Essay on Leadership Theories and Management Practices at Hilton Hotel

This essay delves into the concepts of leadership and management, using Hilton Hotel as a case study. It examines the importance of leadership development in achieving organizational success, emphasizing the need for managers to cultivate effective leadership skills. The essay explores different leadership theories, specifically comparing and contrasting trait and contingency theories, and their implications for improving leadership skills and enhancing business performance. It also analyzes the effectiveness of leadership selection and training programs within Hilton, assessing the impact of recent and future changes in people management and leadership. The analysis underscores the significance of effective training sessions in transforming managers into leaders, ultimately contributing to business success. The essay highlights the differences between leadership and management and how both are crucial for the hotel's operational efficiency. The essay also emphasizes the importance of traits like achievement drive, leadership motivation, honesty, and integrity, while also acknowledging the limitations of the trait theory and discussing the situational factors that impact effective leadership. Finally, it underscores the need for businesses to invest in leadership training to enhance their skills and knowledge to achieve desired results.

LITERATURE
REVIEW AND ESSAY

In the current era of globalization, each and every business focuses upon encouraging
their managers to develop their skills and attributes in regard to attain organizational success.
Now-a-days businesses expect their senior managers such as CEO focuses upon becoming
effective leaders and invest heavily in specializing leadership programs (Srivastava, Bartol and
Locke, 2006). It helps them to motivate workforce so that they are able to accomplish desired
task and attain success. Further, organization also focuses upon providing training to managers
so that they be engrave their leadership skills in regard to become effective leaders. All the
leaders are managers but all the managers could not be leaders. Thus, such statement enhances
the attributes of leaders which results in improving business success. Organization need to focus
upon their senior managers in regard to motivate them and help them to direct and control the
workforce towards business success (Briggs, Morrison and Coleman, 2012). Businesses invest
heavily in organizing specialized training sessions such as communication, interpersonal and
motivation skills which leads managers to become effective leaders. Through such training it
helps them to improve their skills and abilities and thus lead the firm towards success. In the
present essay, Hilton hotel has been undertaken in regard to discuss concepts of leadership and
management. Also, it helps in comparing and contrasting different leadership theories such as
trait and contingency theory in relation to improve the leadership skills and enhance business
success. It also analyzes effectiveness of leadership selection and training program within Hilton
aims to assess the implications of recent and future change within the field of people
management and leadership (Renz, 2016). At the end, it discusses the need of effective training
sessions which are required to be improved and thus helps managers be trained as leaders in
regard to enhance business success.
Concept of leadership and management
As per the view of Tomey (2009), Leadership is considered as the concept that helps in
influencing person to accomplish the objectives and directs the business in such a way that helps
in achieving success. Leaders possess effective willpower and desire in order to reach the set
level. It can be stated that good leaders have been developed through carrying out never ending
process such as self motivation, education, training and experience. Leadership could be learned
through improving skills and knowledge and thus influence their own traits and skills towards
attain objectives (Tomey, 2009). Thus, it could reflected that leadership and management are
both are considered as diverse practices within business and therefore, it is the best way through

which different activities are considered as effective. Leadership is being carried out as a role
played by leaders in regard to improve the teamwork and activities so that desired results could
be attained. While, management could be assessed that individual needs to adopt effective
activities which results in managing the task so that appropriate goals could be attained. Leaders
also play crucial role in regard to inspire workers so that they could work effectively under
teamwork. Leaders need to understand their followers and then focus upon their needs so that
their actions could be directed towards carrying out effective practice. However, it does not come
naturally but it comes through experience so that leaders need to regularly encourage the workers
of Hilton so that they can follow the right path and move towards success. Effective leaders are
regularly working and carrying out their task so that it results in enhancing their leadership skills
to attain set targets (Bush, 2007).
According to the opinion of Nahavandi (2016), Leaders of Hilton need to set effective
sales targets for their every hotel branches so that workers could attain the same at the end of
financial year. It also results in providing effective quality products or services so that customers
could satisfied and retained within firm for long term. Thus, it assesses that leaders are required
to achieve desired goals and objectives and thus helps followers to work towards team goals
(Nahavandi, 2016). With the help of this sales of hotel could be enhanced and thus new and
existing customers could be satisfied with the services provided by leaders of the hotel. It could
be reflected that there are different leaders who possess effective sales strategies so that targets
could be attained. It is the best wa through which quality products or services could be attained
in such a manner and thus clients could be retained within long term. Thus, with the help of
adopting effective strategies results in attaining desired objectives.
Managers are considered as crucial group of people involved in carrying out business
activity. They are working for the betterment of business and moving the firm towards success.
Also, managers of Hilton hotel are responsible for the things done as it directly influences
workers and customers within hotel. Managers are carrying out different job roles and thus
execute the work in an effective way so that proper supervision need to be given to the person
who are working with them (Bush, 2008). Thus, it can be assessed that management and
leadership are considered as effective concept and they possess differences in relation to
accomplish the task. Manager within hotel possess different job roles such as personal manager,
food and beverage manager, etc. They also possess different roles and responsibilities in regard

to accomplish business targets. Concept of management is also different from leadership as
management aims to accomplish the desired task so that success could be attained. Management
focuses upon managing all the task and activities within hotel and possesses different skills and
attributes as compared to leaders (Chen and Lee, 2008).
Further, managers work on the behalf of owners and follow their instructions while
leaders work as per their wish in order to attain success. Management is also accountable for the
activities of the firm either to the director or shareholders set objectives for firm. Managers
ensure that they need to follow the directors instructions while leaders give instructions to their
followers so that desired results could be attained. Management needs to provide training to its
workers so that they could enhance their skills and capabilities in regard to improve business
performance (Goetsch and Davis, 2014).
Within management it involves leadership so that set business opportunities towards
attaining desired results. However, leadership is considered as crucial function of management
and thus it helps in carrying out desired functions of management such as planning, organizing,
directing, staffing, leading and controlling. Both leadership and management roles are effective
and thus it helps in influencing each and every level of management to accomplish the
management hierarchy (Bush and Heystek, 2006). Hilton focuses upon both management and
leadership concept so that each and every department of hotel carries out their task in an
effective way and thus it depends upon executing the functions towards attaining set targets.
Thus, leadership influences their followers to work towards desired targets and thus enhance the
business performance towards attaining desired targets. While, management trains its workers to
improve their skills and knowledge so that they enhance their attributes and enhance certain
qualities so that best results could be attained (Lunenburg, 2011).
Comparing and contrasting trait and contingency leadership theory
As per the view of Briggs, Morrison and Coleman, (2012), The trait model related with
leadership is on the basis characteristics of several leaders both successful as well as
unsuccessful. This is being utilized towards making prediction of leadership effectiveness. The
resulting lists of traits are compared to the one potential leader for assessing their likelihood of
success or failure. The scholars who make use of trait approach attempts at determination of
physiological, demographic, personality, intellective, task related as well as social characteristics
with emergence of leader and their effectiveness (Briggs, Morrison and Coleman, 2012). The

leaders who are successful possess the interests, abilities as well as personality traits that vary
from the one who have less effective leaders. There is presence of several traits that are being
determined in relation with the successful leaders. Such trait does not possess the responsibility
towards identifying whether a individual would be successful leader or not. But such are
regarded as important preconditions that endow individual having leadership potential. It can be
evaluated from the contingency and trait theory that these are considered as the crucial way
through which management and leadership roles could be attained in an effective way.
Therefore, it is the best way through which organization could adopt effective practices so that
success could be attained. The core traits that have been determined are enumerated in the
manner as under (Renz, 2016):
Achievement drive: This reflects characteristics such as higher level if efforts, higher level of
ambition as well as energy and initiatives.
Leadership motivation: Such is comprised of intensive desire towards leading the others in order
to attain the shared targets.
Honesty and integrity: This trait of leadership includes trustworthy, reliable as well as open.
Self confidence: Such involves the belief in one’s self, ideas as well as ability (Tomey, 2009).
Cognitive ability: It is reflects the ability of exercising sound judgment, stronger analytical
abilities as well as conceptually skilled.
Business knowledge: Knowledge of the industry as well as other technical matters are regarded
as important trait related with leadership (Bush, 2007).
Emotional maturity: This involves traits like well adjusted and does not suffer from severe
psychological disorders.
Others: This includes charisma, creativity as well as flexibility.
There is presence of several strengths that are associated with trait theory. This is referred
to as naturally pleasing theory. It is considered valid as greater amount of investigation has
validated the foundation and based upon the theory. It is considered as yardstick against which
assessment of the leadership trait can be carried out. It offers detail knowledge as well as
understanding of the element of leader within the procedure of leadership (Nahavandi, 2016).
The focus of the trait theory is towards emphasizing on determination of the varied personality
traits as well as characteristics that are associated with successful leadership around the greater
number if situations. The trait theory is considered as the first modern theory related with the

leadership that has become popular in the second half of the 20th century. It has been stated by
the theory that there is presence of some innate traits that are common to leaders. Through the
determined traits might vary. The most common traits include intelligence, self confidence,
determination, integrity as well as sociability (Bush, 2008). The leadership lay emphasis on the
differences among the leaders and followers with the assumption that individual with the
leadership position will represent more traits of leadership in comparison with the one who at
subordinate position.
However it has been examined that there are certain demerit of trait theory. This presents
that there is boundness to be certain subjective judgment in making determination of who is
considered as good or successful leaders. It has been determined that the list of possible traits
that are required to be longer. There are greater than 100 varied traits in relation with the
successful leader in several leadership positions which are being determined. It has been assessed
that there is disagreement regarding the traits of successful leader (Chen and Lee, 2008). The
model attempt at relating physical trait that is height as well as weight to effective leadership.
Most of such factors relate with the situational factors. For instance weight and height can be
considered effective trait for performance of the task in case of military leadership position. But
within the business organization such are not considered as the requirement of effective leader.
Fiedler contingency model was being developed in the mid of 1960s by the scientist who
have carried out study on the personality as well as characteristics of the leader. This is
concerned with the effectiveness of the leader in the firm. It has been gained that under
contingency theory stress is regarded as the key determinant in relation with effective leadership.
Further the differences are being made among the stress associated to leader’s superior and stress
associated to subordinates or situation on own (Goetsch and Davis, 2014). It has been concluded
by Fiedler that experience is impairing performance within the lower stress condition but this has
greater contribution to the performance in case of high stress situations. The model is dynamic
wherein the personal characteristics as well as motivation of leader are considered to interact
with the present situation that is faced by the group. The weakness of such leadership style is that
ignores other factors that is affecting the effectiveness of leaders to a significant level (Bush and
Heystek, 2006).
The difference among both the theories is represented in manner as such. Situational
theory presumes that varied leadership style would be better in several conditions. Such reflects

that leaders are required to be flexible towards making adoption of the leadership to the changing
conditions (Lunenburg, 2011).
According to the view of Bolden and Gosling (2006), In contrast to this trait theory
presents that certain individual are born with the traits that is making them natural leaders.
However such traits varies from individual to individual and there is no one particular that on
own can become successful leader. It has been examined that different leadership styles have
both strengths and weaknesses. In practice good managers would vary their style in relation to
varied conditions wherein they find them (Bolden and Gosling, 2006). Therefore it has gained
that effective leader have flexibility and recognize that not one style of leadership can be
effective all the time. But it is important to make application of the leadership in accordance with
the condition that is prevailing within the business environment. Such has also been proved to a
greater extent in past (Kouzes and Posner, 2006). It is the best way through which trait theory is
being considered as the best way through which manager need to be become as successful leader
and thus undertake effective leadership styles so that strengths and weaknesses could be
identified.
Effectiveness of leadership selection and training program
It is essential for business to adopt effective leadership style so that business performance
could be achieved. Further, organizing training program helps in influencing leaders towards
attaining success. Hilton organizes training program in regard to motivate its employees so that
they could improve their skills and abilities could be enhanced (DePree, 2011). Effectiveness of
leadership selection is considered as crucial task for business and thus improves their
performance so that organizational goals could be attained. Selection of training program results
helps in people management so that recent and future change could be attained. Hilton aims to
improve its leadership program so that individual could be trained in an effective way which
results in improving desired targets. Through organizing effective training event it results in
bringing recent and future change in people management and leadership. Training is one of the
best method that helps managers to become leaders and thus results in improving their skills and
abilities in order to attain desired results (Fullan, 2005).
Furthermore, managers of Hilton selects effective leadership style such as democratic so
that each and every individual could be involved in decision making process. However,
employees could be encouraged which results in enhancing their skills and abilities so that

performance of individual could be attained. Managing people within firm results in improving
their leadership actions and thus set targets could be attained (Brown and Treviño, 2006).
Managers need to identify the weaknesses of their workers and then provide them appropriate
training program so that it could result in enhancing their skills and improve their talent in terms
of delivering customers services. Selecting effective leadership style and training program results
in improving efficient changes within future and recent people management so that best
leadership action could be attained (Spillane, 2012).
Furthermore, main significance of selection of training program results in encouraging
workforce so that recent and future changes could be attained in terms of improving people
management. Thus, it is one of the effective style that encourages workers to perform their best
and thus improvise their skills and talents which results in enhancing their skills and capabilities
towards attaining success (Nahavandi, 2016). Management of Hilton aims to undertake effective
leadership and training program so that skills and capabilities of workers could be encouraged up
to a great extent. Thus, it bring implications upon recent and future change in the field of people
management and leadership which brings required changes within firm and improvise their talent
so that best results could be attained. It can be assessed that leadership selection and training
program is considered as effective and thus it is the best way through which personnel could
raise their encouragement level so that appropriate results could be undertake in an effective
way. It is the nest way through which effective leaders are required to be enhanced and thus best
results could be attained.
People management is considered as effective approach which results in improving
individual skills so that they could be managed in an effective way. Through carrying out
effective people management, organization task could be accomplished effectively and
efficiently. Also, bringing recent and future changes in the field of people management and
leadership aims to enhance their skills and capabilities so that performance of firm could be
raised (Luthans, Norman and Hughes, 2006). However, managers of Hilton focus upon
improving their people management skills so that they could direct workers towards
accomplishing desired task. Further, identifying the training needs of workers results in
improving their skills and abilities so that they could satisfy their needs and attain organizational
targets. Also, bringing change in recent and future implications helps in improvising their talent
and thus managing effective leadership. In current era of globalization, businesses are focused

upon improving their leadership style and thus enhancing essential attribute so that senior
managers within firm could be trained in terms of improving their skills and becoming leaders. It
helps managers to work hard towards business goals and thus attain effective leadership program
(Jackson and Parry, 2011). Also, focusing upon organizing training event results in focusing
upon developing effective leadership style and talent management so that senior manager within
firm could become effective leaders.
Furthermore, business also focuses upon selecting effective leaders that would result in
bringing success for firm. However, it is essential for firm to support senior managers to become
effective leaders and thus improve their leadership program so that managers can improve their
skills to attain business success (Srivastava, Bartol and Locke, 2006). Through selecting
effective leadership and providing them training results in enhancing their skills and capabilities
which helps in performing best actions. Also, bringing recent and future changes in people
management and leadership aims to improve their capabilities so that best performance within
firm could be achieved.
Moreover, organizing effective training session results in improving leaders skills so that
they are capable of performing the assigned task of managing people and thus improving their
talent in terms of raising business standards. Through rendering training it could be helpful for
managers to become leaders and thus improve their skill and talent so that workforce could be
improved (Schein, 2010). Hilton aim to provide effective leadership selection and training
program so that recent and future change within people management could be attained towards
accomplishing business targets. Through identifying their loopholes and weaknesses and then
provide them appropriate training session results in encouraging workers to enhance their talent
and capabilities towards achieving set targets.
Can managers be trained as leaders
As per the view of Bolden and Gosling, (2006), It can be assessed that most of the leaders
are good managers but managers may not be good leaders. However, some efficiency managers
fail to bridge gap between becoming leaders. Managers possess an effective personality trough
gaining training program it helps them to become efficient leaders. Manager need to possess
effective skills and traits in relation to improve their efficiency and move towards desired task
(Bolden and Gosling, 2006). Hilton management organizes effective training program which is
useful for managers to become leaders and direct the objectives towards success. It can be

reflected that managers working within firm could be treated as leaders through developing their
own skills and abilities and thus work in an effective way so that desired results could be
attained. Thus, it is significant for managers to adopt effective strategies and thus managers need
to be effectively trained so that they could become effective leaders. Following are the different
ways through which managers could be trained in regard to become efficient leaders such as-
Looks to bring value- Being a good manager, they aim to deliver perfection so that customer
could be satisfied. Also, providing high quality services results in enhancing the brand value of
Hilton so that managers could become leaders. Managers need to be focused upon their training
in relation to improve their skills and thus synergize their talent so that managers could be
trained as leaders (Kouzes and Posner, 2006).
Be flexible- It is essential for managers to be flexible so that they can perform each and every
task. Hilton managers need to be trained properly so that they can become leaders and
accomplish the task efficiently. At the time when managers aims to move towards leadership
then need to attend different training sessions so that knowledge could be enhanced. Also,
accomplishing work with more perfection results in focusing upon training session so that
success could be attained. Flexibility need to be always accompanied with strong communication
and thus overcome inefficiency so that clear goals could be attained (Schein, 2010). Management
of Hilton organizes training session so that they could improve their skills and move towards
leadership action in regard to perform the operations.
Improving culture upon firm- Further, providing training to managers helps them to improve
their culture and implement the same within firm results in becoming them efficient leaders.
Also, enhancing the qualities of managers through providing them effective training leads them
to become leaders (Selznick, 2011).
Promising to achieve the goals- Training could help managers to perform their assigned task in
an effective way and thus improves their performance so that they could become effective
leaders. Hilton managers need to be trained efficiently so that they could identify their skills and
thus promise the same with the organization to achieve set targets (Bass and Riggio, 2006). They
also aim to accept the challenges and promise to the management that desired goals could be
attained in an effective and efficiency way.
Clearly distinguishing between crucial and urgent tasks- Through attending programs it helps in
clearly distinguishing between crucial and urgent tasks so that leaders could be formed. Hence,

providing opportunity in terms of enhancing their skills and thus results in accomplishing the
crucial and urgent task so that success could be attained within Hilton Hotel (Goleman, Boyatzis
and McKee, 2013).
Position team members for success- Managers need to identify their task and thus provide
direction to their team members so that success could be attained. Also, it is significant for them
to enhance their knowledge and thus position their skills and capabilities in terms of enhancing
the team goals and thus improve performance in market (Avolio and Gardner, 2005). However,
attending training session results in encouraging team members to position them towards
attaining success. Through such way it results managers to become leaders and therefore,
attaining goals in an effective way.
Use delegation to empower people- Manager aims to focus upon enhancing their skills and
capabilities through attending training programs and thus empower people so that they could
improve their performance in market. It is the best way through which managers could become
leaders and attend training programs so that workforce within Hilton could be empower (Aaker
and Joachimsthaler, 2012).
Work on your own development- Here, training programs could be more beneficial for managers
to become leaders through developing work on your own development so that set targets could
be attained of becoming leader. For instance, manager of Hilton works upon their own
development in relation to achieve desired results (Marzano, Waters and McNulty, 2005). Thus,
improving their performance results upon enhancing their own development so that it could be
attained through participating in training sessions.
Work on development of team members- Manager need to effectively work upon the
development of team members in order to make them efficient. Thus, it could be done through
organizing training session, however such quality is being obtained by leaders and thus helps
managers of Hilton to become leaders so that success could be attained (Couzin and et. al.,
2005).
It can be concluded from the study that in today’s fast changing world businesses are
focusing upon improving their leadership values and beliefs so that success could be attained. It
is essential for leaders to possess effective skills and attributes so that senior managers could
become effective leaders and thus invest heavily in leadership programs to enhance business
performance. Each and every organization focuses upon organizing training programs so that

their senior managers could be trained enough in order to become leaders and improve their
skills and capabilities. Also, it has been evaluated that managers could be trained to become
leaders as they possess effective skills and vision to attain organizational success. Further,
participating in different training sessions helps managers to improve their skills and talents and
thus work efficiently as leaders. It also helps in encouraging workforce to get motivated and thus
improve their abilities in terms of achieving organizational targets. Also, implementing trait and
contingency theory results in improving leader’s skills and attributes so that hotel could raise its
performance in market. Thus, through providing proper training to managers it assists them to
enhance their skills and thus help them to become leaders. Therefore, it is crucial task for them
so that organizational success could be achieved. Through comparing trait and contingency
leadership theory it results in identifying the main leadership styles so that workforce could be
encouraged to enhance their skills and talents. It results in identifying the improvements required
in training managers in regard to help them to become leaders. Organizing effective training
sessions results in improving leaders skills and thus enhances their capabilities so that best
performance could be attained.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aaker, D. A. and Joachimsthaler, E., 2012. Brand leadership. Simon and Schuster.
Avolio, B. J. and Gardner, W. L., 2005. Authentic leadership development: Getting to the root of
positive forms of leadership. The leadership quarterly. 16(3). pp.315-338.
Bass, B. M. and Riggio, R. E., 2006. Transformational leadership. Psychology Press.
Bolden, R. and Gosling, J., 2006. Leadership competencies: time to change the tune?.
Leadership. 2(2). pp.147-163.
Briggs, A.R., Morrison, M. and Coleman, M., 2012. Research methods in educational leadership
and management. Sage Publications.
Brown, M.E. and Treviño, L.K., 2006. Ethical leadership: A review and future directions. The
leadership quarterly. 17(6). pp.595-616.
Bush, T. and Heystek, J., 2006. School Leadership and Management in South Africa: principals'
perceptions. International Studies in Educational Administration (Commonwealth
Council for Educational Administration & Management (CCEAM)). 34(3).
Bush, T., 2007. Educational leadership and management: theory, policy, and practice. South
African journal of education. 27(3). pp.391-406.
Bush, T., 2008. Leadership and management development in education. Sage.
Chen, C. C. and Lee, Y. T., 2008. Leadership and management in China: Philosophies, theories,
and practices.
Couzin, I. D. and et. al., 2005. Effective leadership and decision-making in animal groups on the
move. Nature. 433(7025). pp.513-516.
DePree, M., 2011. Leadership is an art. Crown Business.
Fullan, M., 2005. Leadership & sustainability: System thinkers in action. Corwin Press.
Goetsch, D. L. and Davis, S. B., 2014. Quality management for organizational excellence. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: pearson.
Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R. and McKee, A., 2013. Primal leadership: Unleashing the power of
emotional intelligence. Harvard Business Press.
Jackson, B. and Parry, K., 2011. A very short fairly interesting and reasonably cheap book about
studying leadership. Sage.
Kouzes, J. M. and Posner, B. Z., 2006. The leadership challenge (Vol. 3). John Wiley & Sons.
Lunenburg, F.C., 2011. Leadership versus management: a key distinction–at least in theory.
International Journal of Management, Business, and Administration. 14(1). pp.1-4.
Luthans, F., Norman, S. and Hughes, L., 2006. Authentic leadership.Inspiring leaders, pp.84-
104.
Marzano, R. J., Waters, T. and McNulty, B. A., 2005. School leadership that works: From
research to results. ASCD.

Nahavandi, A., 2016. The Art and Science of Leadership -Global Edition. Pearson.
Nahavandi, A., 2016. The Art and Science of Leadership -Global Edition. Pearson.
Renz, D.O., 2016. The Jossey-Bass handbook of nonprofit leadership and management. John
Wiley & Sons.
Schein, E. H., 2010. Organizational culture and leadership (Vol. 2). John Wiley & Sons.
Selznick, P., 2011. Leadership in administration: A sociological interpretation. Quid Pro Books.
Spillane, J.P., 2012. Distributed leadership (Vol. 4). John Wiley & Sons.
Srivastava, A., Bartol, K.M. and Locke, E.A., 2006. Empowering leadership in management
teams: Effects on knowledge sharing, efficacy, and performance. Academy of
management journal. 49(6). pp.1239-1251.
Tomey, A.M., 2009. Nursing management and leadership. Elsevier, Missouri.