MANAGEMENT

Leadership - South-West Airlines

Leadership - South-West Airlines

In this study, we try to explore the concepts of Management in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on the leadership of South-West Airlines and its relation with learning about the changing. The essay also analyzes many aspects of leadership the organization had and how did they used this leadership for the ultimate success. Further, the essay tries to gauge its effect on of leadership on the other concepts of management (Organizing, planning and changing).

The topic revolves around the case study of the leadership of South-West Airlines. Leadership is the inbuilt social process in which a person successfully, integrates the problems for the solution. Leadership is important for sustainability and long-term success; leadership contributes to innovative thinking and new ways of operating and thriving in an ever-changing and complex world. On a larger, societal level, leadership needed for creating a better, more just world (Bryant, 2011).

In former 1980's American airline industry experienced a major setback in terms of governmental deregulations. Many airlines filed liquidation as they were not making enough profits at breakeven. The companies who survived this era of crisis were deemed to be highly competitive and efficient. Again, the era of 9/11 was very crucial for these airlines.

Herb Kelleher is the person who glided the Southwest in times of tough competition. It is said that the nature of the organization is built by Herb Kelleher, which is the image of his own behavior. He has a very friendly, caring and very pleasant nature, which depicted in the mission values and atmosphere of the company. He believed that customer and employees are two main drivers for Southwest and they should be managed gently.

Herb Keller was one of the co-founders of Southwest Airlines. He had always been a hub defender for southwest airlines. During his term as CEO in Southwest, he produced a corporate culture, which became popular for taking the human resources, personally very calmly and very seriously on job.

The corporate culture inbuilt by Herb is still present in the atmosphere of Southwest Airlines. President of Southwest, Miss Colleen Barrette, explained that they have “Servant Leadership” incorporated in Southwest Airlines. Servant leadership has an essential theory of supporting others and presents them with the paraphernalia and support for practical task.

At Southwest, their top most priority is their employees, who are the source of customer service delivery, the next in line of the pyramid are customers about whom it is made sure that they feel good about the service. Herb once quoted himself “If the employees come first, then they are happy. A motivated employee treats the customer well. The customer is happy so they keep coming back, which pleases the shareholders”. Kelleher always supported moral equality for systematic improvements. Effective, principled leaders generate collective vision and admiration for the values of others in the group (Cardy, 2010).

Herb Kelleher is regarded as a charismatic and transformational leader at its best, who avoided the controversial and ethical dilemmas through charisma and focused ...