Posted: August 4th, 2015

Leadership of Richard Branson

Leadership of Richard Branson

Using the Internet or Strayer University databases, research the leadership style and characteristics of Richard Branson, Virgin Group.

Write a five to six (5-6) page paper in which you:

1.Assess the key elements of Richard Branson’s leadership style and the impact that those elements have had on his business success. Provide support for your rationale.
2.Given that The Virgin Group has been described as a fast-growing entrepreneurial company with many facets to the group, suggest how the unique aspects of Richard Branson’s leadership style mesh successfully with the particular attributes of a multifaceted organization like Virgin.
3.Determine two (2) key ways in which Richard Branson is likely to motivate employees in order to achieve his goals for the Virginia Group. Indicate whether or not his approach is likely to work in a different organizational setting. Provide support for your rationale.
4.Assess the effectiveness of Richard Branson’s ability to articulate and communicate his vision for his company to employees and other stakeholders. Provide support for your rationale.
5.Assume that you have received a job offer to be a manager within the Virgin Group. Determine the criteria you would use to evaluate whether Richard Branson’s leadership style is a good fit for you as a manager and what conclusion you may draw about working under this type of leader.
6.Take a position on whether or not you believe Richard Branson is a global leader. Justify your position and provide support for your justification.
7.Predict Richard Branson’s success as a leader over the next five (5) years. Support your prediction.
8.Use at least three (3) quality academic resources. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

•Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
•Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

•Analyze the activities and skills associated with the leadership function of management.
•Use technology and information resources to research issues in modern management.
•Write clearly and concisely about modern management using proper writing mechanics.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Points: 360

Assignment 3: Leadership of Richard Branson

Criteria

Unacceptable

Below 70% F

Fair

70-79% C

Proficient

80-89% B

Exemplary

90-100% A

1. Assess the key elements of Richard Branson’s leadership style and the impact that those elements have had on his business success. Provide support for your rationale.

Weight: 15%

Did not submit or incompletely assessed the key elements of Richard Branson’s leadership style and the impact that those elements have had on his business success. Did not submit or incompletely provided support for your rationale.

Partially assessed the key elements of Richard Branson’s leadership style and the impact that those elements have had on his business success. Partially provided support for your rationale.

Satisfactorily assessed the key elements of Richard Branson’s leadership style and the impact that those elements have had on his business success. Satisfactorily provided support for your rationale.

Thoroughly assessed the key elements of Richard Branson’s leadership style and the impact that those elements have had on his business success. Thoroughly provided support for your rationale.

2. Given that The Virgin Group has been described as a fast- growing entrepreneurial company with many facets to the group, suggest how the unique aspects of Richard Branson’s leadership style mesh successfully with the particular attributes of a multi-faceted organization like Virgin.
Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely suggested how the unique aspects of Richard Branson’s leadership style mesh successfully with the particular attributes of a multi-faceted organization like Virgin.

Partially suggested how the unique aspects of Richard Branson’s leadership style mesh successfully with the particular attributes of a multi-faceted organization like Virgin.

Satisfactorily suggested how the unique aspects of Richard Branson’s leadership style mesh successfully with the particular attributes of a multi-faceted organization like Virgin.

Thoroughly suggested how the unique aspects of Richard Branson’s leadership style mesh successfully with the particular attributes of a multi-faceted organization like Virgin.

3. Determine two (2) key ways in which Richard Branson is likely to motivate employee in order to achieve his goals for the Virginia Group. Indicate whether or not his approach is likely to work in a different organizational setting. Provide support for your rationale.

Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely determined two (2) key ways in which Richard Branson is likely to motivate employee in order to achieve his goals for the Virginia Group. Did not submit or incompletely indicated whether or not his approach is likely to work in a different organizational setting. Did not submit or incompletely provided support for your rationale.

Partially determined two (2) key ways in which Richard Branson is likely to motivate employee in order to achieve his goals for the Virginia Group. Partially indicated whether or not his approach is likely to work in a different organizational setting. Partially provided support for your rationale.

Satisfactorily determined two (2) key ways in which Richard Branson is likely to motivate employee in order to achieve his goals for the Virginia Group. Satisfactorily indicated whether or not his approach is likely to work in a different organizational setting. Satisfactorily provided support for your rationale.

Thoroughly determined two (2) key ways in which Richard Branson is likely to motivate employee in order to achieve his goals for the Virginia Group. Thoroughly indicated whether or not his approach is likely to work in a different organizational setting. Thoroughly provided support for your rationale.

4. Assess the effectiveness of Richard Branson’s ability to articulate and communicate his vision for his company to employees and other stakeholders. Provide support for your rationale.

Weight: 15%

Did not submit or incompletely assessed the effectiveness of Richard Branson’s ability to articulate and communicate his vision for his company to employees and other stakeholders. Did not submit or incompletely provided support for your rationale.

Partially assessed the effectiveness of Richard Branson’s ability to articulate and communicate his vision for his company to employees and other stakeholders. Partially provided support for your rationale.

Satisfactorily assessed the effectiveness of Richard Branson’s ability to articulate and communicate his vision for his company to employees and other stakeholders. Satisfactorily provided support for your rationale.

Thoroughly assessed the effectiveness of Richard Branson’s ability to articulate and communicate his vision for his company to employees and other stakeholders. Thoroughly provided support for your rationale.

5. Assume that you have received a job offer to be a manager within the Virgin Group. Determine the criteria you would use to evaluate whether Richard Branson’s leadership style is a good fit for you as a manger and what conclusion you may draw about working under this type of leader.

Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely determined the criteria you would use to evaluate whether Richard Branson’s leadership style is a good fit for you as a manager and what conclusion you may draw about working under this type of leader.

Partially determined the criteria you would use to evaluate whether Richard Branson’s leadership style is a good fit for you as a manager and what conclusion you may draw about working under this type of leader.

Satisfactorily determined the criteria you would use to evaluate whether Richard Branson’s leadership style is a good fit for you as a manager and what conclusion you may draw about working under this type of leader.

Thoroughly determined the criteria you would use to evaluate whether Richard Branson’s leadership style is a good fit for you as a manager and what conclusion you may draw about working under this type of leader.

6. Take a position on whether or not you believe Richard Branson is a “global” leader. Justify your position and provide support for your justification.

Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely took a position on whether or not you believe Richard Branson is a “global” leader. Did not submit or incompletely justified your position and did not submit or incompletely provided support for your justification.

Partially took a position on whether or not you believe Richard Branson is a “global” leader. Partially justified your position and partially provided support for your justification.

Satisfactorily took a position on whether or not you believe Richard Branson is a “global” leader. Satisfactorily justified your position and satisfactorily provided support for your justification.

Thoroughly took a position on whether or not you believe Richard Branson is a “global” leader. Thoroughly justified your position and provided support for your justification.

7. Predict Richard Branson’s success as a leader over the next five (5) years. Support your prediction.

Weight: 15%

Did not submit or incompletely predicted Richard Branson’s success as a leader over the next five (5) years. Did not submit or incompletely supported your prediction.

Partially predicted Richard Branson’s success as a leader over the next five (5) years. Partially supported your prediction.

Satisfactorily predicted Richard Branson’s success as a leader over the next five (5) years. Satisfactorily supported your prediction.

Thoroughly predicted Richard Branson’s success as a leader over the next five (5) years. Thoroughly supported your prediction.

8. 3 references

Weight: 5%

No references provided

Does not meet the required number of references; some or all references poor quality choices.

Meets number of required references; all references high quality choices.

Exceeds number of required references; all references high quality choices.

9. Clarity, writing mechanics, and formatting requirements

Weight: 10%

More than 6 errors present

5-6 errors present

3-4 errors present

0-2 errors present

Leadership of Richard Branson
#1
Richard Branson’s participative leadership style incorporates several elements, which have led to the success of his business. Branson has the potential to influence other individuals’ behavior. As a chairman and founder of the Virgin group, Branson’s position in the firm grants him the opportunity to influence the behavior of other employees (Sigh, 2012). This position grants him the legitimate power to make independent decisions, which cannot be interrupted by other workers. As a result, Branson is at an advantage of ignoring suggestions and advice from the top management. This benefit, therefore, has enabled Branson to ignore top management’s suggestion that might be detrimental to the firm. Besides, Branson’s leadership style has elements such as maintenance of the firm’s standards, humanely, communication with customers and employees, frequent visits, and chats. These factors have led to the creation of a favorable environment for Branson to execute his business operations and objectives. Studies have identified that entrepreneurs who often listen to the advices of good individuals around them often end up being successful in their activities (Burnes, 2012). In relation to this, Branson relies on and trusts his mates or colleagues for guidance in the decisions concerning the business. For instance, Branson offers an illustration of how his ignorance of a mate’s advice cost the firm huge sums of money. On the other side, the aspect of self-awareness has enabled Branson preserver as he executes his plan, which has benefited the business. When the organization ventured into the train business, they had to spend much time and resources in establishing new trains and preparing the system of rail for to adjust to novel technologies. This undertaking took many years and could not have been accomplished in the absence perseverance, which arose from the element of self-awareness.
#2
Three bizarre aspects of Branson’s leadership style happen to match successfully with the attributes of a multifaceted organization such as Virgin. This style of leadership ensures that that Branson establishes an open environment through trust. As such, Branson is in a suitable position to trust new entrants and demonstrate this trust to them. Branson accomplishes this goal by sharing views with the employees and accepting their advices or suggestions (Sigh, 2012). Studies have shown that teams or employees always perform to their best potentials when their suggestions are appreciated or when they are aware that they are free to question (Sigh, 2012). Besides, attribute of hiring of right talents has enabled Branson’s leadership style to match that of multifaceted firm like Virgin. As such, the organization is in a suitable position of tapping into various talents, which is vital for its growth. Furthermore, the participative or collaborative aspect of Branson’s leadership has enabled him to use his influence in creating a culture that fosters innovation. In relation to this, the group decisions at all stages are embraced and granted adequate attention. As a result, this aspect of leadership has managed to accomplish a perfect match with the attributes of a multifaceted firm like Virgin.
#3
Richard Branson is likely to motivate employees by encouraging them to venture into new areas of work and engaging them in decisions making. Encouraging employees to venture in a novel area of work is vital in motivating workers in a different organizational setting. When workers are encouraged to Venture into new areas of work, they often develop the desire to prove their capabilities to their employers. As such, employees can invest much of their time and resources in ensuring that they perform to their capabilities in order to maintain the confidence of their employer in them (Burnes, 2012). However, this approach cannot be effective in an organizational setting, which has no different or new areas of work. For instance, workers in a small-scale business cannot be motivated using this method. On the other side, engaging workers in the process of making decisions is significant in motivating workers in all organizational settings. When workers are involved in decision-making, they usually feel appreciated. Besides, such employees often feel as part of the system and they always associate themselves with the success of the organization. As such, these workers usually perform to their best to achieve the level f success required by the company. On the contrary, workers who feel ignored by the organization’s management often perform poorly due to low motivation.
#4
Branson’s vision for the company is focused on the alleviation or mitigation of global warming. Branson’s articulation and communication of this vision to both the stakeholders and employees is effective. One of the significant steps that Branson has made in the articulation and communication of this vision is pointing out the alterations or changes that need to be made for this vision to be accomplished. This undertaking has helped in revealing the aspect of “How” in the vision in terms of things that need to be done. This vision has been developed in relation to the model proposed by Peter Cammock. Cammock’s model takes into consideration three elements, which are envisioning, engaging and enacting (Sign, 2012). As such, Branson has managed to provide a clear sense of direction to stakeholders and employees using the three elements.
#5
I would use steps in evaluating the effectiveness of Branson’s leadership style in my career as a manager. First, I would determine whether this style of leadership facilitates the establishment of a common vision for the organization, its employees and stakeholders. A suitable style of leadership helps in creating a vision that is focused on establishing a working culture that promotes the execution of business activities (Bel, 2010). Second, I would determine whether the leadership style of Branson establishes a working climate or not. The ability of this leadership style t create climate of work would make it effective for my career. On the contrary, the inability of this style of leadership to develop a climate of work can make it unfit for my career as a manager. Besides, I would determine whether the technique of leadership employed by Branson integrates the organization’s operations and resources in a manner that promotes a safe working environment. A positive outcome in this dimension would make me consider Branson’s leadership style fit for my career as a manager. Furthermore, this leadership technique should manage to facilitate cooperation between the manager and junior employees. Effective cooperation between managers and subordinates is vital in ensuing that the processes of decision making and implementation are accomplished successful (Burnes, 2012). As a result, the firm can accomplish its goals in an easy way. Finally, the conclusion that I can draw from working under Branson’s leadership is this technique of leadership helps in creating a good working relationship between the manager and subordinate. This leadership ensures that a free environment of interaction is created between the manger and employee, which is significant in ensuring that employees offer views or suggestions without fear.
#6
In my opinion, Richard Branson is a global leader. Branson who is admired and loved by his workers and his colleagues places his charisma, power and leadership capacity behind global change. As a result, Branson has made significant contributions to the ending global crises such as climate change. For instance, as the chairman of the Virgin Group, Branson has developed a vision that is focused on alleviating global warming. Besides, Branson has helped in identifying ways through which the organization can accomplish this goal. This undertaking makes Branson a global leader since he has the interest of the world at heart (Bel, 2010). Moreover, the adoption of the non-hierarchical technique of leadership, which promoted free interaction between manager and employees, helps in revealing that Branson is leader of the people who does take boundaries into consideration. Furthermore, Branson has helped in the creation of various organization, which justifies the statement that he is a global leader.

#7
Richard Branson’s will continue to be a successful leader in the coming five years because of several reasons. Branson’s views seem to be in line with the current or emerging issues that affect the world. For instance, the issue of climate change, which Branson seem to help in preventing, is a matter that affects the whole of the universe. As such, this aspect makes Branson to be in line with issues that affect the people both in the present and future (Burnes, 2012). In addition, Branson embraces innovation, which is vital in making him progress a leader in the coming five years. The world’s success is dependent on leaders such as Branson who have the capacity to foster innovation. Finally, Branson’s relationship with employees is one that encourages a free interaction and sharing of views. This feature is vital in ensuring that Branson obtain support from employees, which is vital in making him successful I the next five year.

References
Bel, R. (2010). Leadership and Innovation: Learning From the Best. Global Business & Organizational  Excellence, 29(2), 47-60.
Burnes, B. (2012). Leadership and Change: The Case for Greater Ethical Clarity. Journal of Business Ethics, 108(2), 239-252.
Sigh, P; Nadim, A. (2012). Leadership Styles and Gender: An Extension. Journal of Leadership Studies, 5(4), 6-19.