Leadership Styles and Challenges in VUCA Environment

This report discusses leadership styles and challenges in a VUCA environment. It explores the servant leadership style and its applicability in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous business environment. The report also outlines the leadership styles of Kevin Johnson, CEO of Starbucks, and provides recommendations for the company.

Leading business organisation

Table of Content
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................3
REFLECTION...........................................................................................................................3
1Systematic Understanding of Theories of Leadership..........................................................3
2. Capability to assess the influence in implementing mission as well as vision of an
Organizational Leaders?.........................................................................................................4
3. Capability to apply appropriate leadership policies to maximize organizational potential4
4. Capability to assess motivational theories within an organizational Environmental for
leaders?...................................................................................................................................5
5. Potential Leadership Style..................................................................................................6
2. MANAGEMENT REPORT (STARBUCKS).......................................................................7
A. Introduction to the report...................................................................................................7
B. Servant leadership style & challenges associated with practicing it in VUCA
environment............................................................................................................................7
C. Outlining Leadership Styles as Indicated by Kevin Johnson's..........................................8
E. About Johnson’s Strong personal Brand as an effective Global Leader......................11
E. Recommendations............................................................................................................11
F.CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................13
Books and Journals...............................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Leadership is considered as a procedure which encourages subordinates towards
achieving vision and mission of the organization. In addition to this, it is important to adopt
effective style of leadership in order to assess the need and wants of subordinates. This report
shows various aspects like reflective questions in order to provide understanding regarding
leadership style for growth as well as development of an individual person. In context of
Starbucks, it displays about different style of leadership with challenges, momentary
summary of case study, precarious assessment of Kevin Johnson leadership style,
recommendation and completion of report in a proper manner. In context of Starbucks, it is
well known company offering various types of coffees to its customer across the world. This
company was situated in Seattle, Washington, U.S. in the year of 1971 (Aldous, 2018)
REFLECTION
1Systematic Understanding of Theories of Leadership.
What are the two important questions that leaders requires to ask themselves?
The first and foremost thing is related to know the micro and macro environmental faction in
order to make effective strategies within business organization. And second thing is needed to
assess from data and is connected to creating increments in collecting data in reference of
services as well as customization (Tukke and Tischner, 2017)
A. What are the two main features of leadership?
There are two feature of leadership such as learn from failure as well as emotional
intelligence.
B. What is known as a leadership theory?
Leadership theory signifies suggestions in which it is necessary to have a trait and
capabilities that help an individual person in order to become an appropriate leader for
their supporters.
C. Name two very various leadership styles that are suitable for the present volatile,
ambiguous, complex and vague business environment?
There are various kind of style of leadership such as Autocratic, democratic and
Laissez faire.

D. Why do ambitious leaders require an in-depth understanding of a array of leadership
styles?
It is essential for to use effective style of leadership in order to become a leader.
Through skill and knowledge, it is imaginable to choose the best choice of their own.
2. Capability to assess the influence in implementing mission as well as vision of an
Organizational Leaders?
A. What are an organizational mission as well as vision?
Mission is connected to the whole goal and objective related to operation and function
of business organisation as well as also connects to its reality. Vision signifies the plan of
action of company that assists in understanding towards the way to move in.
b. What influence do individual person typically make in implementing the mission as well
as vision?
Through the cooperation of staff members, the business organisation regularly works
towards achieving vision and mission of the firm (Augustine, 2017)
c. What contribution do leaders typically make in performing the mission and vision?
From the above mentioned vision, it has been analysed that leader encourages
subordinates towards achieving goal and objective of business organisation.
d. What influence do stakeholders classically make in implementing the mission as well as
vision?
There are various activities and functions that must be finished within business
organisation through the stakeholder at workplace.
e. Why do ambitious leaders need to be able to assess the assistances of the above?
It is essential to assess contribution in order to find out variances as well as to
understand the level of performance of subordinates in order to make necessary improvement
in particular areas.
3. Capability to relate appropriate leadership policies to maximize organizational
potential
A. What is known as leadership strategy?

The leadership style is method which is used by leaders in order to encourage
subordinates for accomplishing individual and organization goal in short span of time.
B. What is known as change leadership?
When subordinates are motivated to execute management of changes within business
organization considered as a change leadership.
C. What is called as organizational potential?
The ability of the business organization that could be executed for accomplish goal as
well as objective (Bason), 2018
D. What is a context of business?
There are various factors which affect activities and functioning of company in order
to accomplish goal as well as objective.
E. Why do ambitious leaders need to know a wide-ranging of leadership strategies that can
be useful in a variety of diverse business contexts?
It is essential for leader to communicate with its employees in an effective manner
regarding vision as well as mission of business organization. Thus, it is helpful for
subordinate to move in a specific way.
4. Capability to assess motivational theories within an organizational Environmental for
leaders?
a. What is known as theory of motivation?
Motivational theory is described as a process which is used to encourage
subordinates towards vision as well as mission of the business organization.
b. What are the two types of theories of motivation?
There are two types of theories of motivation such as process as well as content
theory.
c. What is the modern-day term for worker motivation?
The equity theory is adopted for motivating the subordinates in an effective manner.
d. What is known as ‘appreciative inquiry technique’?
This is the tactical method for managing modification in order to assess the
ongoing action to be performed in an actual manner.

e. Why do aspiring leaders requisite to be able to analytically assess a variety of
leadership strategies that can be useful in a range of diverse business contexts?
It is necessary for leaders to adopt the most efficient motivational theories for
enhancement in the level of motivation (Black, 2016).
5. Potential Leadership Style
a. Describe potential leadership style?
It is essential for leader to create changes in the proficient as well as personal
development of the business organization. It assists in enhancing the working of
assistants within business organization.
b. What are key strengths?
Herein, it is important for leader to have a good communication, management,
leadership, listening as well as time management skills and many more. In addition to
this, there are personal traits which are necessary for leader such as positive attitude,
personality in order to become a proper leader. It assists in offer direction to its
employees for accomplishing vision and mission of business organization in an
appropriate manner.
c. What are important challenges?
There are different issues and challenges which are faced by leader for
performing business operations as well as functions in an effective way. In addition to
this, there are various challenges such as conflict resolution, less resistance for
innovation and so on that imposes direct impact on working of business organisation.
D. What personal development is required to progress leadership capabilities?
The leader must have ability such as disciplined, conflict management, favorable attitude
and so on which is necessary for the development of the individual person. In assistance of
this, the leader must have quality like motivating other to increase the skill and knowledge of
individual person (Cohen, 2017).

2. MANAGEMENT REPORT (STARBUCKS)
A. Introduction to the report
In the following report, there is discussion regarding servant style of leadership &
challenges which is related with practicing in VUCA environment. Along with this, there will
be argument about leadership style of Kelvin that assists in improving the efficiency of
Starbucks Company. Moreover, the ethical challenge along with perception of present &
formers will be describe properly in report. Furthermore, there is identification regarding the
reason of success and strong brand image of Starbucks and Kevin Johnson in market. The
recommendations are given to company in order to increase customer base and attain
competitive advantage at marketplace. Later, the conclusion of the overall assignment is
cover in the report (Doppelt, 2017)
B. Servant leadership style and challenges related with practicing it in VUCA
environment.
Leadership is termed as an ability of a person to control, manage and motivate the
employees to work with full potential so that objectives can be achieved within the time
frame. There are various leadership styles that are associated with the type of leaders. The
discussion about servant leadership style is given below:
Servant leadership style is mainly a type of leadership, where various set of philosophy
associated with the major objective of leader is serve. Servant leadership style is based on
traditional leadership and is focuses on the activities associated to the business objective. It is
determined that servant leadership style is a timeless ideology and term where organisation
leaders play an important role in implementing activities in a proper manner. For example,
Marriott international hotel leaders applied or adopt different style of leadership in order to
handle business operations and activities as well. With reference to Marriott apply servant
style of leadership in order to share power & to give priority to the needs of employees. This
assists them to make improvements in a service which leads to growth and development of
company. It is significant for a leader to ensure that quality service is given to the customers
so that company can gain higher success within the market Servant style of leadership and
challenges related with practicing it in VUCA environment (Milliman and Clair, 2017).

.
.
The abbreviation of VUCA is Volatility, uncertainty, problems & ambiguities. It is
basically rely on the grouping of qualities which emphasise on various aspects in order to
handle tough for business place. By volatility, the focus is on important & frequent changes
which are required to adopt by companies in order to retain in market for longer time frame.
In addition to this, uncertainties are associated with in- forecasted results and emphasis on
complexities which involve different issues and problems in the organisation. Later, it is
talking about ambiguity which shows lack of clarity & difficulty to analyse the problem. It is
determine that all these elements decline the overall productivity and performance of an
entity. It is essential for leaders to motivate employees so that they can easily deal with
uncertainties in an effective manner. There are various challenges associated with leadership
style in relation to VUCA working criteria. The challenges is given below:
VUCA business environment associates with various hazards and problems of a
company & through robust style of leadership like autocratic style of leadership. It is
essential for employees to perform all the activities in a proper and specific manner so that no
problem is arise at workplace. It is determined that servant leadership style cannot agreement
with the hazards in order to using VUCA environment that is not conceivable.
VUCA business environment face lack of problems due to non-clarity of concepts as well
as situations arises at the workplace. In relation to servant leadership style, the leaders
develop goals that are related with providing customer service and to give preference to
employee issues so that no problem can take place which leads to development of positive
working environment. In addition to this, it also assists company to overcome with challenges
in a proper and effective manner. It also assists company to keep on maintaining performance
if there is change in any of the environment. Moreover, it also helps increasing productivity
as well as profitability in an effective manner (Dutta and Bhattacharya, 2019).
C. Outlining Leadership Styles as Indicated by Kevin Johnson's
Leadership Styles is defined as the primary job that lead to effect anywhere by the
characteristics inside the business and sanction its defender to attain of goals and objectives
of business and problems in a supervisor. In assistance to this, CEO of Starbucks there is
various types of capability way in the business organisation. Further, the manager frequently

has successfully and describing context to gain alternative organisation nature within market
environment. Moreover, this could enhance its services which complicated thought creative
useful working conditions within market environment. Leadership style is divided into three
kinds which are described as follows:
Ethical
Leadership style of Johnson could acknowledge different qualities such as fairness,
honesty and responsibility. In assistance to this, this leadership style directs the beliefs and
values that have the rights and responsibilities for the other personnel. It is the detailed
description of the trust, understanding and fairness among the employees.
Advantages: Depiction and superior of a business organisation could use this kind of
style and prepare to bring in addition to high level of attainment for the workers which are
working in a firm. Further, Johnson could create good vision and mission for the Starbucks. It
helps to motivate the employees for the work done in their respective field which is allotted
by inspiring them.
Disadvantages: The manager of couldn’t accept all the duct things that create an
organisation to construct low benefits and negativity. It further needed a comprehensive
support that is very effective and efficient within an organization. In assistance to this, it also
requires the clearness and clarity within a specified time period (Watson, 2017).
Authentic
This all turn on logical and creative passage through Johnson which could analyse
various apparatuses and process to increase executives for the work. Further, it could focus
on long term vision and mission that set all the actions and decisions that access its strengths
and weaknesses within an organization. It is further described as the management style that a
leader could motivate their trust and loyalty for the worker that is based on their performance
in the business organisation.
Pros: Through this theory, John could explore various profits for an organisation and
also prepare for the happening of their objectives and goals in an appropriate manner.
Furthermore, this could be useful for the actions which are taken while working that is
decided among the workers.

Cons: The theory has the disadvantages of canister chaos in representatives
decreasing their certainty of the work. The manager of Starbucks uses such techniques that
could be useful to fight over those situations. Furthermore, the problem which is solved that
is based on difficult issues and conflicts.
Democratic Leadership Style
This type of approach is also known as the participative style that indicates the
capability of special personnel which communicates the predefined tasks to their workers and
its managers for including chosen profits which is to be implemented within an organization.
Benefits: This is basically uses for settling large numbers of typical situations as the
manager has the capability for working within a gathering structure by uses wide number of
things for potential results in an appropriate manner. In assistance to this, John could identify
the achievement for its executives through a wide number of works which is allotted to its
workers. Moreover, it also works for a solution that might resolve within an organization
through the personnel.
Drawbacks: This is the opposite aim for the leadership style that an organisation could
create more extends with their objectives and goals which are to be prepared for various
problems and issues which do not work in a suitable manner. In assistance to this, John
requires that various working conditions for conquer of that sorts of variables in an
appropriate manner. In assistance to this, it took develop for reaching consensus.
In reference for the Kevin Johnson which could squeeze those procedure and
techniques that has the objectives and goals which could comprehend different sort of ideas
with number of innovation and creativity that lead to attain their opinions, goals and
objectives in a suitable time. In assistance to this, the present problems that are showed
through the Starbucks like appropriate number of personnel that are communicating and
cooperating but which are not prepared to operate those techniques that could create such
approaches to embrace present occurrences of market conditions which could explore their
deals in an appropriate manner (Wellin, 2016).
.

E. About Johnson’s Strong personal Brand as an effective Global Leader.
The Kevin Johnson is an America indicator of Starbucks java Organization. He was a
software engineer of the business firm and then he will become system engineer to connect
with IBM. In the year of 1978, Johnson travelled from Los Alamos secondary school (French
and Rees, 2016). Then, he travelled from New Mexico State University in Business
Administration. In addition to this, it is important to one and all single to make focus on all
part of union to realize crisis of their depiction in marketplace. Beside this all singles
continuously preferred good choices on their condition. The Johnson is well known brand
that helps in changing the taste and preferences of audience. In addition to this, the primal
purpose of business firm is to satisfy the need as well as wants of consumer in an actual way.
It helps in increasing sales and level of profitability within business organisation. In this
process, it helps in possessing solid brand that inspire youth in an ideal manner.
E. Recommendations
Starbucks is a well renowned coffee chain which offers various types of beverages along
with high quality. The company mainly focuses on providing high quality experience to
customer who helps them to increase number of loyal customers and gain success in market
globally (Hughes, 2016). The managers and leaders of Starbucks develop effective plans and
strategies that assist in gaining competitive advantage at market place. The leaders of
Starbucks ensure that employees have clarity about the goals they need to achieve as it will
help them to implementing activities in a proper manner. with reference to Starbucks, the
strategies develop by managers is according to the structure which has positive effect and
help in gaining large market share as well. The recommendations are given below:
Provide new goods in same industry at affordable price: In order to attract large
number of customers and to attain competitive advantage at marketplace, it is recommended
that company can enter into new product segment with the same brand name and industry. In
addition to tis, the company can offer new product at reasonable rates, this will help company
to increase their customer base which has a positive impact on sales and profitability of an
organisation. Starbucks is a well renowned and established brand, so it does not require
investing high amount on promotions as well. This will assist company to earn higher profits
and fight with its rivals prevailing at the market place. This will also assist company to
strengthen their market position that leads to increase in market share of company
(Jacquemin and De Jong, 2016)

Emphasise on new product line in diverse sector: Starbucks is a multinational
organisation which has high global presence within the beverage sector. It is one of the top
coffee chains and is consider as one of the major strength of Starbucks. The company have
the opportunity to enter into different sector and offer new product in market. In order to
enter into new market, the company require high investment so it is important for mangers to
first identify the risk and market so that they did not get failure. Moreover, the company can
also provide training session to employees that increase their skills and knowledge. In
addition to this, it will also help company to cope up with the situations and deal with
customer complaints in a proper as well as effective manner (Neubauer and Lank, 2016).
F.CONCLUSION
On the basis of above mentioned report, it has been analysed that it is important for an
organisation to have effective leader as it help in providing direction to employees due to
whom the overall objectives is achieved. In addition to this, there are various leadership
styles that can be applied to business in order to handle the situations in a proper manner.
Leaders help companies to motivate employees who lead to increase in productivity as well
as profitability of the organisation. For an effective leader, it is essential to have
communication and problem solving skill which helps dealing with issues in an effective
manner. The leaders encourage staff members to cope up with the changes in an effective
manner so that any change in an environment did not highly effect on the performance of
company. Moreover, it is important for companies to use leadership styles so that activities
and operations are accrued out in an effective manner.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aldous, M., 2018. Business Ownership and Organisation. In An Economist’s Guide to
Economic History (pp. 167-174). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Augustine, A., 2017. The First 100 Days on the Job: How to plan, prioritize and build a
sustainable organisation. Routledge.
Bason, C., 2018. Leading public sector innovation: Co-creating for a better society. Policy
press.
Black, A., 2016. A pre-history of the learning organisation: information and knowledge
management before the digital age. In The Early Information Society (pp. 119-162).
Routledge.
Cohen, E., 2017. CSR for HR: A necessary partnership for advancing responsible business
practices. Routledge.
Doppelt, B., 2017. Leading change toward sustainability: A change-management guide for
business, government and civil society. Routledge.
Dutta, S. and Bhattacharya, S., 2019. Cross selling of investment products and services: a
case study of leading financial services organisation. International Journal of Business
Forecasting and Marketing Intelligence, 5(2), pp.241-248.
French, R. and Rees, G. eds., 2016. Leading, managing and developing people. Kogan Page
Publishers.
Hughes, M., 2016. Leading changes: Why transformation explanations
fail. Leadership, 12(4), pp.449-469.
Jacquemin, A. and De Jong, H.W., 2016. European industrial organisation. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
Milliman, J. and Clair, J., 2017. Best environmental HRM practices in the US. In Greening
People (pp. 49-73). Routledge.
Neubauer, F. and Lank, A.G., 2016. The family business: Its governance for sustainability.
Springer.
Tukker, A. and Tischner, U. eds., 2017. New business for old Europe: product-service
development, competitiveness and sustainability. Routledge.
Watson, T., 2017. Sociology, work and organisation. Taylor & Francis.
Wellin, M., 2016. Managing the psychological contract: Using the personal deal to increase
business performance. CRC Press.