Leadership Qualities in Woolworths Company

This paper discusses the leadership qualities in Woolworths Company, including responsible leadership, key themes of leadership literature, and the impact on the organization and stakeholders. It explores the training opportunities, views on responsible leadership, and the culture of Woolworths. The paper also provides recommendations for effective leadership in the organization.

Running head: LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN WOOL WORTHS COMPANY
LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN WOOL WORTHS COMPANY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN WOOL WORTHS COMPANY
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Interview overview..........................................................................................................................3
Analysis of the interview.................................................................................................................4
Theme 1. Views of responsible leadership in Woolworths.....................................................4
Theme 2. Key themes of leadership literature in Woolworths Australia............................4
Theme 3. How responsible leadership will affects the relationships in organization and
with other stakeholders.............................................................................................................6
Theme 4. The culture of Woolworths, which would exist just because of responsible
leadership....................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
Theme 1. Views of responsible leadership in Woolworths.....................................................8
Theme 2. Key themes of leadership literature in Woolworths Australia............................8
Theme 3. How responsible leadership will affects the relationships in organization and
with other stakeholders.............................................................................................................9
Theme 4. The culture of Woolworths, which would exist just because of responsible
leadership....................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................11

2LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN WOOL WORTHS COMPANY
Introduction
Woolworths is one of the largest super market chain in Australia. It operates more than
995 stores inside Australia. The company fully relies on 115,000 team members in these stores
present in Australia. The distribution stores as well as the support center offices are build to
provide the customers with a broad range of value as well as convenience. Woolworths is
dedicated to work with the growers and the farmers in Australia so as to provide the best
products to be available to the customers. The company is known for sourcing more than 95% of
fresh fruits and vegetables as well as 100% fresh meat which also includes the red meat from the
growers and the farmers of Australia (Thorlakson, Hainmueller and Lambin, 2018). This is the
reason why Woolworths is also known as the Australia’s fresh food people.
Theaim of the paper is to conduct an interview with the business leader of Woolworths
and find out their view on the present leadership style, which is formed in the company. It will
also discuss the responsibilities of that leadership literature and identify the key themes of
leadership. It will also discuss the present complexities of the global business environments and
the needs of responsible leadership.
Interview overview
Brad Banducci who the Chief Executive leader of Woolworths from the year 2016 was
present in an interview session where he was asked about the leadership styles, which are
followed in Woolworths. The present problems which are faced by the company in respect to the
complexities of the global business environment and the leadership strategies which re required
by the company in order to overcome the problems faced.

3LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN WOOL WORTHS COMPANY
Analysis of the interview
Theme 1. Views of responsible leadership in Woolworths
As per Brad Banducci the training opportunities of the company include the
apprenticeships, coaching programs as well as the management and leadership training programs
(Campbell, 2017). To provide a successful training program various tools and access to support
programs are recommended. Brad Banducci said that in order to reflect the communities which
are served by the company it is very much important for the leaders and the managers to get
trained. Leadership workshops were build in the previous year where the senior managers and all
the leaders were targeted with the objective of making proper decision. The goals of the
workshops were to
 How a proper illustration and diversity of work can enable a business in achieving
success in the future works of the company.
 Providing an internal overview that how can gender bias can bring a limit to the diversity
of the teamwork.
 Demonstrating the importance of the role modeling inclusiveness as well as constructing
leadership behaviors, values and various processes involved in hiring decisions and
management of people.
 Developing proper strategies and actions so as to help the leverage of the programs
(Parkinson, 2018).

4LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN WOOL WORTHS COMPANY
Theme 2. Key themes of leadership literature in Woolworths Australia
According to Brad Banducci most of the effective leaders are both the supplier as well as
distributor of their own original content and the leadership content. Combining both the contents
provided by the leaders creates an overarching content along with the interconnected themes
which influences the way a leader naturally thinks, innovates various ways and acts out in
various problematic situation. Leaders must know themselves that they can effectively engage
with the contents which is aligned with the other leadership goals.
The themes of leadership literature in Woolworths Australia as discussed by Brad Banducci are:
 Servant Leadership – As per the view of the current scenario of the demand is more
ethical, the management is very much people – centered. This type of leadership is
needed by most of the organizations to gain success.
 Leading towards creativity and innovation –The potential for the innovations increasingly
lie at the core of the sustainability of the competitive advantages for many of the
organizations, therefore employee creativity is one of the best key building block for the
innovations of Woolworths.
 Identity based Leadership – It is very important to build a sense of the team or the
identity of the organizations. In developing sense of togetherness as well as an inclusion
of the employees. Woolworths uses this type of leadership in building and connecting the
employees with providing more motivation and effective mobilizing.
 Self – serving Leadership – Leadership can be used to accomplish wonderful things in an
organization, but it can also deteriorate dramatically. Self- serving and unethical
behaviors, which are present in an organization, is present in the media around the whole
world (Spillan, 2015).

5LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN WOOL WORTHS COMPANY
Theme 3. How responsible leadership will affects the relationships in organization
and with other stakeholders.
One of the key lesson which can be learnt from Brad Banducci in the recent years. The
Board of Director has given a large power of corporation in particular to the stakeholders and to
the society. Brad Banducci thus agrees that responsible leadership is a big factor I an
organization which contributes to building the social capital and it ultimately leads to a
sustainable business and a common good growth of the company. He shows first that the
relationship leadership in a stakeholder society of Woolworths which is globally present in all
the parts of the world (Swan, 2016).
Business leaders deals with the moral complexities which results from the multitude of
the stakeholders claim that and buildan enduring and mutually beneficial relationship which are
relevant to the stakeholders. The leaders also bundle up the energy from different types of
constituencies which help them in building a social capital. It can also be understood that social
capital are the potential interests which is related with the mutual concept (Klettner, 2016).
Against the background of the organization, the responsible leadership may also result in the
creation of the value networks of multiple stakeholders of the company. This also enhance the
social capital and there by contribute to the business to be sustainable and run smoothly
(Antunes, and Franco, 2016).
Theme 4. The culture of Woolworths, which would exist just because of responsible
leadership.
At the top of the hierarchy is the head of the branch who is responsible for the overall
performance of the store. Beneath him there are senior managers who are usually present each

6LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN WOOL WORTHS COMPANY
and every day. They are also responsible for the management of the day to day operations of the
branch. The functions mainly include the control of the stocks, rotation of the members of the
staff, as well as cashing the money which is received in the full day (Carmona, 2017). The full
time employees are stated in the next where their work is to obey the managerial department and
follow out the tasks. At the bottom or the last department in the hierarchy are the part time
employees. There are also many students, which are present in the store who work part time
generally during the evening time. They are mostly given less amount of responsibilities as
because majority of them are very much attracted to the work and performance of the
organization in the present date. Due to the approach of responsible leadership in Woolworths
the company has been gaining success from a long period of time.
In the opinion of Brad Banducci the poor quality of the services was the only important
factor which led to the ultimate failure of the company. At that time the Board of Directors were
not strong enough and the leadership training and the mentors as well as the staffs were not
motivated enough in their work. That had an adverse effect in the quality of work carried out by
the company. This had resulted in a very poor consumer feedback and the most important thing
is the poor reputation of the company and breakage in the good will that the company had owned
in the previous years. The emphasis was fully on the management in order to try out to bring a
change in the impression of the company.
Conclusion
In order to conclude the paper it can be proposed that responsible leadership can
deal with the confliction of the effects of different types of stakeholders. According to the social
identity theory which has been used by Brad Banducci in the organization Woolworths. The

7LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN WOOL WORTHS COMPANY
employees there have thus identified the leaders of the organization and thus they will do more in
the organization. Responsible leadership has a very good moral quality and Woolworths takes
good care of its employee. From the company point of view, it is quite evident that corporate
social responsibilities as well as organizations leadership activities can support and can promote
the employee identity in an organization.
Theme 1. Views of responsible leadership in Woolworths
The Board of the Directors as well as the Management department’s principal objective is to
maintain as well as increase the share holders value as well as keeping in mind to ensure the
overall activities of Woolworths Group is managed very properly and sincerely. The role of the
Board is to represent as well as it also serves the shareholder’s interest by thoroughly overseeing
and providing appraisals to the group’s strategies, policies and performance. The leaders present
in the company is omitted to provide various opportunities for the different team members so as
to achieve their goals and progress their career in the company.
Theme 2. Key themes of leadership literature in Woolworths Australia
Leaders of an organization gravitates towards the context of the information which fuels them
the knowledge and it thus provides them an insight of the problem, which thus helps them to
serve in a better manner. Those who do not have a practice of speaking well and also lack the
writing skills but have the ability to speak effectively. They lack in the communication skills and
thus require to execute the presence of a serious leader (Bolton, 2015).

8LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN WOOL WORTHS COMPANY
Theme 3. How responsible leadership will affects the relationships in organization
and with other stakeholders.
Business leaders deals with the moral complexities which results from the multitude of
the stakeholders claim that and build an enduring and mutually beneficial relationship which are
relevant to the stakeholders. The leaders also bundle up the energy from different types of
constituencies which help them in building a social capital. It can also be understood that social
capital are the potential interests which is related with the mutual concept (Klettner, 2016).
Against the background of the organization, the responsible leadership may also result in the
creation of the value networks of multiple stakeholders of the company. This also enhance the
social capital and there by contribute to the business to be sustainable and run smoothly
(Antunes, and Franco, 2016).
Theme 4. The culture of Woolworths, which would exist just because of responsible
leadership.
Keeping someone working in the best possible manner as well as best to their ability is
the first priority of the leadership structure o the organization. The leadership department also
motivates the employees in order to get the best out of them. Brad Banducci also said that there
are various other ways and method in helping the employees to keep them motivated. There are
also few theories which involves in keeping the management an eye on the employee motivation.
The theories will also be applied in few other branches of Woolworths in Australia. Motivating
the staff is very much important in an organization according to Brad Banducci. It is also very
important for a leader to follow out his responsibilities in an organization, but it is also one of the
most difficult task. If an organization manages out to work properly then it can ensure a long
professional and healthy as well as a work environment which is very much productive in nature

9LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN WOOL WORTHS COMPANY
will be created. In the year 2014 Woolworths was running under loss and its productivity was too
low.
Recommendations
From the above paper, it is recommended that effective leaders are essentially very
good followers. Leaders should be flexible to know the exact time to implement new policies in
the organization. Leaders in Woolworths are committed to use their skills in leading others,
performing technical skills, and conceptualizing the problematic situations in the organization.
The leaders are dedicated in internalizing the vision, mission and goals of the company.

10LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN WOOL WORTHS COMPANY
References
Antunes, A., & Franco, M. (2016). How people in organizations make sense of responsible
leadership practices: Multiple case studies. Leadership & Organization Development
Journal, 37(1), 126-152.
Biddle, I. (2016). The Wesfarmers/Woolworths duopoly war: The Bunnings vs. Masters battle.
Busidate, 24(3), 3.
Bolton, S. (2015). Woolworths workers back at work. Green Left Weekly, (1065), 3.
Campbell, J. (2017). Insights from the company monitor: Wesfarmers. Equity, 31(8), 16.
Carmona, C. (2017). AT Kearney, in their Johannesburg office. Cecily is extremely active in
promoting women in business and plays a significant role for AT Kearney globally in
their Women’s Network, including writing and contributing to thought leadership on the
topic. Women Leadership in Emerging Markets: Featuring 46 Women Leaders.
De Roeck, K., & Maon, F. (2018). Building the theoretical puzzle of employees’ reactions to
corporate social responsibility: An integrative conceptual framework and research
agenda. Journal of Business Ethics, 149(3), 609-625.
Foote, A., & Gaylard, A. (2018). Barbara queally: A 180 change in leadership style part A.
Klettner, A., Clarke, T., & Boersma, M. (2016). Strategic and regulatory approaches to
increasing women in leadership: Multilevel targets and mandatory quotas as levers for
cultural change. Journal of Business Ethics, 133(3), 395-419.

11LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN WOOL WORTHS COMPANY
Maak, T., Pless, N. M., & Voegtlin, C. (2016). Business statesman or shareholder advocate?
CEO responsible leadership styles and the micro‐foundations of political CSR. Journal of
Management Studies, 53(3), 463-493.
Parkinson, M. M. (2018). Case Study 4: Woolworths Group plc. In Corporate Governance in
Transition (pp. 203-221). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Parkinson, M. M. (2018). Case Study 4: Woolworths Group plc. In Corporate Governance in
Transition (pp. 203-221). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Petrenko, O. V., Aime, F., Ridge, J., & Hill, A. (2016). Corporate social responsibility or CEO
narcissism? CSR motivations and organizational performance. Strategic Management
Journal, 37(2), 262-279.
Spillan, J. E., & Ling, H. G. (2015). Woolworths: An Adizes Corporate Lifecycle Perspective. In
Business History Conference. Business and Economic History On-line: Papers Presented
at the BHC Annual Meeting (Vol. 13, p. 1). Business History Conference.
Swan, P. (2016). Mandated divorce company boards,'independence'and performance. Policy: A
Journal of Public Policy and Ideas, 32(2), 3.
Thorlakson, T., Hainmueller, J., & Lambin, E. F. (2018). Improving environmental practices in
agricultural supply chains: The role of company-led standards. Global Environmental
Change, 48, 32-42.