders such as, Abraham
Lincoln, Jimmy Carter etc. Additionally, this style of leadership is updated and the most
recommended for the future leaders (Choi, 2007).
Relevance of personal leadership in the future career
The goal is to continue on the family business that is in the field of agriculture and the
further formation of grain trading business. Every business of professional practices
requires a logical style of leadership. Agriculture follows a set of process to grow the
grains and many of farmers use the autocratic style of leadership which is a typical style
of leadership. Hence, because of the high restriction and the control this style of
leadership shows a negative effect on the business.
Democratic style of leadership in an agriculture business is leading it in a new way. The
democratic style is very effective and the productive. For example, the general manager
of the UK based agriculture company manages over 100 employees and communicated
with all the employees in the company to take a decision, which helped the leader
effectively to made this decision for the betterment of the company and the democratic
style have helps in increase the performance of the company.
Demonstrating personal leadership
During studying in a well-known university of London, an individual (X) have been
selected as a team leader three times. Leading a team always gives a great experience
and knowledge. The lecturer of the university has passed many surveysss that helped
them to analyze their personal strengths and the developing area. During the class
there were three participants from the group who have been invited to the survey. Each
of them have described about the qualities such as, punctual, team working, high
productivity etc. of recently became leaders
Team member 1 (A)
“A” has described the leader (X) as a punctual and well organized individual. For
example, during the first class “X” was the first person who has attending the classes
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 18
which shows his good time management skill. Hence, “A” recommend “X” to develop a
democratic style by communicating with the other team members.
Team member 2 (B)
“B” liked the creativity and performance part of “X”. For example, on the week5 the team
of “X” requires to present a group presentation on leadership. The “X” used the skill of
democratic leaders by organizing a meeting of group members to share their ideas in
fast way.
Team member 3 (C)
“C” has recommended “X” in terms of quick decision making and well-organized
productivity. For example, “X” was running out of time and his team has to submit a
presentation on the class activity that could help them by increasing in their total grade
of assignment with 10 points. “X” used all ideas together and complete the presentation
within in 2 hours.
Personal Development Plan (PDP)
Name: Student’s Name
Covering the period from: December, 18 to January, 20
Goals
“X” want to own an agriculture company with the minimum size of 6000 hectares with £
5.500.000 annual turnover.
What do “X”
needs to learn?
What do “X” have
to do?
How will “X”
measure success?
Target date for
review?
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 19
Completion of
MBA Global
business program
with the high
grades.
“X” needs to put
more focus
towards learning
classes and
assignment
submission on
time
Punctuality, time
management and
focusing.
By July, 2019
To apply for PHD
in known
university.
Need to complete
all the units with
the high grades.
Getting strong
reference from the
tutor.
By January, 2019
To get a Job in top
UK companies for
gaining
experience.
Opportunities
available in the job
market.
Following with the
all job opportunities
and matching
competencies to the
job requirement.
By, November,
2019
Start own
business
Pursue a business
management
related course
With business
management skills
and accessing
strong accounting
software such as
excel, quick books
etc.
By January, 2020
References
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LEADING IN A CHANGING WORLD 20
Anastasia (2016) Autocratic Leadership Guide: Definition, Qualities, Pros & Cons,
Examples [Online]. Available from: https://www.cleverism.com/autocratic-leadership-
guide/ [Accessed: 13/12/2018].
Choi, S., (2007) Democratic leadership: The lessons of exemplary models for
democratic governance. International Journal of Leadership Studies, 2(3), pp.243-262.
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