Lee Iacocca And Henry Ford II: Leadership Styles Essay Help Service

Abstract

Leadership is the most remarkable characteristic of every company. There are numerous leadership styles and ideas that define the function of a leader. Visions and emotions influence a person's leadership effectiveness. Undisputedly, leadership is the process of social influence in which an individual assists and guides others in reaching a given objective (Schauseil, 2009, p.1). It is the establishment of a method through which individuals can contribute to the search for a solution to something outstanding. To achieve success in the realm of leadership, one must act differently than the masses. Crucial to this influence are attributes such as charisma, patience, vision, values, power, intelligence, and situational interaction. This paper will analyze–compare and contrast the leadership styles and personalities of two business leaders (Lee Iacocca and Henry Ford II) as well as how they achieved success in their respective industries in terms of leadership. Iacocca and Henry II not only exemplified the concept of leadership via their actions, but they have also authored books to assist those who wish to emulate their manner.

Comparing and contrasting Lee Iacocca with Henry Ford II's Leadership Style, Behavior, and Characteristics

Leadership

As stated previously, leadership is the capacity to drive a group of people toward the achievement of specific goals. Similarly, the leaders in question have this skill. Several elements have been offered to aid in the acquisition of leadership qualities. According to (Schauseil, 2009, pp.1-2), the skills necessary for leadership include the seven C's: courage, conviction, communication, charisma, curiosity, competence, and common sense. No one is born with the attributes that have just been enumerated, proving that, contrary to popular belief, leaders can be created rather than produced. The two leaders in this study were selected from a vast pool of corporate leaders based on their ability to effectively manage their responsibilities amid economic downturns.

Lee Iacocca

Lee Iacocca is one of the most well-known businessmen in the world; he has held a number of high-level commercial positions, including President and CEO of Chrysler Corporation and various government positions, due to his exceptional financial acumen. Iacocca attended Lehigh University after graduating from Allentown High School to pursue a degree in Industrial Engineering. He began his career at Ford Motor Company in the Engineering department, but eventually transferred to the Sales division, where he believed his love lay. His career at Ford earned him international renown; he created a number of innovative and profitable automobile designs that put Ford ahead of competitors in the same industry. Later, when he came to Chrysler Corporation, he utilized his business leadership skills to assist the corporation, which was on the edge of collapse, in resuming normal operations (Snyder, 2009, p.22). Even though Iacocca emerges as a success story, it is established that he placed so much trust in his partners and associates that he avoided being the center of attention at all costs, allowing some of his subordinates to assume responsibility. As evidenced by the Iacocca instance, delegating responsibility to a less committed individual may ultimately result in failure if the individual in charge has the necessary abilities or is merely hesitant (Lorsch, J. W et al. 1999, p.96-98).

John Henry Ford (HF II)

Henry Ford II (HF2) was one of Edsel Ford's three sons and the grandson of the original Henry Ford. HF2 became president of Ford Motor Company from 1945 until 1960 and had numerous other executive positions in the company after leaving the navy upon the death of their father. He began as a simple executive officer before his latent leadership abilities were fully realized (Lorsch, J. W et al. 1999, pp.99-105).

Differences

HFII had a somewhat strong management style, but one of his most significant traits was that he admitted his lack of experience when he assumed leadership, something that most leaders would never do. He dismissed those he considered were underachievers and a burden on the Ford Corporation. This is how he was able to hire Lee Iacocca: he had a knack for finding excellent executives. His primary responsibility at Ford Motor Company was management and coordination of the organization's many divisions. Iacocca was responsible for taking the initiative and proving his worth by executing the agreed-upon procedures. Later, however, the two leaders disagreed on personal, not business, grounds… The episode led to Iacocca's dismissal from the Company by Henry. Henry once remarked, "Sometimes you just don't like somebody" (Goldsmith, 2009, p.9). This occurrence was viewed as a big failure on Henry's part, as it is never advisable to bring one's personal life into business; commercial transactions must be handled in a unique manner in order to be successful.

The elder Henry's (Henry Ford) shortcomings are claimed to have resulted from his adoption of an autocratic leadership style, in which he assumed complete control over everything. HF2 was also quite dominant, a quality he presumably inherited from his grandfather. This contrasted with the leadership style of Iacocca, who listened to his subordinates as much as he communicated with them. Iacocca was well aware that in the sales department and in any leadership role, such behavior as "a one man guitar" is a prescription for disaster. When the company was doing so well, HF2 became a prisoner of his own success and turned on some of his most dependable and talented colleagues. Iacocca, for his part, believed in following the crowd, but based his actions and decisions on facts; he understood that a corporation can only expand if it has a wide customer base (Snyder, 2009, pp.25-27).

Similarities

Both of these individuals shown an openness to hearing from those outside their industry. They have a propensity to leave their comfort zones in an effort to learn more novel things. Iacocca did the same thing when he was put in control of Chrysler. Both HF2 and Iacocca consulted widely and hired individuals with superior skills. They took pride in their extensive knowledge of their clients' businesses. Numerous inventive concepts in the Ford Motor Company and those begun by Lee in Chrysler demonstrate the two leaders' creative leadership styles. They were quite effective in controlling the changes they had helped to achieve. Despite the obstacles and disagreements between them, both males had a strong desire to move forward…they made a fantastic combination when working together… They remained at the top of the credit list in the field of business management because they inspired and communicated with people throughout. Goldsmith (2009), pages 72-75

Prior to assuming complete charge of their respective business domains, Henry and Iacocca worked in fields that were vastly different from business. The fact that Henry was in the Navy and Iacocca was in the Engineering Field did not prevent them from obtaining success in business. Similarly to how Iacocca saved Chrysler, Henry saved Ford when it was losing over $10 million each month during the worst economic depression in history. Henry I had failed with his single-handed reign, and Henry II was determined to rectify this business blunder; via his leadership, he expanded Ford's products to nearly every corner of the globe. The good impact of both presidents has been felt across the globe. In the past, when it was considered that only wealthy dictators and those with a great deal of influence conducted business, they altered the system of leadership. They rose from modest beginnings and led their respective businesses to glory (Goldsmith, 2009, p.82).

Conclusion

The lives of Iacocca and HF2 are living demonstrations that one must not limit oneself to the field in which he majored; consequently, individuals are cautioned against limiting their paths to success and are encouraged to explore as many choices as possible. Iacocca, for instance, transitioned from the engineering area into sales… somewhat differently, but he felt that his future lay in sales and he achieved great success; the same is true for HF2, who transitioned from the Navy into business management. They were able to demonstrate their leadership abilities because they recognized their flaws and fought against them with their strengths. If he had not switched, none of them would have ever known what a magnificent leader he was. To demonstrate his leadership qualities, a person in a position of responsibility must surround himself with the most qualified individuals, not only in terms of education, but also in terms of talents and attitude. Any management team should be able to devise strategies that are practical, executable, and well-designed in order to direct the firm toward its major goals. This is the method utilized by Henry Ford II. As Lee would say, decisiveness is the sole characteristic that distinguishes a good manager from a terrible one. That is, the ability to choose a course of action amid a crisis by prioritizing problem-solving possibilities.

References

M. Goldsmith (2009). How to Prevent Losing the Top Job. Harvard Business Review, 87(1), pp.72-80, p.9, 87(1), p. Web.

Lorsch, J. W et al (1999).

Harvard Business Review, 77(3), p.10, pp.96-105, "Changing Leaders"

Web.

Schauseil, R. (2009). A New Slant on the C’s. Business Credit. 111(2). pp.1-4. Web.

Snyder, J. (2009). Men who shaped Chrysler. Automotive News. Wernle, Bradford. 83(6347), p.22-27. Web.

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