Actually, since the beginning of 20th century many companies and organizations have put more emphasizes and interest in the leadership. In the past, theories of leadership focused on distinction between followers and leaders, while subsequent leadership theories analyzed other variables of leadership such as skill level and situational factors (Northouse, 2009). Company leader is a very important person, when he his doing his work well the entire employees team become inspired to work hard. Leadership team is an asset in every business, either small or large. There are major theories of leadership; these include management theories, great-man theories, participative theories, trait theory, contingency theories as well as relationship theories (Gill, 2006).
In the world most of the successful companies have close relationship with the type of leaders they have. One of the examples of the company that require company leadership action includes Apple. Steve Jobs is an icon figure in the company; he has taken the company to greater heights. Great-man theories believe that leadership capacity is always inherent; this implies that leaders such as Steve Jobs are born but not made. The theory portray great and successful leaders as mythic, heroic as well as destined to always rise to leadership when need arises. Steve jobs have the perfect qualities for the position he holds.
Management theories focus on organization and group performance as well as roles of supervision. Arguably, the theory base leadership on a scheme of punishments and rewards. In most cases it is applied in business; when employees and the business are successful, employees are given a reward; when they don’t perform, they are punished. Management theories assume that the main purpose of employees is to follow what their manager instructs them to do; in this case all the authority is ceded to the manager (Gill, 2006).
Participative theories of leadership recommend taking into account the input of other people. Such leaders encourage contribution and participation from employees, members of the company and customers (Northouse, 2009). The style of leadership gives the participants in the company a sense of commitment and relevance in making decisions. Despite the involvement of other parties in decision making, the leader holds the rights of allowing inputs.
Contingency leadership theories emphasize on the environmental situations and variables that determine a specific style of leadership, which suite the situation of the company. According to contingency theories, no specific leadership approach is paramount in all company’s situations. The success of the company depends on numerous variables, including qualities of company’s followers, aspects of prevailing situation and above all leadership styles.
Apple Company needed the action of their CEO when the company went down in his absents. Apple Company is structured around their charismatic leader; hence it clearly lost the vigor when Steve Jobs was out of the scene for some time. Steve has filled the company with talented and smart employees who can carry out their duties well. The team woks with perfection, egoism and creates fantastic products. Some of the leadership action and style that apples require from Steve include autocratic, participative, entrepreneurial, transformation, self confident, innovativeness, assertiveness and extraversion (Imbimbo, 2009).
Observably, most of the theories are applicable in the apples company. Steve Jobs clearly demonstrates the applicability of the theories in numerous ways. On one of his interview he asserted that the new products that Apple produces comes from consumers and employees. In this scenario participating theory has been applied. For example, Steve Jobs rewarded his employees with free iPod as a reward for the company’s prosperity; this is part of application of management leadership theories (Imbimbo, 2009). As a matter of fact, one theory doesn’t apply to all situations in a business. Lots of leadership theories should be applied so as to ensure that all variables affecting the company are handled. The theories in most cases where well applied, and these still makes the apple company one of the best in the world. Each leader should always be able to adhere to the company’s goals and be guided by the factors of leadership, which include follower, leader, situation and communication.
References
Gill,R. (2006). Theory and Practice of Leadership. London: Sage
Imbimbo, A. (2009). Steve Jobs: The Brilliant mind Behind Apple. New York. Gareth Press.
Northouse, P. (2009). Leadership: Theory and Practice. California: Sage
