CEO of Apple Company: Tim Cooks Effective Leadership (Essay Sample)

Leadership
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Leadership
Effective leadership is an important characteristic of running an organization that utilizes human resources. The ability to exhibit the successful influence and guide through operations in any institution constitutes effective leadership. Leadership is viewed as the process of influencing change through setting new directions an institution, gaining control of operations and monitoring practices to ensure the accomplishment of set goals and objectives (Bell & Kozlowski 2002). In the recent years, many good leaders have steered different organizations to growth and development using various methods and different styles. The majority of the successful leaders are passionate, motivating and possess defined personality traits that ensure set goals are achieved within the set time. Although the value of effective and excellent leadership has been identified since time immemorial, the 21st century’s complex business environment demands more valuable leadership in all institutions (Druskat & Wheeler 2003). This is attributed to the trends in running different business organizations such as shorter life cycles, increased partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, globalization, and the constant explosive growth of technology and innovation (Fells 2000).
Tim Cook is the current CEO of Apple Inc. Company since 2011. The Fortune Magazine recently named him as the World’s Greatest Leader because of his immense contribution to Apple, exemplary leadership skills and achievements made during his tenure. Tim Cook is also described by his achievement in rescuing the Apple Company from its downfall to over $100 billion in revenue today. Apple Inc. is a technology-oriented company with its headquarters located in California. It is a publicly traded company with numerous branches across the world. Established in 1976, Apple Inc. concentrated on computer design under the guidance of the founders Steven Wozniak and Steven Jobs. The company dominated the computer industry and employed over 1000 employees in the 1980s. Tim Cook assumed the CEO position from the late Steve Jobs in 2011. Today, Apple Inc. Company deals with personal computers, cell phones, computer software, digital music players and third-party digital appliances. Under the control of Cook, the company maintains a high level of quality in all its digital products such as iPhones, iPods, and iPads (Arruda-Filho, Cabusas & Dholakia 2010). Tim Cook believes that the key to becoming a successful leader is human resources, strategy, and execution. Cook believes that getting these three aspects of leadership right ensures effectiveness and achievement of goals in any organization (Bell & Kozlowski 2002).
Communication technology and innovations have transformed leadership in the 21st century by radically altering the ways through which leaders work towards achieving organizational goals. Leaders today are influenced by technology related to providing information and communicating with the management and subordinates. The leaders have become more accessible, especially to all levels of staff including the subordinates. Accordingly, Tim Cook has managed to change the leadership style at Apple through embracing communication and placing more trust in employees as compared to impulsive and manipulative style. Cook is well known for his regular emails sent to employees in preparation of meetings and a week of business at the company. The CEO also encourages employees towards charitable course where he involves them in contributing towards corporate social responsibilities. A good relationship with the employees has resulted in the remarkable growth of the company since he became CEO.
Tim Cook’s leadership style is largely democratic. Since his take over as CEO after the late Jobs resignation due to illness, Cook concentrated more on existing products and improving employee relationships. Additionally, Cook has placed emphasis on improving cooperation among talented employees and management personnel. He is also known to encourage the staff to become part of the decisions made by the company, especially the high-level employees to reach a mutually consented decision. As the CEO, Tim has also delegated most of the engineering duties to members of his executive cabinet to ensure that continuous innovation and improvements are done to new and existing products consecutively. This form of democratic leadership style has led to enhanced employee goodwill and improved the company to greater technological advancement.
In the 21st Century, organizations are adopting the best structures to sustain their competitive advantage and ensure going concern. This is in line with the contingency theory that asserts, there is no "one best way" to structure an organization (Golden Pryor & Taneja 2010). As such, any institutions face numerous choices when establishing its structure, ways to be organized and managed. This is largely determined by among other factors, technology innovation, the type of leadership and competition. Many successful organizations across the globe adopt structures that are essential towards responding to particular contingencies that have an effect on the needs of the organization and its work structure (Bass & Bass 2009). The contingency theories take a comprehensive look at the people in organizations and suggest the establishment of solutions to the technology, task and environment factors. In connection with the theory, Tim Cook understood the need to make the work environment better for the employees and change the whole operating environment. Despite doubts that Cook would fit into his predecessor’s shoes, he took upon himself to change the methods which work is done in the company. He demonstrated that leadership requires different traits and skills such as behavior, attitude, and power. Such skills are refined by experience during the career progress.
A leader’s behavior and character determine the ability to make difficult decisions and take risks in decisions that affect the operations of an organization. Some of the decisions are also likely to affect the employees’ lives and future career. However, a leader is required to trust his or her ability to take such risks and make the decisions. Tim Cook is well defined by his behavior and character owing to some difficult decisions he made for the Apple Company. He trusts his decisions, even though risky sometimes and accepts the fact that such decisions could result in failure. However, Cook’s character also assures him that without the possibility of failure, there would be no possibility of success. Such confidence has helped in taking risks in many decisions such as firing the president of the iOS division because of the failed Apple Maps launched from his department.
Having a positive attitude is a positive character demonstrated by leaders practicing democratic leadership style such as Tim Cook. Having a positive attitude helps in concentrating and listening attentively to members of the executive and other employees regarding innovative ideas and suggestions. Cook is an attentive CEO, who is always open to ideas and suggestions in meetings with employees and executive members. Additionally, his attitude helps him in trusting others and their opinions of his team within the organization. The trust enables him to delegate important tasks to his top executives and give them the mandate to make quick decisions to improve operations. He further allows the executives to take the lead and implement their innovative and brilliant ideas to improve the Apple products. The executives such as Phillip W. Schiller of the marketing department made a remarkable impact on Apple’s image and sales since the CEO trusted him and his ideas. As such, Tim Cook admits that being the CEO does not mean he knew everything, and trusting your team goes a long way in succeeding as a leader.
The transformational leadership theory asserts that a leader and the followers raise one another and develop working relationships that result in morality and motivation. In today’s business world, establishing a high-performance workforce is crucial thus; leaders should inspire executive members and employees to go beyond task obligations (Bass & Bass 2009). The 21st -century demands transformational leadership owing to the dynamic markets, globalization and technology. Transformational leaders such as Tim Cook are inspiring, risk-takers, thinkers and inspiring. These traits make the leader, visionary and charismatic. Transformational leadership can be found at all organizational levels, such as departments and divisions. As a transformational leader, Cook sets clear goals for all his executive team members and trusts their decisions towards achieving those goals. Additionally, he sets high expectations from all divisions and encourages the employees towards reaching set objectives. The CEO inspires the employees towards doing what they do and doing it at their level best. He always focuses on the continued success of the company and improving the quality of the existing products.
The 21st century leadership requires the new leadership model as compared to the traditional individualistic models of leadership (Abraham 2013). The new leadership model proposes that people within an organization are all considered as leaders, directors, team leaders and heads of divisions. A network of people involved in leadership practices across organizations and share accountability supports the people considered as leaders. This model shows that organizations seek to improve the effectiveness of leadership and encourages collaborations and support during new initiatives ...