BMA701: Strategies for Effective Leadership & Change at Myer

This report delves into the leadership and change management challenges faced by Myer, a retail company experiencing declining sales and share prices. The analysis highlights the impact of ineffective leadership on employee morale, productivity, and the company's ability to implement change strategies. The report discusses the importance of trust between employees and leaders, emphasizing how good leadership can inspire employees and foster teamwork. It explores the trait theory of leadership, examining the characteristics of effective leaders and how the absence of these traits has contributed to Myer's difficulties. Recommendations are provided for improving communication between leaders and employees, developing effective marketing strategies, and fostering a more collaborative work environment. The report also suggests actions that employees can take to encourage positive change within the organization, such as requesting formal meetings and advocating for the implementation of a communication strategy. This document is available on Desklib, a platform offering a wide range of study tools and solved assignments to support students.

Running head: LEADERSHIP AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Leadership and Change Management
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note:

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LEADERSHIP AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT
1. Leadership issues is troubling the management of Myer to reach its targeted sales
volume. Not only this, lack of effective leadership is lowering the shares price of Myer. It has
been observed that ineffective leadership might result in poor financial outcomes. For instance,
there has been a declination of 85% since 2009. Its sales volume had seen a drastic dropdown
from $2.4 billion to $363 million. From the perspective of (Lozano, Ceulemans and Seatter
2015), lack of stable leadership might result in prevalence of low morale among the employees
working at organizations. In case of Myer, employees are suffering from low morale and they are
feeling demotivated towards their work. As a result, productivity is getting hampered in the due
procedure. In this regard, it can be stated that lack of fruitful leadership is not only lowering the
profitability of the respective organization, but also paving the chances for high workforce
turnover. In accordance with the opinion of Betancourt et al. (2017), it is seen that ineffective
leadership of Bernie Brooks, ex-CEO of Myer had resulted in lowering the prices of shares from
$3.76 to $38 c in 2017.
Bolman and Deal (2017) asserted that it is seen that if a company faces problems
regarding leadership, then it becomes difficult for the respective business organization to attain
the targeted objectives of the respective business firm. In this context, it can be stated that
leadership issues of Myer are making it difficult for the managers to attain the specified
objectives of the company thereby reducing the overall productivity of the respective
organization. In addition to this, employee turnover might increase as a consequence of poor
leadership. In this regard, it can be stated that if the leadership is not stable, the it is not possible
for a business firm to incorporate change strategy in a proper manner. In this context, Van der
Voet (2014) commented that Myer had failed to implement change strategy in its working
procedures because of poor leadership. Employees will become confused regarding their job

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responsibilities if they found that the leader was not at all a good leader (Lewis, Passmore and
Cantore 2016). As a result, lack of good leadership is capable of hampering the workflow of the
entire organization. This is applicable for Myer.
2. I have understood that there should be employees need to trust their leader so that they
can achieve their career goals. I have noticed that employees working at Myer could not trust
their leaders; therefore, they could not meet their targeted objectives. I believe good leadership
can aid the organizational employees to perform better thereby increasing the overall
productivity of the organization. I can share that good leadership is capable of inspiring the
workforce to deliver their best in the organization so that it is possible for the companies like
Myer to overcome their leadership issues. In this context, I can share that mutual trust between
the employees and leader enables the leader to understand the reasons behind non-attainment of
individual goals as well as goals and objectives of Myer.
I have gained knowledge that good leadership is capable foot handling any soy of
problems that might occur within the teams. I have seen that leader of Myer had failed to tackle
issues within the team thereby causing declination in the prices of shares and dropdown in sales
volume. I can share that it the responsibility of the leader to communicate the vision t its
employees in a clear manner so that it is possible for business firms to attaining the desired
outcomes. In other words, I can share that by communicating the vision clearly to its employees,
it becomes easier for the leader of Myer to attain the desired outcomes which is related to
increasing the sales volume and enhancing the prices of stocks. I have realized that teamwork
and leadership are co-related with each other.
I believe that good leaders inspire the team to increase their problem-solving skills rather
than solving their problems. In other words, I have understood that a good leader always

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empowers its team members to sort out their problems rather than giving solutions t their
problem. However, I have observed that employees working at Myer do not believe in the words
of their leader thereby hampering the overall productivity of the organization. I have understood
good leadership makes it easier for the management to retain their employees for a prolonged
time span.
3. Trait theory:
This particular theory was created by Thomas Carlyle in 19th century. According to this
theory, individuals are either born leaders or they have some traits which makes them a good
leader (Pugh 2016). It has been noticed that this theory is generally used for forecasting the
fruitfulness of a leader (Lewis, Passmore and Cantore 2016). In other words, it can be stated that
trait theory of leadership concentrates on assessing mental, or physical or social characteristics of
the person. In this context, it can be stated that the main purpose is to gain an insight on the
characteristics of the leader (Daly, Hill and Jackson 2015). It is assumed in trait theory that
personal traits of the leader are responsible for achieving success in various circumstances.
It is seen that leader possesses some traits like high energy level, high level of
motivation, honesty and integrity (Thomas 2015). In addition to this there are other characteristic
features such as high level of self-confidence, tenacity, flexibility, good analytical skills, ability
to judge, emotional intelligence, charisma, creativity, openness, etc. these are the qualities that
makes a leader stand out from an ineffective one (Sharif and Scandura 2014). It is seen that
leaders of Myer do not have such qualities. As a result, declination in share prices and dropdown
in sales had taken place. As per the concept of Trait theory, the interests, abilities, as well as
personality traits of successful leaders are completely different than that of ineffective leaders. It
is seen that good leaders have the ability to undertake quick decisions at times of need (Bolden

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2016). According to this theoretical concept of trait theory, leaders possess good communication
skills that aid them to share their developed business to the employees and also good
communication skills of the leader helps the employees to understand the directions of the
leader. It has been found that good interpersonal skills enable the leader to share a strong
bonding with the team members. In this context, it can be stated that effective interpersonal
skills enable the leaders to share a relationship with its team which is based on mutual trust as
well as respect (Gollenia 2016). In addition to this, a good leader possesses emotional stability
that helps the individual to control the emotions at times of need.
4. It has been noticed that the leader should improve the mode of communication
between the him and the employees working at Myer. In this context, it can be stated that
communication skills can reduce the chances of miscommunication among the employees. It has
been observed that the leader of the respective organization need to adopt an effective marketing
strategy that would enable the company to beat its rivals such as David Jones and Kmart. In
accordance with the opinion of Bolman and Deal (2017), effective communication can be
established by the leader through organizing team meetings. In this context, it can be stated that
companies such as Myer can arrange team meetings.
It has been observed that by improving the communication between the employees and
the leader, it is possible for the respective business firm to increase the sales volume, which has
declined after 2009. However, it is the responsibility of the leader to communicate the vision of
Myer to its employees in team meetings (Halkias et al. 2017). In this context I can share that my
responsibility is to share my vision with my subordinates. However, these meetings need to be
organized by the leader at least twice in a month. Besides, the leader need to improve its
communication by allowing its employees to share their opinions in open forums (Van der Voet

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2014). I, as a leader would allow my employees to share their viewpoints in open forums. As a
leader, I would try my best to improve my relationship with my subordinates. In accordance with
the opinion of Hornstein (2015), this approach of the leader would improve the communication
between him and the employees. As a leader, this approach would strengthen my relationship
with the clients. Apart from this, the leaders need to develop a fruitful strategy in order to
sustain its competitive advantage in the existing market. By building an effective marketing
strategy, it is possible for the leader to capture a larger market share in the retail market of
Australia. As per the trait theory, a leader possesses good communication skills, decision-making
abilities. Therefore, it is required for the leader of Myer to build an effective communication plan
for strengthening its relationship with its skilled professionals (Johnston and Marshall 2016). I,
as a leader should be firm while adopting the economy pricing strategy for its clients. This
approach of the leader shows that he is capable of undertaking firm decisions at times of
necessity.
5. I, as an employee can request to my hierarchy for organizing formal meetings. In
accordance with the opinion of Sharif and Scandura (2014), formal meetings will help the
employees to understand the vision of the business firm. As an employee, these formal meetings
will help me to understand the goals and objectives of Myer. In this regard, I can share that
formal meetings will motivate me to perform better in the organization as I would get an idea
about what I have to do for increasing the prices of Myer’s shares and increasing the sales
volume of the respective organization. From the perspective of Gollenia (2016), formal meetings
are useful methods, that are used by employers for giving instructions to the employees. In this
context, I can share that formal meetings will aid me to understand the instructions of my leader.
I, as an employee can request my senior managers for incorporating a communication strategy

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within the working procedures of the respective organization. In accordance with the opinion of
Thomas (2015), communication strategy will enable the management to inform the employees
about the vision of Myer. As a skilled professional, I would be able to understand the instructions
of my superiors regarding development of marketing strategy as well as pricing strategy.
Besides, I would be able to share my perspective in front of my superiors if management
considers implementing communication strategies within the environment of Myer. I, as an
employee would take this initiative for the increasing the sales volume and enhancing the share
prices of Myer. I, as an employee need to request my hierarchy for conducting a personal
assessment so that it is possible for me to understand the fact that whether the leader is a good
leader or a bad leader.

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References
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Daly, J., Hill, M.N. and Jackson, D., 2015. Leadership and healthcare change management.
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