Southwest Airlines: Servant Leadership

Words: 1986
Pages: 8
Open Document
Introduction
Southwest Airlines is a company that provides air transportation through out the United States as well as a variety of international markets. Southwest Airlines took off in 1971. They have become a reliable and successful company, due to its great leaders, such as the current Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly (Heinrichs, 2015, p. 16). CEO Gary Kelly’s leadership style can be defined as authentic, transformational, but would mostly be characterized as a servant leader. Furthermore, Kelly’s servant leadership style empowers Southwest Airlines Company’s employees to also become servant leaders. CEO Gary Kelly has the power to be an influential leader that affects the company’s culture and the organizational communication within …show more content…
CEO Gary Kelly does really well handling one of the United States largest airlines. One of Kelly’s strengths is his economic knowledge to improve finances and safety practices for Southwest Airlines. Kelly implemented changes such assigned boarding positions and instead of avoiding major large airports, Southwest Airlines started entering into Boston and New York, which set the conditions for lower fares (Whelan, 2011, p. 102). This is one method that Kelly prevented from being affected tremendously from the cost of fuel increased. Kelly was able to still help Southwest Airlines maintain 35% cost advantage per mile as well as increase booking up to 11% (Whelan, 2011, p. 102). Another strength CEO Kelly has is that he leads by example by practicing the traditional core values, but yet encouraging change in traditional industrial methods to be more efficient and cost effective. When Southwest Airlines acquired AirTran, the employees had fears that brining in 10,000 AirTran employees would dilute its culture (Whelan, 2011, p. 98). However, the core values and the culture were still intact and the only thing that changed were the traditional ways of industrial work efficiencies. For example, changing their routes to be more time and cost efficient. Before Southwest Airlines had direct, short-haul flights, which averaged 250 miles; now with the national network with Midway, St. Louis as anchors, average a distance of about 450 miles (Whelan, 2011, p. 100). Kelly’s third strength would be that he takes the initiative in improving Southwest Airlines by keeping up with technology. Kelly learned from experience that when the company first started it was limited in technology, and although Southwest Airlines has strong culture, they did not have a competitive advantage at that time. Therefore, he demanded to upgrade to better software that would allow the company to optimize things such as
Show More

Related Documents: Southwest Airlines: Servant Leadership

A Day In The Life Of The Culture Committee

success stories, and Southwest Airlines is one many folks around town are proud of. I myself during my Corporate Training days has the unique pleasure of interviewing Herb Kelleher, the former CEO for the airlines while I was rolling out a Servant Leadership seminar for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. He led by example and the airline employees were empowered to have equal shares in the success of the organization. For those outside of the metroplex, Southwest Airlines (SWA) is known as…

Words 965 - Pages 4

Introduction To Leadership

POSITION PAPER ON INTRODUCTION TO LEADERSHIP 1.”I must follow them. I am their leader” Said a once great leader Alexandre-Auguste. He was the leader of the French Revolution in 1848. I have always wanted to be a leader other could look up to and follow. I want to be someone’s inspiration and motivation to do and become great. I’ve had those leaders, the people who speak and already have me hooked on their every word. I would follow some into the direst of situations. A leader…

Words 620 - Pages 3

Servant Leadership Essay

Assignment: Module 6 Servant Leadership Ed Moore XXX XXX XXX Any University: MGT 420 October 19th, 2014 Introduction At first glance, many, if not most people today, might truly believe or assume that the Servant Leadership model or style is simply not compatible with any others cultures, religions or theories of philosophy. This paper addresses these beliefs and assumptions and, champions the notion that they not only can be compatible but, that Servant Leadership is becoming more and more…

Words 1042 - Pages 5

Class Notes Essay

comparing a 10.8% average return to the 17.5% Good to Great returns, servant-led companies delivered a 24.2% return. What is Leadership? Q: What is the difference between “management” and “leadership?” Management= getting work done through others; doing the day-to-day work that needs to get done Leadership= about influencing people; getting people to do things they normally wouldn’t do (All about the future) Servant Leadership Defined Conceptual references date back to the 4th century BC “the king…

Words 1529 - Pages 7

Leadership and Governance Essay

organisations Assignment 1 Report by : Jorge Andres Cuellar Student Id : S0224193 Subject : LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE Course Code : MGMT20152 Tutor: Grace Phan-Athiroj Central Queensland University Sydney January 2012 Since last decade there are major interest in executive directors’ role to achieve a high status and be recognized into organisations, universities and other entities. Nowadays, words as leadership, quality, and management have reached major relevance how a mechanism to build and develop…

Words 2559 - Pages 11