...Southwest Airlines: Leadership Matters Latrice Alston University of Phoenix COM 530: Communication for Accountants Tonya Boddie September 12, 2012 Southwest Airlines: Leadership Matters Leadership styles affect the way organizations function and interact with employees, consumers, and business partners. Leaders develop a style of communicating based many times on experience. Southwest Airlines, a leader in the airline industry has enjoyed unparalleled success due to its business plan and dynamic leadership. For Southwest Airlines, senior management places great emphasis on employees realizing satisfied employees are pivotal to the success the organization has and will continue to experience. Effective leaders are critical to advancing the vision and mission of the organization. Southwest Airlines continues to make strides in the airline industry based the strategic vision of management. Southwest’s mission to provide excellent customer service delivered in with warmth, friendliness and pride is the mantra of the organization. Leadership comes with a price and those tasked with leading must be able to balance both the mission of the organization and the needs of employees. Unlike other organizations Southwest Airlines, due to the multi-faceted leadership style has a very low rate of negative attrition. Factors impacting attrition within organization can most time be attributed to the way organizations are managed. Having weathered...
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...Southwest Airlines The success of any organization, regardless of the size, depends on strong communication between its employees and senior management to the entire organization. Moreover, a successful organization depends on functional groups which are powered by strong individuals that hold a leadership position. Leaders have a tremendous effect on an organization and can influence the organization and its employees in a variety of ways both positively and negatively. In terms of communication, leaders influence how an organization’s managers and employees communicate with each other. Effective communication occurs when the intended receiver understands this idea, information, or belief in the way the sender intends. However, when the receiver fails to interpret the meaning of the idea, information, or the feeling the sender is attempted to transmit, the result is poor communication. When this occurs, negative reactions, confusion, or even anger can occur that can result in a good idea or plan to fail (Nayab, N. (2010). How does Leadership Affect Group Communication. Retrieved from http://www.brighthubpm.com/resource-management/92791-how-does-leadership-affect-group-communication/). Southwest Airlines was established and is currently operated by individuals who pride themselves as strong leaders, who insisted on creativity within the company, and created an organization that allowed its employees to communicate with each other and with senior management. One of the...
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...Organizational Commitment and Communication Matthew Dunscombe COM/530 June 20, 2013 Charles Sherman Organizational Commitment and Communication The following document is a review of Southwest Airlines Company. Additionally, the literature will discuss how different leadership styles would affect group communication in Southwest Airlines Company. Moreover, this document will analyze the different sources of power found in Southwest Airlines Company and how those different sources of power affect group and organizational communication. Furthermore, the current culture in Southwest Airlines Company will be reviewed to identify the motivational theories that would be effective within their culture. Likewise, the role of communication will be evaluated as an element of the theories pronounced. Last, the commitment of the workforce to the organization and Southwest Airlines Company’s relationship to the organization’s communication will be described. Different Leadership Styles Effective leadership in Southwest Airlines Company involves being conscious on how to correspond with all components of the group, involving workers, other executives, clients and stockholders. Southwest Airlines Company communication would be affected by different leadership styles in a good way depending upon the smooth transition between styles. Every unit inside the corporation may involve a diverse communication style and leadership style. Moreover, leaders should be able to acclimate...
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...Southwest Airlines: Leading Success Stephanie Pena Communication for Accountants/ COM530 July 14, 2014 Brent Smith Southwest Airlines: Leading Success Leadership, motivation, and workforce commitment are key building blocks within an organization. In a successful organization, these building blocks are connected and held together with the effectiveness of communication. Organizations develop their respective cultures through communication among leadership and with all employees, regarding their mission, values, and goals (Robbins & Judge, 2011). Leaders, both formal and informal, use communication within an organization as a means to motivate others, and to develop loyal and trustworthy employees. Such an organization is Southwest Airlines, whose company culture has been characterized over the years as having unique leadership and communications style. The style of leadership that exists within the organization sets the tone for the types of communication that are not only effective but are also motivational to its workforce. Analysis of Leadership Leadership is broadly defined as the ability to influence a group toward the achievement of vision or set of goals (Robbins & Judge, 2011). While no two people will lead in exactly the same manner, early research conducted by psychologist Kurt Lewin states that there are three basic leadership styles. The basic styles of leadership are (1) authoritarian, (2) participative and (3) delegative leadership (Cherry, 2014)...
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...The Southwest Way: Leadership, Power, and Motivation When Herb Kelleher and Rollin King founded Southwest Airlines in 1971, their mission stated the “dedication of the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit” (Smith, 2012). With that mission in mind, Herb Keller and Rollin King managed to make Southwest the only profitable airline in the United States (Smith, 2012). Southwest’s mission is not the only reason why the airline continues to grow. Without the way, Herb Kelleher former CEO of Southwest, had developed a particular leadership style, power base, and a set way the organization motivates its’ work force, the company would not be as successful as it is today. Leadership is “the ability to influence a group toward the achievement of a vision or set of goals” (Robbins & Judge, 2011, p. 377). When examining Kelleher’s leadership, he possesses two different leadership styles which both have similar characteristics. The first leadership style that Kelleher posses is a transformational leadership style. A transformational leader is a “leader who inspires followers to transcend their own self-interests and who are capable of having a profound and extraordinary effect on followers” (Robbins & Judge, 2011, p 391). Transformational leaders tend to communicate high expectations, promote intelligence, and give personal attention by coaching. The second leadership style Kelleher possesses...
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...Explain how different leadership styles would affect group communication in your chosen organization. Southwest Airlines was the perfect choice to research because this company is not as affected by economic downturns as other companies seem to experience. The founders of Southwest Airlines Rollin King and Herb Kelleher had a clear vision of what their organization should be and is reflected in the company mission. “The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit.” ("The Mission Of Southwest Airlines", n.d.). In order to accomplish their vision, both King and Kelleher adopted a charismatic leadership style. To their credit after 40 years Southwest Airlines has made a mark in the industry and is still going strong. The leadership style within this company is to maintain an open line of communication from the bottom up. This is a major change from the status quo of communication from the top down. In order for Southwest Airlines to be successful, King and Kelleher had all the key characteristics of charismatic leadership. They were both able to articulate their vision and express the importance that their vision would have for the future of the company. King and Kelleher took great risks and experience personal sacrifice in order to achieve their vision for a great company. In order to reach their goals, King and Kelleher felt a great sensitivity...
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...Southwest airlines originated in 1971 by its founders, Herb Kelleher and Rollin King. The airline focused on short flights with customer service that was “delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual price and company spirit.” (Anonymous, 2005, p.16). Since it’s origination, the company has won multiple prestigous awards for it’s leadership, employee satisfaction, and outstanding customer service which can always be found in their coorporate environment, which is filled with non traditional humor. How does a company stay successful in the notoriously volitile airline industry for so many years? This paper will discuss Southwest’s leadership, sources of power, motivational theory and workforce. How communication is impacted in each of these areas will be the topic of focus. Leadership Southwest screens individuals carefully in their interview process. The company looks for the traits in people who have “a sense of humor, a fun loving attitude and don’t take themselves too seriously”. (Hardage, 2006, p.2). “The company hires not on skill, but on the basis of attitudes and belives that skill can be taught in the classroom but they can’t change attitude.” (Bunz & D, 1998, p.2). “Trait theories focus on personal qualities and characteristics. The search for personality, social, physical, or intellectual attributes that differentiate leaders from non-leaders goes back to the earliest stages of leadership research.” (Beebe, Masterson, 2009,). “The University of...
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...Leadership Style: What Do People Do When They Are Leading? Sherman Boyd Dr. Christopher Leigh BUS 520 Leadership and Organizational Behavior September 3, 2014 Introduction Leadership is described as a method for social control that sees an individual getting the help and support of others on finishing a particular assignment (Adair, 2005). Thus, leadership is the ability to successfully exploit and incorporate the existing resources in an organization for the achievement of the objectives and targets of such organization (Northouse, 2004). Gary Kelly is the CEO of Southwest Airlines. He has a leadership style and a set of values that has helped Southwest Airlines emerge amongst all the other airlines in the business. This report analyzes the leadership style and philosophy of Gary Kelly and how his style of leadership aligns with the culture. This report also examines his personal and organizational values and evaluates his set of values that are likely to influence ethical behavior within the organization. Finally this report determines his greatest strengths and weaknesses and discusses the quality that I believe contributes most to this his success. Background of the CEO Gary C. Kelly is the CEO and chairman of Southwest Airlines. He started his career in 1986 as a controller at Southwest Airlines. In addition to working for this airline, Kelly sits in the board as Independent Director of several trade associations and corporations. In 1989, he was promoted and served as...
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...Kendra McMichael Dr. Ofori Boateng BUS 520 Leadership and Organizational Behavior December 12, 2014 Gary Kelly serves as the Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer at Southwest Airlines. Under Gary's leadership, Southwest has grown to become the nation's largest airline in terms of originating domestic passengers carried and is a mainstay on Fortune magazine's list of the most admired companies in the world, ranking seventh in 2013 (About Southwest, 2014). Gary's biggest source of pride is the fact that Southwest Airlines has never had a single furlough in the airline's 43-year history. Gary is pioneering the airline's transformation through several key initiatives, including the integration of AirTran Airways and launching international destinations in 2014 for the first time in Southwest's history. Gary has been named one of the best CEOs in America by Institutional Investor magazine three times and he was selected as Dallas Business Journal's CEO of the year for 2011. Gary is a lifelong Texan and received a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. As a proud alumnus, Gary has served the University in a number of capacities, including on the McCombs School Advisory Council. Gary is a Certified Public Accountant; serves on the Board of Directors of the Lincoln National Corporation and is Chairman of Airlines for America (Southwest, Gary C. Kelly, 2014). Southwest Airlines would not be the company it is without having a superb...
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...Leadership Style: What Do People Do When They Are Leading? Chanel Diggs BUS520139VA041-1142-001 Dr. Laura Jones Strayer University 03/04/2014 Leadership Style: What Do People Do When They Are Leading? Leadership is not necessarily exemplified only by people in management. Schermerhorn (2012) defines leadership as the process of influencing others and the process of facilitating individual and collective efforts to accomplish shared objectives. Therefore, it does not take a “manager” to lead. Gary Kelly, CEO of Southwest Airlines, has a set of values and a leadership style that helps Southwest Airlines stand out amongst any other airline in the industry. Background of the CEO Gary Kelly is a 28-year Southwest veteran who began his career at Southwest Airlines as a Controller. In addition to working for Southwest Airlines, Kelly sits in the board as Independent Director of several corporations and trade associations. Kelly was promoted to CEO and Vice Chairman of Southwest in 2004 after serving as the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President Finance, then Executive Vice President and CFO. Gary is a lifelong Texan, having received a B.B.A in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining Southwest Airlines in 1986, Gary was a Certified Public Accountant for Arthur Young & Company in Dallas and Controller for Systems Center, Inc. CEO’s Leadership Style and Philosophy Gary Kelly’s leadership style would be that of transformational...
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...1. Provide a brief background of the CEO. Founded March 15, 1967 by Rollin King and Herb Kelleher, Southwest Airlines is currently the biggest domestic carrier by number of passengers serviced (Southwest Airlines, 2014). As of May 2013, the company has a market cap of approximately $9 billion (Forbes Magazine, 2013). Gary Kelly, who joined Southwest as controller in 1986, is the company’s current chairman, president, and CEO. Gary was born and raised in Texas and received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Texas as Austin. Gary originally wanted to study oceanography but changed his mind and decided to study accounting simply because his father was an accountant. Before joining Southwest’s team, Gary worked as a CPA for Arthur Young and Company. He and Carol, his wife of 38 years, have two adult daughters. 2. Analyze the CEO’s leadership style and philosophy, and how the CEO’s leadership style aligns with the culture. Gary Kelly’s leadership style fits most closely with the servant and ethical styles of leadership. Schermerhorn (2012) defines a servant leader as one who “helps others discover their inner spirit, earns and keeps the trust of their followers, exhibits effective listening skills, and places the importance of assisting others over self-interest” (p. 322). Ethical leadership has a very high focus on interactional transparency, fairness, and awareness of others (p. 323). Gary is a relaxed and playful leader and believes that "good leaders...
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...| Southwest Airlines Co. | Organizational Commitment and Communication | | | | Southwest Airlines, Co is according to Fortune magazine one of the best places to work for. The Company’s mission statement is "The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit." (Southwest.com) Southwest believes that their mission statement has led the way to the best cumulative consumer satisfaction record, according to statistics published by the U.S. Department of Transportation. They have the fewest customer complaints, and they have the most satisfied employees, their turnover ratio is less than 10% (D’Aurizio, 2008). Communication and Leadership play a critical role in any organization and Southwest Airline is not the exception. These two factors are crucial to their success. In this paper, I will discuss the role of organizational commitment and communication within Southwest Airlines. Specifically, I will discuss how the various sources of power and leadership styles impact the organization as a whole. Also, I will discuss the motivational theory that I believe fits best with Southwest’s current culture and how the organization communicates the motivational theory to its employees. Finally, I will take a look at the commitment of the employee and how they respond to the organizations attempt to motive them. Organizational Commitment and Communication ...
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...University of Phoenix Week 5 Southwest Airlines is a company that has endured many changes through its more than 38 years in the airline industry through an understanding of what leadership and management is. What began as a small Texas airline has grown to become one of the largest airlines in America. Today, Southwest Airlines flies over 100 million passengers a year to 66 different cities all across the country, and they do it more than 3,200 times a day. The Department of Transportation began tracking Customer Satisfaction statistics in 1987, and since then, Southwest Airlines has led the entire airline industry with the lowest ratio of complaints per passenger boarded. So what is it that makes Southwest Airlines so different from the other airlines, it is a correlation of doing many things right. These things include but are not limited to, leadership, management, and dealing with occupational stress. Let us take a closer look into the success of this company and how it overcame some seemingly impossible obstacles. When industries and [pic]its customers complained on how they are treated, there is something wrong fundamentally. Many Airlines have chosen an alternative to respond to this crisis by cutting down in services and workforces. It is not a lot to anticipate enterprises or airlines to provide a profitable return to investors, job’s for their employees and reliable services that is high in quality. The airline industries are failing when it’s measured...
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...Southwest Airlines Organizational Commitment and Communication Paper Travis Thompson Com/530 March 24, 2013 Byron Johnson Southwest Airlines Organizational Commitment and Communication Paper Southwest Airlines has proven to be a leader by its financial position in the airline industry mainly due to outstanding organizational culture. Their mission statement supports this methodology by being “dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride and company spirit(http://www.southwest.com/html/about-southwest/index.html?int=GFOOTER-ABOUT-ABOUT). This strong sense of customer worth has carried Southwest Airlines through the rough times and emerged as a victor in the industry. By ensuring that the customers feel welcomed and appreciated, Southwest has stepped into new territory that the other major airlines have not yet grasped or perfected to the extent they have. Southwest’s culture was not build overnight. It has taken many year and dedication by its founder, Herb Kelleher, to instill these values into every employee that works for Southwest Airlines. Mr. Kelleher’s strong leadership had to be present in the early years to gain the trust and respect of the employees. Beginning with the employees was a great strategy to set a strong foundation for the future of the company. If you want to be trusted and respected, then you have to give trust and respect. Herb ensured that every employee should be treated...
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...Organizational Behavior and Communication - Southwest Airlines University of Phoenix COM/530 Organizational Behavior and Communication - Southwest Airlines Culture, Values, and Communication Southwest Airlines (SWA) is a company of more than 37,000 employees (Southwest Airlines, 2011). It has been recognized as: #1 and #2 by Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work for in America”; the only airline to win the Triple Crown (#1 in most on-time flights, least lost baggage, and fewest Customer complaints) (McGee-Cooper, Trammell, & Looper, 2008); and although unionized, the lowest turnover rate and the best labor relations in the industry (Quick, 1992). “The Southwest Way” drives SWA’s culture with values of “Warrior Spirit, Leading with Servant’s Heart, and a Fun-LUVing Attitude!” (McGee-Cooper, Trammell, & Looper, 2008). “LUV” is SWA’s stock ticker symbol derived from their “LUV” for Customer Service (Southwest Airlines, 2011). The first value, Warrior Spirit, empowers employees to work hard, desire to be the best, and innovate (Southwest Airlines, 2011). When a SWA employee, still in her probationary period, hired three buses to get customers safely to their destinations after bad weather caused cancellation of a late flight, leadership commended her for her innovativeness (McGee-Cooper, Trammell, & Looper, 2008). The second value, Lead with a Servant’s Heart, follows the Golden Rule, “Treat others as you want to be treated.” SWA leadership understands that...
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