Leadership Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Crisis: A Case Study of Amazon

This report discusses the impact of COVID-19 on leadership and the lessons learned from it, using Amazon as a case study. It covers various leadership styles and theories used by the company to achieve business objectives, such as democratic, transformational, and autocratic styles. The report also highlights the importance of prioritizing employee safety, understanding digital technology, dividing authority, accepting remote working, keeping personal goals aside, and enhancing workplace culture. The report emphasizes the need for modification in work to bring flexibility in the company.

Authentic Leadership

Table of Contents
INTRDOUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................2

INTRODUCTION
Leadership is defined as the function in which company is concerned with the overall
performance of business objectives and accomplish the business functions as per the needs of
firm. It is analysed that there are several functions which are performed by the leader to maintain
effective working environment and also achieve suitable business objectives (Bellandi and
Santini, 2020). In terms of present business environment, all the business organisations face
issues regarding their functioning because of the changes in business functions and lead towards
the improper functioning and all the business units tend to suffer from the impact of COVID-19.
For this report, Amazon is considered which is an American multinational company that leads to
perform their functions in business environment. This report covers the discussion regarding the
functions which are concerned with the impact of pandemic and overall performance of
company. It undertakes the discussion about the leadership lessons which we learned from the
COVID-19 crisis.
MAIN BODY
Leadership is defined as the suitable function which is concerned with performing the
several tasks to guide other workers of company that can achieve their business objectives and
also manage suitable functions as per the present needs. It refers to the function which is
concerned with motivating, guiding and influencing employees as per the requirements and
function where the manager can perform duties and accomplish business objectives by linking
personal objectives of workforce (Chen and et. al., 2020). It is concerned with the roles and
responsibilities which are performed by leaders to motivate and guide all the employees who are
working in company. In terms of respective company, business function is analysed that there are
number of leadership styles which are used by the leaders to achieve business objectives.
In regard of present condition, the global pandemic impacted in negative manner regarding
the functions of company that influences the performance and functions of company. The global
pandemic leads to impact the business functions and negatively impact the business operations of
various companies and nations. In addition to this, it is also observed that there are large number
of deaths reported which are concerned with the impact of COVID-19 virus. In relation to
present condition, it tends to impact the leadership and perspective of leader. It is concerned with
the performance and operations of company that use these functions as per the requirements. In
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terms of present times, it leads to impact the business organisations and their needs to change
suitable functions. Amazon operate its functions in global market where there is the number of
impacts related to current business function and to achieve the business objectives suitable roles
needs to fulfilled by the leader of company. The CEO of company opt different leadership styles
in regard of achieving the business objectives for the present time period.
There are several types of functions which are concerned with achieving the business goals
with performing the functions in an effective manner. It is analysed that there are several theories
which are used as the business function to achieve suitable business goals and targets to manage
the leadership (Chin, Yap Peng Lok and Kee Peng Kong, 2019). This happen due to the changes
which are faced by the company because of COVID-19 as there are several changes in
government policies and different business function that has to be in use as per the needs of
present time. Here, the leader and manager tends to use these functions that makes them more
favourable to the business environment and also use these functions as per the needs. Further,
there are several leadership styles like transformational, democratic and so on used by the leaders
to achieve competitive advantage in market. Some the leadership theory which is used by
company to achieve business objectives are discussed as underneath:
Democratic leadership theory: This can be characterised as a leadership theory that is
concerned with the performance of business functions and the management of various
individuals inside an organisation in order to achieve organisational goals. This is the function in
which a firm's manager takes advantage of its employees to accomplish all of the functions in an
efficient manner. This aids the company in managing functions and advertising them according
to demands, allowing the company to carry out activities and use functions in line with the
present environment. In the current business environment, it has been identified that there are a
number of functions related to business functions where managers can use the targets function to
achieve business objectives. This aids managers in their use of function and management. This
aids in the management role by allowing for the completion of other employees' tasks in a well-
coordinated atmosphere.
Transformational leadership: This is the most effective leadership strategy available
today. This is because the functions associated to the conduct of organisational activity in
accordance with demands and requirements are covered by this manager in the firm. This aids
managers in meeting business goals and managing functions in compliance with requirements.
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This is a successful technique to achieve company objectives in the current environment, where
policies are constantly changing and must be applied based on needs and requirements. This style
will aid in meeting individual expectations, as the manager will be able to conduct functions in
line with the current scenario. It was also discovered that they have a large variety of functions
that can be employed to achieve corporate goals. Under this scenario, the manager must use
functions and manage all of them in accordance with business needs. This is due to a variety of
developments in the business environment that aid in the performance of business functions, and
the usage of these functions results in a nominal impact of Covid-19.
Autocratic Style: This is the function that a leader employs in order to maintain
organisational discipline and fulfil functions in accordance with the needs of the company. There
is also evidence that there is a purpose. In the current business environment, Amazon is doing
business functions that necessitate completing activities (Frawley, Favaloro and Schulenkorf,
2018). These activities should be carried out in a well-organized atmosphere. This is due to the
fact that managers must conduct a variety of functions in order to adhere to the present pandemic
situation's standards. These manuals are about social distancing in the workplace as well as other
functions that are used to prevent the virus from spreading in the area where the business is
located. In this case, leadership is used to perform a function that aids in the mangling of
functions and the use of technology.
In light of the aforementioned leadership styles and theories, it has been determined that
there are a number of changes occurring in the current Spider-Man situation, which have resulted
in changes in management and leadership styles. To this end, it has been determined that there
are a number of lessons learned from the Covid-19 impact on leadership, which has impacted
organisational functions as well as performance ability. The following are some of these lessons:
Prioritise personal safety for employee: Employee safety is an important component of
every organization's operation, and there are a number of safety issues that must be privatised in
the present pandemic crisis, as evidenced by Amazon's use of a completely different strategy
(Gardner and Holloway, 2019). This strategy is linked to the implementation of new travel
limitations for employee safety in order to increase the organization's efficiency. Domestic travel
for internal meetings and participation in external events has been prohibited by the organisation.
It aids the organisation in preserving social distance standards. Full-time employees were also
permitted to travel inside the United States, although not limited to a specific place. This not only
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assisted the staff in self-quarantine for 14 days, but it also gave them the opportunity to be a
positive role model for others. This leader is aware of his or her priorities, and he or she is also
demonstrating a variety of simple methods for increasing the organization's performance. Here,
executives share health and safety information with employees on a regular basis, as well as
monitoring employee actions within the organisation, which aids in the management of a safe
atmosphere where the virus's possibilities of spreading are reduced.
Understanding the digital is no more crucial: It has been determined that various
organisations have failed to adapt to the current environment over the last several years (Gavin,
2018). In the context of the pandemic covid-19, it has been determined that quick adoption of
digital technology by various businesses aids in the growth of their businesses as well as the
understanding of digital technology in accordance with their demands and requirements (Tien
and Minh, 2019). The use of digital tools to lead an organisation has now become a vital strategy
for every organisation and leader. In this context, the organisation has implemented a number of
actions and performance manuals to implement digital technology within the organisation and
improve the functioning of leaders and managers in accordance with it was top leaders are
considering going digital function which helps the organisation in reducing the chances of social
interaction while also improving the functioning of various individuals by gaining maximum
advantage. These are beneficial to the organisation in maintaining an adequate atmosphere in
which it may perform and deliver services to its customers on a regular basis in the event of a
pandemic. This also aids in decreasing the influence of Covid-19 on organisational functions as
well as the risk of COVID virus spreading among different persons working inside the
organisation or purchasing goods and services from the company.
Dividing authority: It's also a factor that can be deduced from the impact of the Covid-19
virus on the organization's performance and future orientation. This is because it has been
determined that the division of security is necessary in order to ensure that the organization's
functions are carried out in an orderly and colourful manner (Heizmann and Liu, 2018). This is
evident in the situation where, as a result of the impact of the Covid-19 virus and its widespread
distribution in various communities, a number of employees within the organisation are suffering
from the virus's effects. As a result of the absence of a specific individual or a number of
authorities inside the organisation in connection to making choices, it has an impact on the
organization's functioning. This makes it difficult for organisations that employ a single point of
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authority inside the corporation to accomplish their functions because diverse individuals are
unable to do so without the leader who has authority within the form. To maintain the functions
as well as perform the functions in an acceptable manner, organisations divide authority among
different individuals (Madanchian and et. al., 2018). This is because it assists the organisation in
sustaining the working environment in the absence of higher authorities. It may be seen in the
case of Amazon, where the impact of the Covid-19 virus has had a significant impact on the
organization's managers and executives since they have a high level of maturity. As a result, it is
critical for the form to divide the authorities appropriately so that employees can make their own
decisions and protect themselves from various variables that can induce COVID.
Accepting remote working: It represents the initial lesson which could be examined from
the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. This is because there are several organisations which are
operating their business in the same sector in which the company is working. It has been
determined that companies are already having policies for work from home which are effectively
preforming in the present pandemic scenario (Mishra, Mishra and Mishra, 2018). Whereas on the
other hand it has been observed that organisations which are not executing work from home
policies are highly getting impacted. This has also been evaluated that work from home policies
made employees more familiar with this situation which results in decrement in their
productivity. It has also been examined that remote working in present situation is becoming
very important which must be followed by organisations to function effectively (Sousa and
Rocha, 2019). Transformation is a real challenge of leadership where various employees come
forward to overcome recent risks in the present time where they have to work from home.
Providing work from home facilities is very important for organisations to implement and it is
very essential to manage employees and their functions. This is also vital to manage the
performance of company where quality of work has been maintained through understanding the
needs and demands so that firm could be able to achieve organisational objectives.
Keeping personal goal aside: it has been examined that there are various elements that
could be utilized by companies to meet with the objectives and perform better according to the
needs and demands (Saputra, 2017). It has been determined that there are several types of
personal aims which could be used by the company and are vital to accomplish the better
functioning for employees. Adopting these strategies could help managers and leaders of
organisation in adopting suitable system which is good for achieving organisational objectives.
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Enhance focus on workplace culture: Workplace culture is very vital factor in the company
which has to be managed by various people in accordance with the demands and needs of
employees and determine that there are various functions which has performed by the leader and
could utilized according to needs and demands (Raju and Holm, 2019). It mainly focuses on the
work culture that various leaders within companies in case of the present situation. This is
because COVID-19 has majorly impacted the working environment of companies which needs to
be stop because there are number of firms which are failing to implement work from home
policies. As it is becoming difficult for managers and leaders to provide guidance to employees
and managing them properly. As half of the workforce is working from home which is impacting
the organisational operations and work culture. It has been determined that leaders of the
company need to implement policies and positive work culture environment that could enhance
employees’ engagement (Purwadita and et. al.,2018). The company needs to follow the social
distancing policies which could help in reducing impacting the COVID-19 pandemic. The
leaders must make sure that there are no personal interactions happened within company between
employees so that the effectiveness of the ongoing pandemic could be decrease.
Modification in work bring flexibility: It has been determined that due to COVID-19 there
has been modifications in the working culture which beings’ flexibility in the company and
innovate new ways of working (Monica, 2019). This also assist companies in managing
functions and meeting requirements which could help in accomplishing organisational objectives
in appropriate ways. This has also been determined that it aids in organising the performance and
functions of the company effectively so that company could accomplish its goals and enhance
the performance of employees. The employees show more productivity and work for the
company in effective manner to achieve goals in specific time period.
CONCLUSION
Therefore, it has been analysed that there are several changes that can be seen as per the
impact of COVID-19. These changes are concerned with the leadership and management in
company that leads to impact the overall performance of company. It is also analysed that the
organisation will get influenced from the functions and also tends towards the changes regarding
policies, human relations and so on. leaders tend to analyse that the number of opportunities in
functions and suitable possibilities to overcome the challenges and difficult functions of
company so that profit can be earned as per the needs and requirements.
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