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How Is Leadership Being Led in the 21st Century

In: Business and Management

Submitted By klhllard
Words 1933
Pages 8
Leadership Style: What Do People Do When They Are Leading?
Sherman Boyd
Dr. Christopher Leigh
BUS 520 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
September 3, 2014

Introduction

Leadership is described as a method for social control that sees an individual getting the help and support of others on finishing a particular assignment (Adair, 2005). Thus, leadership is the ability to successfully exploit and incorporate the existing resources in an organization for the achievement of the objectives and targets of such organization (Northouse, 2004). Gary Kelly is the CEO of Southwest Airlines. He has a leadership style and a set of values that has helped Southwest Airlines emerge amongst all the other airlines in the business. This report analyzes the leadership style and philosophy of Gary Kelly and how his style of leadership aligns with the culture. This report also examines his personal and organizational values and evaluates his set of values that are likely to influence ethical behavior within the organization. Finally this report determines his greatest strengths and weaknesses and discusses the quality that I believe contributes most to this his success.

Background of the CEO
Gary C. Kelly is the CEO and chairman of Southwest Airlines. He started his career in 1986 as a controller at Southwest Airlines. In addition to working for this airline, Kelly sits in the board as Independent Director of several trade associations and corporations. In 1989, he was promoted and served as Chief Financial Officer from 1989 to 2004. He served as Vice President of Finance from 1989 to 2001.
Kelly served as a Vice Chairman of the Board of Southwest Airlines, from July 15, 2004 to May 2008. Prior to working at Southwest Airlines he worked as controller of Systems Center Inc. and as an Audit Manager of Arthur Young & Company in Dallas. He also served as Vice Chairman of Air

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