Effective Leadership Styles and Employee Performance

The assignment provides an in-depth analysis of effective leadership styles and their impact on employee performance. It highlights the importance of adopting proper management practices and leadership theories to create a positive work environment. The study also emphasizes the significance of Fredrick Taylor's management theory in waste management, leading to maximized productivity and increased profitability. Various references from books, journals, and online sources are provided to support the findings.

Context of Business

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
1. History and Summary..............................................................................................................1
2. Vision, leadership style, management practices and strategies used by Sainsbury.................2
3. Implementation of the management and leadership theories within Sainsburry.....................3
4. Recommendations to improve the Leadership styles and Management practices within the
firm...............................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Business is an occupation that deals with the purchase and sale of goods and services for
the purpose of earning profit. Business consist of two people one is buyer and the other is seller.
Present study will be based on the Sainsbury. It is the third largest chain of supermarkets in the
United Kingdom. It is founded by John James Sainsbury in 1869. Its headquarter is located in
London, United Kingdom. It is the largest retailer of groceries in UK. Report will include about
the Sainsbury company and leadership style followed by it. Further more it will include the
management practices and various strategies that are followed by Sainsbury.
MAIN BODY
1. History and Summary
Sainsbury is one of the biggest retailer sector and has the biggest chain of supermarkets.
It holds 16.9% supermarket share in UK. It was founded in 1869 by John James Sainsbury. He
opened a store at 173 Drury Lane I London with his wife Mary Ann. Sainsbury first started as a
fresh food retailer and then later expanded its market in groceries having items like tea and
sugar. His first shop is stated as perfect in quality and in lower price. Sainsbury was featured as
attractive that it could get recognized from distant too. It attracted the customers by having round
the back deliveries which makes customer convenient and satisfied. Sainsbury address growth
each year. Groceries market id introduced in 1903 at 12 Kingsland High street, Dalston. It was
authorised as a private company in 1922. Its name is given as J. Sainsbury Limited and become
the largest UK retailer of groceries market (Hammer, 2015).As time releases it serves following
items like cooked meats, fresh meats, dairy items, bacon and hams. There were approx 128 shops
till 1928. Then, his son John Benjamin Sainsbury take the responsibility of handling stores in
1915. Then, his son took leadership qualities in his behaviour and focusses on designing of
shops, cleanliness of shops and convenience of customers. Then grandson take the responsibility
over 1930 and 1940. During the second world war, Sainsbury faces many problems as some
shops get bombed and damaged. Then all the recovery get done till 1951.
As year passes, in 1983, Sainsbury purchased Shaw's supermarket of approximately 21%.
Shaw's supermarket is at second positioned groceries market in UK at that time (Holtenand
Brenner, 2015).Then, they took a step of obtaining technology like EPOS scanning checkouts in
sales. Within many years. Both rising and declining level held for Sainsbury. In 2010, Sainsbury
extended its shop in UK of approx 100,000 sq ft and it is declared as the largest supermarket in
1

UK. Self service facility is also started in Sainsbury and named as Sainsbury Cafe. It has 13
regional distribution centres like Northern Ireland, Bristol and many more. Now, as the latest in
2018, Sainsbury plans to have merger with Asda while talking with Walmart (Iqbal, Anwar, and
Haider, 2015).
2. Vision, leadership style, management practices and strategies used by Sainsbury
Vision of Sainsbury is to become the trusted retailer in the UK and want to create the
environment that is loved by the people to work and purchase from its store. The aim is to
provide the best shopping experience to customers.
The leadership style followed by the Sainsbury company is democratic leadership style
which is also known as participative leadership style. In this style the subordinates of the group
are more participative and involve in the decision making process. If employees are not
involving in the activities of the company then they are not aware about the company's rules and
regulations and the changes occurred in the company (Nguyen and et. al., 2017).As in Sainsbury
decision making process is being taken by the leaders and employees both that helps in making
creative solution to the problem of the company. This leadership style enhances the working
environment and because of it employees become more participative in the company and takes
initiative to complete the work on time without any delay. This helps in achieving the goals and
objectives of the company. They don't feel lonely and has a sense of belonging among the
employees. In this style leader will give responsibility among the employees of its team so that
they can participate in making the decision for the company. Leader in the Sainsbury is friendly
to its members that create a feeling of security in the company and the employees work
effectively and efficiently without any fear. It plays a significant role in creating the job
satisfaction among the employees (Noe and et. al., 2017).
Management practices followed by the Sainsbury is engaging workers. This practice
helps in engaging employees with their work and with the environment in which they are
working. If employees are not involved in the workplace they feel insecure in the company.
Employee engagement plays a vital role in the Sainsbury as it enhances the productivity of the
employees so that they can work effectively and efficiently. It organizes the employee
engagement activities in the company due to which the employees become familiar with each
other. This practice helps employees in settling into the company easily and feeling good. If
employees do not know each other than they are not much involved with company's operation
2

and remain alone can't get indulge in the activities of the business. Employee engagement
activities helps in the growth of the Sainsbury. By using this management practices Sainsbury
can improve its employee engagement activity and also helps in improving the growth of the
company. This practice also increase the job satisfaction among employees and the retention rate
is high that leads to lower employee turnover in Sainsbury (Donate and de Pablo, 2015).
Another management practice followed is focus on team efforts. Team effort lead to give better
results to the company. As the work done in team and as an individual differs in team the work
is done efficiently and on time while as an individual the work is done so efficiently. Sainsbury
promote the team work that helps in doing creative work. In team work different ideas are
getting in completing the task that leads to completing the task effectively. Sainsbury always
sees that the team is going on the right track while doing the work. In doing team work it builds a
trust among the employees that creates happy working environment. While working in the team
a learning builds among the team members as they is exchanging of knowledge between them.
Sainsbury used the marketing mix strategy in the company. It provides the quality
product to satisfy the needs and wants of the customer(Leadership styles and frameworks you
should know, 2019). It also looks for developing the new product. Its pricing is also depended on
the quality of the product that enhance the customer retention. It provides online services to its
customers through phone or website.
Transformation theory of leadership is used by Sainsbury to identify the changes in the
company's policy and procedures. It enhances the team work to identify if any changes is needed
in the company.
3. Implementation of the management and leadership theories within Sainsburry
Sainsburry uses Democratic leadership style because it helps the workforce of the
company to improve the motivation level of the employees as well as provides the satisfaction at
workplace. Implementation of this leadership style helps the leader in making the effective
decisions and which allows them to increase the overall profitability of the firm. Implementation
of this theory lets the employees of the company in taking a participation in decision making
which results in improved morale of the workforce (Bush, Bell and Middlewood eds., 2019). All
successful leaders are self actualizing people with loads of self-confidence. Such leaders take
responsibilities for their actions, their team members and they never make excuses for the
failures. Democratic leadership style can be implemented by promoting the communication and
3

interaction within the firm. The leaders can implement such style by improving the relationship
within the workforce. So leaders have to built the trust and faith among their team members so
that they can share any issues and ideas with team leaders so this will help in establishing the
effective strategies for the company.
For instance, at the time of making the decisions regarding improved overall efficiency of
the firm. Sainsburry has adopted the technological changes, in this situation in order to derive the
best working styles within the Sainburry. Employees were engaged in adopting the changes in
technology and participation of the workforce allows the leader in creating more ideas about the
employment of technology within the firm.
Moreover, the company uses transformation leadership style in order to identify the
needed change within the overall company strategies (Noe And et.al., 2017). Also leaders of the
company creates ultimate vision which allows the team members to effectively adopt such
changes. Leaders who adopt this style mainly creates the vision for the team members in order to
inspire and motivate the team members for meeting the main objectives of the firm.
However, the company follows the scientific management theory which helps the
manager in managing the successful operations within the company. Here, Fredrick Taylor
theory has been used in order to implement the successful management of strategic planning as
well as human resource of the firm. Fredrick Taylor states that reduction of waste product raised
from the manufacturing of the firm helps in increasing the production and efficiency (Bolden,
2016). This not only benefits the company or employees of the firm but it also benefits the
society in general.
4. Recommendations to improve the Leadership styles and Management practices within the firm
In order to improve the management and leadership practices within Sainsburry industry,
managers need to develop the effective strategies regarding the professional development of the
employees. It is recommended to implement the training programs within the firm. Various more
suggestions which need to be implemented within the company in order to improve the
management and leadership practices are follows:
 Managers should focus on the online marketing strategy in order to meet the successful
objectives of the firm.
 Managers must provide the opportunities for the career development of the Sainsburry.
4

 Managers should adopt the vocational training programs in order to develop the skills and
update the knowledge among the employees regarding the operations of the business.
 Leaders should motivate the workforce in improving the communication and interaction
which allow the employee to provide proper and effective details about the products and
services of the company.
 Leaders of Sainsburry should also promote the discipline among the team members so
that they stay focused towards the achievement of main objectives.
 Sasinsburry industry should also train the leaders in resolving the conflict at their own
level. It helps to become a strong leader and thus proper conflict management also
develops the good relationship of the team members.
 Leaders should also motivate the team members in taking responsibilities by taking more
projects. This promotes the positive culture at workplace and hence it helps in achieving
the main objectives of the firm which helps in increasing the profitability.
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it has been concluded that effective leadership style helps the
workforce in improving the overall individual performance. Also, it has been concluded that
democratic leadership style engage and informational leadership style is used in Sainsburry. The
report has created a clear understanding about creating the positive environment at workplace by
adopting proper management practices and leadership theories in order to meet the main
objectives of the firm. In addition to this, the study has also provided the significance of Fredrick
taylor management theory which helps in waste management which resulted in maximized
productivity and thus increased profitability of the firm. This theory analyses and synthesizes the
workflow in improving the economic efficiency.
5

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Donate, M.J. and de Pablo, J.D.S., 2015. The role of knowledge-oriented leadership in
knowledge management practices and innovation. Journal of Business
Research.68(2).pp.360-370.
Hammer, M., 2015. What is business process management?. In Handbook on business process
management 1(pp. 3-16). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Holten, A.L. and Brenner, S.O., 2015. Leadership style and the process of organizational
change. Leadership & Organization Development Journal.36(1).pp.2-16.
Iqbal, N., Anwar, S. and Haider, N., 2015. Effect of leadership style on employee
performance. Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review.5(5). pp.1-6.
Nguyen, T.T and et. al., 2017. Effect of transformational-leadership style and management
control system on managerial performance. Journal of Business Research.70.pp.202-213.
Noe, R.A and et. al., 2017. Human resource management: Gaining a competitive advantage.
New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Bush, T., Bell, L. and Middlewood, D. eds., 2019. Principles of Educational Leadership &
Management. SAGE Publications Limited.
Noe, R.A. And et.al., 2017. Human resource management: Gaining a competitive advantage.
New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Bolden, R., 2016. Leadership, management and organisational development. In Gower handbook
of leadership and management development (pp. 143-158). Routledge.
Online
Leadership styles and frameworks you should know.2019.[Online].Available
through<https://www.verywellmind.com/leadership-styles-2795312>
6