Executive leadership is described as the ability to influence and guide individuals inside a company. It is also included in executive leadership processes that ensure organizational goals are met. Executive leadership is classified into three types: authentic leadership, servant leadership, and paternalistic leadership. Motivational qualities, accountability, experience, and the ability to handle challenges are all essential for executive leadership. It is their duty and responsibility as leaders to ensure that the anticipated productivity is realized through employee participation and the application of analytical skills (Kouzes, 2017). For this to be made possible, the executive leaders will need processes like individual and company performance measurement and the risk analysis. Traits such as the ability to listen, empathy and collaboration willingness are valuable for the success to be attained. Tough and soft (interpersonal) skills are essential in inspiring the workers and leveraging their attributes in improving business processes. Executive leadership plays a role in developing the corporate structure and also emphasizing on elements such as collaboration, hierarchy, innovation, community involvement, competition and social management (Lakshman, 2008). Everybody within the organization should participate to achieve the desired results. An executive leader can succeed even in the presence of a weak or poor business plan. However executive leaders also face some challenges while delivering such as
• Developing the managerial effectiveness: relevant skills like time management, strategic thinking, prioritization, job speed and decision making is a challenge
• Inspiring others: it’s also a challenge to motivate and inspire others to ensure they attain satisfaction with their employment and to make them work smarter.
• Developing employees: it’s challenging to coach and mentor others
• Leading a team: team development, team building, and team management are not easy to attain because it’s not easy to instill pride.
• Guiding change: this includes circumstances such as mitigating consequences, dealing with employee reaction towards change and overcoming resistance.
• Managing internal politics and stakeholders: the challenge includes gaining support from the top management team and other individuals. (Finkelstein, & Cannella2009).
However, these challenges can be addressed through setting goals, delegating tasks, prioritizing important task and gaining role clarity.
The following case study shows how executive leadership was effectively used on solving problems within an organization. The first case study involves a food industry. There was a problem with labeling of the glass jar package that affected 20% of their initial shipment. It was the first shipment to the client who is also new in their company. The new product was to be supplied to over 200 stores and if successful it would give the company an opportunity to distribute to over 2500 stores. Through executive leadership, they came up with a problem solving approach where multiple steps were involved, and this resulted to positive result .they involved the label supplier, trucking company, manufacturer and the client. Through the proactive measures, they showed the client they are capable of solving the problem and at the same time they earn trust through responding efficiently and promptly. The experience helped in avoiding unforeseen problems thus growing the business. They used the following strategy in facing the problem, a solid foundation strategy by gathering the required resources, right team, past experience and budget.; transparent communication where everyone’s contribution and views were expressed; breakdown silos that enables boundary-less organization whose focus is to promote a healthy and better organization; open –minded by working together with other people to achieve the desired results.
The second case study involves a lawn equipment manufacturer. The inherent hazards which are associated with the company’s use of machinery made it accustomed to lawsuits. Due to this, it was faced with serious financial troubles. The new CEO who was appointed set up some strategies that reduced the cost of the lawsuits by implementing a mediation policy and at the same time invoking an important leadership trait known as empathy. Significantly, this company faced 50 lawsuits yearly. Through executive leadership, mediation was used in addressing the product liability complaints. This approach involved company representatives who met the injured people together with their families. This strategy helped in knowing what led to that accident and express the company sympathy while attending to the needs of the family. The results were amazing as the company resolved close to 95% of the cases with significantly saving. This case study demonstrates that an executive leader does what it takes in overcoming the organizational problems.
The third case study involves a coffee company which is known for treating its partners well. It offers retirement plans, insurance benefit, and stock options. Tragedy struck when the company lost three of its employees through robbery. Outstanding leadership was demonstrated by the corporation chief executive officers who spend a week together with the affected families offering moral and financial support. Through compassion, dedication and approachability of his partners need the company was viewed positively by the public while making the company more favorable.
In summary, outstanding executive leaders turns a worse situation into positive endings by using leadership traits such as communication, understanding, decisiveness, empathy, flexibility, clear vision, negotiation, protection, and compassion. In addition using strategies like human asset approach, strategy approach, expertise approach, box approach (involves creation of effective communication, controlling finances, and predictable experiences and behavior for the employees and customer) and change approach that focuses in improving the organization situation by coming up with control systems, planning cycles written reports, and policies that will motivate employees while enjoying the company’s benefits.
Annotated bibliography
Finkelstein, S., Hambrick, D. C., & Cannella, A. A. (2009). Strategic leadership: Theory and research on executives, top management teams, and boards. New York
Executive leaders make the small and big decision. The organization frame work are shaped and used in mobilizing and inspiring the employees .their characteristics of how and what they do affects the organization outcome. They provide substantive decision making that positively affects the organization
Kouzes, J. M. (2017). Leadership Challenge : How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations. Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, John.
Kouzes demonstrates that the ways in which the organization solves their problems reflected the changes in the work place, community and the market place. He stated that the leaders mindset help in solving vital problems within the organization.
Lakshman, C. (2008). Knowledge leadership: Tools for executive leaders. Thousand Oaks: Response Books.
The findings in this journal identify the practical aspects that provide tools used by executive leaders. The author shows the importance of communication and how to manage the information continuously for the organization benefit.
