Analyzing the Leadership Approach of Steve Rowe at Marks & Spencer

This report examines the leadership of Steve Rowe at Marks & Spencer, focusing on his democratic leadership style and its impact on the company. It details Rowe's approach to problem-solving, critical thinking, and effective communication within the organization. The report highlights his strategies for employee motivation, including both monetary and non-monetary incentives, and how he fosters a culture of confidence and cooperation. It also analyzes his emphasis on customer listening and adapting to consumer needs, as well as his implementation of changes to improve customer experience and satisfaction. Furthermore, the report explores the correlation between leadership competencies and style, emphasizing the importance of visioning, interpersonal skills, and financial management in achieving organizational goals. The analysis includes an overview of the consultative leadership style and its advantages, as well as a contrast with the autocratic approach. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of empowerment and flexibility in leadership for long-term organizational success.

Leadership

Leadership refers to that action consisting of some leader in group and individual of
organization so that person can show capabilities and ability to perform that job. Leadership may
involve of many activity such as by establishing clear vision, providing information and
knowledge so that they can reach to nearly vision (AlMazrouei, and Zacca, 2015). In addition to
this, Steve Rowe is one of finest and successful leader because this person has connect all
individual from one another at Mark and Spencer. Successful leader frame can be achieved
through proper co-ordination and resolving all conflicts between board of company and
stakeholders. Moreover, by providing clear vision, mission and values of organization so that
every employee try to achieve ultimate goals and target.
I have chosen Steve Rowe as leader and role model because that individual person has
started work through proper communication about policies and procedure and plan of working
style to their sub ordinates so that they can work efficiently. It also help in motivating of
employees by proving concern's on working employees and also provide some incentive through
involving of monetary which consider of cash, bonuses, stock option and profit sharing and non-
monetary includes of promotion, transfer, recognition and training so that they get motivated and
work efficiently and effectively for organization so that they can achieved their desired goals. In
every business and organization confidence plays crucial role because through this, Mark and
Spencer has achieved by expressing work efforts within organization by their sub-ordinates.
Steve Rowe, helps their employees by explaining their role and providing proper guideline
clearly so that no conflicts can take place in regards to achieving their end results. This person
help in building up morale and also try to improve co-operation between management and
employees towards their work and also help in acquiring of trust and confidence (Avolio, and
Mhatre, 2012). Leader main role is to boost employee morale through achieving group action so
that they can perform well and full ability and capabilities are shown to achieve target.
Main competencies are problem solving, critical thinking, effective communication,
vision and mindfulness with help of these Steve Rowe has achieve goals. Problem solving within
organization is very difficult task therefore, at Mark and Spencer Steve Rowe ask many
questions to himself on time to time basis such as what things I am doing right now are more
crucial than what I can do?, In what things I am spending daily time? and if any problem arises it
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can be solve from relevant solution and not? These all things are required in solving out problem
through this, consumer are satisfied and business has reached out to target. For solving out
problems, issues and conflicts in organization many leaders left on there sub ordinates whereas
Steve Rowe, has always consider himself in these situation. Within organization there need to be
increase in communication and interaction between employees because through this, it will help
in reducing of conflicts. As a leader it is very difficult to interact and ask question to their
employees for knowing them better because gap between leader and employee is reduce. With
help of effective communication organization employees will be able to share there ideas,
innovative plans and some changes which are required to their sub ordinates this will results in
building up trust and communication between organization and also enhances (Barrick, and
et.al., 2013). Moreover, by providing explanation through this problem, effective communication
is best and it use by leaders and management for solving there problem which are arising at
lower, middle and at higher level because from this, problem can solve easily.
Steve Rowe has expanded business by analyzing critical thinking by going shallow with
some issues and ideas in order to make some differences. Mindfulness is also another type of
competencies which includes ability to ignoring negative noise which are around person and try
to convert it into positive manner this optimistic energy has enhance in working style of Steve
Rowe. This optimistic energy has help Mark and Spencer, in developing of ideas, innovation and
some creativity by excelling in e commerce, from which business has expanded.
Mark and Spencer has revealed there frustration in relation to clothes because there was
inconsistencies in price and value of product. Therefore, Steve Rowe, has disclosed plan by
cutting down number of promotion regarding that item which are offer to customer and focusing
on core items that customer are containing in wardrobe and also concentrate on other product
such as wearable and contemporary style rather than catwalk lines. This has help organization in
boosting up customer experience because Steve Rowe, has planned to hire more consumer and
worker by developing service level such as investing in better changing rooms, cleanness in cafe
and toilets through this, Steve Rowe, has helped Mark and Spencer in increasing of customer
satisfaction.
Leadership style which Steve Rowe has used is democratic style, in this style it involves
empowerment because it provide responsibilities to individual and team for making decision
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within framework because that individual is only responsible in making decision that are chooses
at time of planning (Daicoff, 2012). With this style Steve Rowe feel comfortable and has helped
in making decision other too because decision are based on hard evidence therefore, that
individual has emphasis on long term brand revival rather than for short-term sale. At Marker
and Spencer, customer listening is very big problem and Rowe, has focuses on that only because
customer are frustrated about clothing and choice which organization was providing therefore,
Rowe, has developed clothes like contemporary style pants and wearable items rather than
catwalk lines only. Containing of huge product range according to demand and needs of
customer is main aim of Steve Rowe therefore, he has implemented policy and rules very fast so
that firm has started inuring profits for company. He has obtained some motivational tools for
motivating employees within and outside of organization through, Maslow need hierarchy theory
he has understood all needs and demand of working employees because if employees are
satisfied than enhance in productivity of product is there. Through involving of Maslow need
hierarchy theory he can able to understand all needs of employees and try to fulfill there all
needs so that they are free from mind and they does not involve of any tension at workplace.
Consultative leadership style involve consulting other individual before forming of any
decision in organization (Frick, and et.al., 2014). Steve Rowe, has seek other people and sub-
ordinates which has helped in making decision when required within organization therefore, they
has consist of listening skills, ability and capabilities to perform through right channels because
consulting from other people has involve of leakage of information and organization can not
implement policies and procedure which are formed. Steve Rowe, consult those people who has
contain experience in relation to that plan and policies which has to be implemented within
organization because they has maintained secrecy about all those information and planning
which has to be implemented for sake of organizational so that firm has achieve goals easily and
that information and planning has to protect well. Listening to problem of customer has
developed Mark and Spencer, in reaching out to ultimate goals because they has understood
trend and culture of consumer buying process which has helped organization to sustain for longer
time.
Autocratic leadership style is not use by Steve Rowe, because in this style they has to
provide information and instruction to other people and they does not ask opinion about that
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problem and situation which has raised in Mark and Spencer. Here, only one person has involved
in decision making process and that individual person can not consult from experience person
who are consisting in organization because in this style they thought that information which are
to be used that can not maintain secrecy. At organization may times other people also started up
this style they found that it is difficult and changes in organization can not be done easily
therefore, Steve Rowe, does not consist of this style because he want fast changes within
organization so that company can sustain for longer run and can fulfilled customer need and
demand. Within organization every individual is found of holding power and they do not able to
understand empowerment which has created negative impact on organization and organizational
work therefore, to increase in empowerment for firm he has obtained democratic leadership style
for entity and has implement correctly through this firm is rival for long duration (Fullan, 2011).
There are some correlation between competencies and leadership style at every
organization because defining of leadership activities has includes of communication process
that are verbal, oral and written through this, firm can make plan effectively and organizational
employees can achieved its goals by performing as team within organization. Leadership and
core competencies are interlinked because they are all effect working on individual and
organizational too while, determining some issues well in advance so that proper planning can be
done and management can reach out targets easily (Hakanen, and van Dierendonck, 2013). At
Mark and Spencer, leadership style involve visioning process through this there is result in
competencies because by solving problem firm can sustain for longer run and by increasing
profits for company. Creation in leaders team will enhance in developing of competencies which
results in interpersonal skills development from this firm has all skilled labor and there
productivity of performing jobs is double and this will results in overall development of
company. Leadership style will help in taking quick and accurate decision from this, Steve
Rowe, has manage customer relationship and will increase in customer demand and if within
organization decision are taken on time and accurately than firm will better use of those
opportunities which are arising in external environment. Leadership style sets win and win
situation therefore, employees will target their goals accordingly by this, analysis of
competencies which arising and manageable by considering of self direction (Iqbal, 2013). He
think that self direction is best and will result in flexibility for employees only because from this
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firm is able to guide them properly and they can analysis of there direction properly for
themselves. Project management of organization has to be clear and concise because this will
effect on core competencies of organization therefore, it also need to consist of flexibility rather
than rigid. By implementing of employee involvement strategies will help enhance in leadership
style and also maintain relation with professionalism because competencies will increase in
result development of organization and may also increase in reputation of organization. Core
competency main factor is financial because for running every organization monetary are to be
needed therefore, management of leader need to provide monetary on time to time basis through
this, it will results in maintaining relationship between leadership style and core competencies.
Steve Rowe who is the leader of M&S had made their best efforts in relation to
maintaining the effectual organizational climate. Leader of the business organization has
adopted participate style with the aim to build and maintain highly effective working
environment. Hence, within the business organization leader has attained success in maintaining
the diversity level to some extent (Kathy, and Deborah, 2007). Moreover, in the retail sector
people come from the varied background. In this regard, leader has allocated work to the
personnel on the basis of their skills and abilities. However, still leader is required to make
efforts in relation to the maintenance of diversity level. Moreover, employees are usually hesitate
to provide information to their leader regarding the skills, knowledge and working aspect. On
the other side, Steve Rowe has created the effective team culture and thereby made contribution
in the attainment of organizational goals and objectives.
For instance: In peak season, leader of M&S develops team at operational level with the
aim to deliver high quality of products and services to the customers. In this, leader assigned task
to the each individual on the basis of their skills and abilities. This in turn enables leader to
achieve the sales and profit target to the large extent. In addition to this, leader has provided
freedom to the personnel to the middle extent in relation to making decisions by their own. This
in turn enhance employee motivation and morale to the large extent. Along with this, leader has
built supportive work culture within the organization to the significant level. On the basis of this
aspect, each member of the team takes initiative in relation to helping other personnel. In this
way, leader has developed high level of satisfaction among the existing workforce and thereby
reduces the issue of employee turnover as well as absenteeism to the large extent. Further,
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leadership style followed by Steve Rowe has developed high level of social interaction among
the people. Moreover, such style encourages people to come up with the unique ideas and
suggestions which aid in the growth and profit margin of M&S. In this way, high level of
interaction has built up among the team members and other personnel.
Besides this, with the aim to raise the motivational aspect of personnel M&S has framed
supportive policies by taking into consideration feedback provided by the team members. For
instance: Leader of M&S has offered flexible employment opportunities to the personnel on the
basis of their demand. However, in the peak season leader raises such time period according to
the requirements (Gonos, 2013). Otherwise, leader of M&S have followed all the employment
policies and legislation which are introduced by UK government. Hence, by taking into
consideration all such aspects it can be stated that leader has develop highly supportive climate
within M&S. Along with this, with the aim to build or sustain competitive edge over others
leaders persuade their personnel about the manner through which they can maintain the quality
level.
Elements Low Medium High
Diversity Medium
Team work High
Self-direction Medium
Social interaction High
Friendly environment High
Supportive policies Medium
Maintenance of high
quality
High
Hence, by considering all the above aspects it has been assessed that to become a good
leader at workplace I need to develop my communication skills which is the key of success. For
this purpose, I will attend conference and seminars which in turn enhance my communication
skills. Hence, being a leader I would become able to attain success in my career or future.
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Further, for becoming a effectual leader at M&S I need to build up confidence and problem
solving skills (AlMazrouei, and Zacca, 2015). Moreover, conflicts are usual when people work
in a team. In this, for playing the effectual role being a leader I must have effectual problem
solving skills. Thus, I will make analysis of the case studies with the aim to develop my ability
in relation to the solving the problems. Along with this, I will also play management games and
take part in the role play activities. This in turn develops my ability in relation to solving the
problems to the large extent. Besides this, to attain success as a leader I will develop my time
management skills to the significant level. Hence, by developing all such leadership aspect I
would become able to attain success in near future.
From above it has been concluded that every leader must contain of some skills and
techniques which are useful for organization and also increase in development of their skills by
resolving and managing conflicts and issues within organization. At Mark and Spencer, Steve
Rowe has admitted for short term pain within organization because he has consider some
changes within firm so that firm can capable to survive for long term and rapid changes within
organization can take place so that from this organization can increase share price of firm
because there is rapid growth in business. Steve Rowe, need to consider all leadership style well
in advance because analysis need to be proper.
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