Integrative Approach to Leadership
Steve Jobs was a great leader for Apple computers. To understand what made him great one needs to understand how to analyze a leader. The first step is to define what a leader is and if the subject is a leader or a follower. The integrative approach to analyzing a leader could be most effective in this review.
The integrative approach uses parts of several other analysis types such as; behavioral, traits, situational, outcome and influential. The strength of using integrative approach is that the diversity of choosing what qualities to highlight and where those qualities fit into the analysis. The weakness is that in picking and choosing the areas to focus some important information can be overlooked (Yukl, 2011).
Steve Jobs has several important statements about what makes a good leader. An excellent example is his view on how to focus a company. According to Macgateway (2011), “[focus] means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are”(para. 6). In other words “Kill the good ideas and nurture the great one.” The business that follows this focus will not waste time and money on what might become a great selling product and instead follow the course for making a product that will become a great selling product. This is an example of the behavioral trait (Macgateway, 2011).
Steve Jobs also has stated about how to influence subordinates in a company. According to Macgateway (2011), “My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to make them better” (para. 8).This simple statement means that he fully understands that any employee of his is expected to perform at the best of their abilities. This would be an example of influential trait. (Macgateway, 2011).
The integrative approach to studying leadership has strengths and weaknesses. The strength is a broader view of what characteristics to highlight. The weakness is in highlighting the important one can easily lead to missing the consequences of the bad. Steve Jobs was a great leader for Apple
The integrative approach uses parts of several other analysis types such as; behavioral, traits, situational, outcome and influential. The strength of using integrative approach is that the diversity of choosing what qualities to highlight and where those qualities fit into the analysis. The weakness is that in picking and choosing the areas to focus some important information can be overlooked (Yukl, 2011).
Steve Jobs has several important statements about what makes a good leader. An excellent example is his view on how to focus a company. According to Macgateway (2011), “[focus] means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are”(para. 6). In other words “Kill the good ideas and nurture the great one.” The business that follows this focus will not waste time and money on what might become a great selling product and instead follow the course for making a product that will become a great selling product. This is an example of the behavioral trait (Macgateway, 2011).
Steve Jobs also has stated about how to influence subordinates in a company. According to Macgateway (2011), “My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to make them better” (para. 8).This simple statement means that he fully understands that any employee of his is expected to perform at the best of their abilities. This would be an example of influential trait. (Macgateway, 2011).
The integrative approach to studying leadership has strengths and weaknesses. The strength is a broader view of what characteristics to highlight. The weakness is in highlighting the important one can easily lead to missing the consequences of the bad. Steve Jobs was a great leader for Apple
References: Yukl, G. (2010). Leaderships (7th ed.). Saddle River , N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall. Macgateway. (2011). The leadership style of steve jobs. Retrieved from http://macgateway.com/in-his-own-words/the-leadership-style-of-steve-jobs-in-his-own- words/