Applied Leadership: A Profile Analysis of Kobe Bryant & Ferguson

This report provides a leadership profile analysis comparing and contrasting the leadership styles of Kobe Bryant and Sir Alex Ferguson. It explores their approaches to leadership, the rationale behind their selection as exemplary leaders, and how their experiences relate to personal leadership experiences. The report contrasts their differing leadership styles, highlighting Ferguson's focus on high ethical standards and Bryant's emphasis on motivating teammates through performance. It also compares their similarities, such as their focus on results, positive attitudes, and belief in hard work. The analysis identifies Ferguson as embodying the trait theory of leadership and Bryant as a transformational leader. The report further examines the evolution of their leadership approaches, sources of power, the impact of empowerment, trust, and culture on their work, and the tactics they employ to achieve productive outcomes. Finally, it touches upon ethical leadership, decision-making responsibilities, and the role of leadership in organizational success. Desklib provides similar solved assignments and study resources for students.

LEADERSHIP

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................4
Describe the two leaders you selected and their approach to leadership.....................................4
Explain your rationale for your selection of leaders. How do they relate to your own leadership
experience....................................................................................................................................4
Contrast the two leaders and their leadership styles and explain how they differ.......................4
Compare the two leaders and their leadership styles and explain how they are similar..............5
What type of leadership style and approach do these leaders represent......................................5
Has their approach to leadership evolved or changed over time.................................................6
What is the source of their power................................................................................................6
How might empowerment, trust, and culture impact their respective work/societal context......6
What tactics do they use to achieve productive and harmonious outcomes................................6
Is there any evidence or ethical leadership or judicious decision-making with social outcome. 7
Consider the differing decision-making responsibilities.............................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
This report helps in understanding about importance of effective leadership in any
organization and how does it help in organization in achieving its goals and objectives. It
includes information about different leadership styles which are used by leaders to help
employees in achieving organization goals and objectives. This report focuses upon personality
of two different leaders and understanding about different leadership styles used by them.
Leadership is explained as the process of influencing people to put their best efforts towards
goals and objectives. It is also explained as the ability of an individual to influence employees of
organization.
MAIN BODY
Describe the two leaders you selected and their approach to leadership
This part of report focuses on two different leaders which are used in this project and
these leaders are Kobe Bryant and Alex Ferguson. These icons are considered as one of the
leaders of sport who stayed on top for many years. Their performance and execution of planning
is key to their success. Alex Ferguson is former football manager who is known for managing
Manchester united for 27 years and won more trophies in than any other manager in history of
football. Kobe Bryant was American professional basketball player which stayed on top for 20
years by his performance and took Los Angeles Lakers to new height by its effective leadership
qualities. Kobe leadership style is considered as epitomized agile which is important for boosting
performance of team and its members. Alex Ferguson leadership style is to be tough which
focuses on setting high ethical standards and commitment from its players.
Explain your rationale for your selection of leaders. How do they relate to your own leadership
experience
Rationale behind selection for these leaders is that these people have set high standards of
performance and raised the expectations of people in their own field. Kobe have raised the
performance standards of players in NBA and Sir Alex Ferguson have helped in understanding
the importance of ethics and commitment in team game. These leaders have achieved excellence
in their respective sports. In my leadership experience these leaders have helped me in
understanding that it is important to set example in front of your followers if I want them to

follow my footsteps. Experience of these leaders would help me in setting standards of
performance which can help me in influencing people.
Contrast the two leaders and their leadership styles and explain how they differ
These two leaders have their own leadership style. They both focused on boosting
performance of team and achieving the goals but they both have different ideas to achieve their
goals. Sir Alex Ferguson always focused on maintaining high performance standards and also
focused on having high ethics which can help individual in achieving success. One of the famous
example of Sir Alex Ferguson leadership is Cristiano Ronaldo as Sir Alex signed him at very
young age and invested him in fair amount of time and made him world class player.
Kobe Bryant focused on lifting weight of his team upon his shoulders and ensure that his
teammates should be highly motivated and dedicated towards goal of winning the trophy. Kobe
always focused on fulfilling its responsibilities which have helped him in influencing his team
members.
These two leaders differ in such a way that Sir Alex focused on working by setting
standards of work and focused on following ethics and moral values. Kobe Bryant always
focused on uplifting his team by giving quality performance and he believed that his
performance can help him to influence its team members.
Compare the two leaders and their leadership styles and explain how they are similar
Kobe Bryant and Sir Alex both focused on getting results by influencing others and
ensuring quality performance every time. Both these leaders focused on having positive attitude
and mindset towards every thing. It helped them in effectively collaborating with team members
and improving overall performance of team. Both these leaders believed in hard work as they
think that hard work outweighs talent every time and it is only possible by right mindset and
direction.
The trait theory fits in Alex Ferguson as he is self-confident and always believed in his
actions for achieving goals and objectives. Sir Alex always asked his players to believe in his
tactics and that is why Manchester United have won so many trophies. In case of Kobe Bryant,
transnational leadership suits him as he always focused on pushing his team members and also
focused upon influencing others by setting high standards of performance.

What type of leadership style and approach do these leaders represent
Sir Alex represent trait theory of leadership which focuses on desire for winning and
achieving goals and objectives by doing hard work. Such leaders are considered confident and
always believes in its own actions. Leaders with trait theory always wants its followers to believe
in them. Sir Alex has also honesty and integrity which made him favorite of team members.
Kobe Bryant is considered as transformational leader as it helped in boosting the performance of
its team members by setting high standards of performance. It also helped him in influencing his
team members. Kobe was determined and focused towards his goals which made him an
effective leader.
Has their approach to leadership evolved or changed over time
Approaches of both Sir Alex and Kobe have changed over time as these days leaders are
more focused towards analyzing the scenario and then implementing necessary practices. These
days leaders are focusing on influencing its team members by motivating them and helping them
in understanding the need of positive attitude for achieving the goals. Approaches of both leaders
had one thing in common that both are determined towards success and always focused on doing
hard work instead of just leaving it on fate. Change in leadership styles have also changed the
way of managing their followers as leaders focuses upon growth and development of its
followers.
What is the source of their power
Sir Alex and Kobe Bryant both are dedicated towards its goals and always focused on
doing hard work to achieve their goals. Strong will to achieve goals is the source of their power.
Their will to achieve goals and maintaining positive attitude in tough times is the key to success
for leaders. These leaders source of power is also trusting their actions and instincts as it helps
them in understanding about situation and taking appropriate steps to achieve desired goals.
Both these leaders always trusted their instinct and based on their actions influenced their
followers to work hard towards desired goals and objectives.
How might empowerment, trust, and culture impact their respective work/societal context
Both these leaders always focused on achieving goals which are desired of them and
focusing on taking their respective teams to new heights. It is very important to have trust among
leaders and its followers as it help in building a effective relationship among them. Trust is

considered as key in building relationship and also helps followers in trusting on action of their
leaders.
What tactics do they use to achieve productive and harmonious outcomes
Sir Alex and Kobe Bryant focused on motivating their followers by helping them in
understanding the process and how it can help them in their own growth and development. Sir
Alex always focused on motivating its team members and helping them in understanding the
importance of hard work in achieving goals. In case of Kobe Bryant, he always focused on
setting the higher standards of performance which would help in motivating its followers.
Is there any evidence or ethical leadership or judicious decision-making with social outcome
Leaders help organization in achieving their goals and objectives by making effective
decision. Leaders always focuses on making decision which should follow ethics and it also help
organization in boosting performance of its employees. Leaders plays crucial role in making
decision and leaders can also influence the impact of decision upon organization in terms of
productivity and profitability.
Consider the differing decision-making responsibilities
The differences among leaders and management are mentioned below:
Leaders are the one who sets the mission and vision, whereas managers follow it.
Leaders focuses on generating innovative ideas managers focuses on implementing such ideas.
Leaders influence people and managers focuses on growth of people.
Leaders focuses on future and managers work in the present.
CONCLUSION
This report concludes about different leadership style and focuses on understanding about
leadership styles of Sir Alex Ferguson and Kobe Bryant. This report also concludes about effect
of leadership upon people and how it can influence people towards success.

REFERENCES
BOOKS AND JOURNALS
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Entrepreneurship-Professionalism-Leadership Aspirations. In Entrepreneurship–
Professionalism–Leadership (pp. 79-97). Springer, Singapore.
Peng, J., and et. al., 2021. Transformational leadership and employees’ reactions to
organizational change: Evidence from a meta-analysis. The Journal of Applied
Behavioral Science. 57(3). pp.369-397.
Poirier, L. A. C., Morin, A. J. and Boudrias, J. S., 2017. On the merits of coherent leadership
empowerment behaviors: A mixture regression approach. Journal of Vocational
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Sebastian, J., and et. al., 2019. Principal leadership and school performance: An examination of
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