Here are five simple habits to develop this trait of happiness-in-action to take your transformational leadership to mastery level: 1. Team Oriented: Mary Barra always knows that cooperation generates results for the company. This proves that she is not adverse to making bold decisions with the companys longer-term future in mind. Behaviors, not inspiring slogans, determine the culture of an organization, she said. So, back to the one missing trait. 7 How old was Mary Barra when she started her career? (1.25 Marks ) (Min words 200-250) 3. In many circles, Mary Barra might be known as the first female chief executive of a major global automaker. 2. 1 Transformational Leadership: Case Study of Mary Barra (CEO General Motors Company) University Affiliation Course Name and Number Instructor's Name Assignment Due Date 2 Transformational Leadership: Case Study of Mary Barra (CEO General Motors Company) Mary Barra is an embodiment of reason and the best role model for a transformational/inclusive leadership (Colby, 2015, p. 25). Mary Barra certainly recognizes this fact and has made the customer the central focus for all of General Motors. According to Chen, there are few questions that she recommends to ask, Did you get what you needed from this meeting? and another one is Whats your opinion?. She's admitting to the problem, owning it. Will Mary Barra end up being remembered as the kind of legendary leader that Lee Iacocca was? Since becoming CEO of General Motors, Mary Barra has been one of the world's most-watched executives. This book is a call to adventure, an opportunity to live life to the fullest and a guide to discovering your own path towards transformational leadership.When Mahatma Gandhi was asked by a reporter to sum up his life's work, he responded simply, 'My life is my message'. Employees not only were safe from negative reaction for reporting issues they would be rewarded. How to Wage War Against Implicit Bias in the Workplace? Applications are open through Sept. 17. For example, in 2008 when GM fell into bankruptcy, she never doubted this company would survive and she believed they would go through this turmoil. Pragmatic optimism means youre not blind to risks or obstacles, but you self-regulate negative thinking so youre not hindered by it and instead are empowered to take considered action. She left the audience with some simple yet profound leadership advice. View mary barra.docx from BUSINESS 2102 at JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY. At this point, we can comfortably conclude that transformational leadership is a factor crucial in businesses. Transformational theory of leadership Mary Barra has worked at GM her whole life, beginning at 18 Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. In an era that rewards inclusion, these have been integral adjustments. She is first female Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General. In 2009, when she steered the Human Resources Department at GM, just after the GM meltdown, she replaced the bureaucratic image of HR with more friendly human faces who will be emphasizing on personal accountability and responsibility. I get to drive this home.". She always refers to her team whenever she participates in interviews. Women hold immense potential right from the start. Heading into 2017, the companys stock price remained low. She recommended asking, Did you get what you needed from this meeting? Another question Barra suggested asking consistently is, Whats your opinion? She explained that leaders can continue to improve if they collect accurate information about the current reality. Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, frequently visited stores across the country to connect with and encourage frontline employees. A transformational leadership presence is vital, especially in clinical areas where new graduate nurses are present. Being an engineer, Mary said that she uses the formula that benefits must be greater than effort if you want to create sustainable change. She has overseen drastic strategic changes, too. Even before she was appointed CEO, Barra had a tendency to be remarkably candid and honest with GM staff. Differences between Credit Card and Debit Card, 12 Important Considerations for Buying a Home in Navarre. It enables you to achieve almost anything, Barra said. Intellectual Stimulation. Share this. V. Ask for Feedback: One of the most important things that Barra maintains is asking for feedback from her staff. Read More. In her 38 years at GM, Barra has been an executive assistant, plant manager, product developer, and HR leader, among other roles before she became CEO. Mary Barra always makes a decision based on each team members input. According to Business Week, Automotive News, she was enlisted on the list of 100 leading women in the auto industry. Despite articles addressing transformational leadership qualities, one indispensable quality, core to being an impactful transformational leader, appears to have been overlooked. and more. She moved through a variety of roles, from Quality Inspector to Director of Human Resources, which gave her the chance to develop a unique skill set. According to several sources, Barra has always created an inclusive environment where employees feel they can voice their opinions. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. As you probably know, GM has sold cars with faulty ignitions for more than 10 years. During this deposition, Barra repeatedly apologised, remained humble, and promised to change the fundamentals of GM's culture. IV. The leadership of Mary T. Barra has changed the car manufacturing industry. Millions of cars were recalled, several employees were fired and Barra had to testify against the Congress. Under Marys leadership, GM has advanced a vision of a world with zero crashes, to save lives; zero emissions, so future generations can inherit a healthier planet; and zero congestion, so customers get back a precious commodity time, Bastian said at the outset of the conversation. Barra's leadership is focused on positive transformations, which entailed doing away with the previous reforms affecting the businesses. Im a big believer if everyone has access to a great education, they can be their best self. Do the work. One of the most noteworthy leadership lessons from Mary Barra to learn is the skill of lifelong learning and exploring. She then held several Global Vice President positions including Manufacturing Engineering, Human Resources and Product Development before being namedExecutive Vice President for Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply chain in 2013. There would be transparency within the company. Like all leaders trying to do something transformational, Barra's burden is monumental, time is of the essence and her legacy is riding on . Barra, who rose through the ranks, is the highest-ranking female executive in the auto industry. Now, she is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the General Motors Company, a position she . She came across as a caring and genuine human being. Barra has worked at GM her entire life, starting at the age of 18 as an electrical engineer. 3) Preparation. 5) Simplification of Leadership Process. In fact, it would be easy to dismiss it. In the meantime, find out how to hone your own leadership skills and abilities with our handy guides, and dont forget to check out our recommendations on the best leadership books, films and podcasts to enlighten your development. Perseverance Skill: In Mary Barras case, it was not easy for her to lead a charmed life without having any setbacks. She became a Plant Manager and thenExecutive Director, Vehicle Manufacturing Engineering. Barra suggested asking, What values are important to you? Bastian shared more about Deltas efforts through Junior Achievement and Propel to attract diverse talent and provide opportunities for learning about the industry that young people may not otherwise have. Barra focused on empowering the workforce to create and innovate with the goal of positioning GM as the industry leader for safer, more environmentally-friendly vehicles. In an article by Stanford Alumni, John Calabrese, a coworker of Barra, said that I guess she kind of has a consensus approach, but when its not coming together, she gets concise and shes pretty decisive. Moreover, after being appointed as the new boss for GM, she decided to make all the GM cars safer than before whatever it takes. Mary Barra is good humored, yet serious in her job. When Mary Barra became CEO of General Motors (GM) in January 2014, she was by most measures an utterly conventional candidate for the job. And that's the key to achieving something truly transformational. By many accounts, Barra attributes her success at GM to keeping the companys interests and not her own career the focus of her attention. While rising through the ranks in GM, she . Mary Barra Mary Barra is the current Chief Executive Officer of the American automaker giant, General Motors (www.forbes.com, 2014). We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 2. Mary Barra has earned a widespread reputation for honesty, integrity and talent. Besides these, there are few leadership traits which she possesses. Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, made headlines in 2013 when she became the first female CEO of an auto company. Quick Learner: Barra always puts her priority in learning new things and developing her skills. GM cars and trucks, led by Chevrolet, are earning industry awards and consumer acceptance. to a yearlong "transformational leadership" course for senior execs; to . Under Marys leadership, GM would focus on three factors customer, relationships and excellence. Ample breasts. Assume the goodness of others. She has the skill of pulling the final decision and making things right for the company. Mary Barra, 51 to the role of chief executive officer. Theres just no substitute for quality. Saving Account Explained with Features and Benefits, leadership qualities that made her an eminent leader, Everything You Need to Know About Content Authoring Tools for E-Learning, 3 Top Tips for Choosing Ambulance Only Insurance Cover, 4 Simple but Effective Techniques to Maximize Your Sales, The Advantages of Using Payday Loans for Wedding Expenses, Factors to consider while choosing a custom boxes seller online, Subsidized Loans and Unsubsidized Loans All You Need To Know. In one interview, taken by Bloomberg, she mentioned that team sport is necessary for producing . Unfortunately for Barra, its not all positive, though. Cornell University, B.S. General Motors CEO Mary Barra was walking the stage at the J.P. Morgan Automotive conference in New York on an early . A meta-analysis of 138 studies found that smiling boosts your mood. The CEO of General Motors, Mary Barra, is a fixture on Fortune's list of the Most Powerful Women in business. The company leverages the power of storytelling to ensure that the message sticks. IV. III. Experts also say that the crisis, in fact, opened the curtains to the spectacular display of Barras leadership skills and a new and better work culture at GM. Her leadership style involves giving her subordinates and peers the space to express their opinions. by expressing genuine compassion for the victims, transparency with investigators and regulators and a commitment to create a new company culture.. This article is part of our Leadership Studies series, an insight and analysis into the makeup and model of some of the world's most successful leaders. Keywords: Transformational Leadership, Situational Leadership, Richard Boyatzis International . Mary Barra was about 10 when she first fell in love with a car. General Motors has been recognized for our commitment to gender equality in three top employee equity rankings: Bloomberg's Gender-Equality Index (GEI), Equileap and JUST 100.In addition, we were recognized as one of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere.com for exemplifying and advancing corporate citizenship, transparency and the standards of integrity. Leadership lessons from Marry Barra teach us how important it is for leaders to act responsibly for people and the society. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Recover; As things stabilize in the next stage, people need a leader who is careful and risk-reducing. Motivational Leadership: This leadership trait is a workable model for Mary Barra for being a favorite leader to her employees. Whats more, the receiver also experiences a boost in mood, and anyone who witnesses your act then becomes more likely to offer an act of service to someone else you create ripples of service. "Today's GM will do the right thing," she announced in her opening remarks. Decision-Making Skill: When the time comes to a point for the final say, Mary Barra puts all her emotions aside and makes a clear-headed decision by using her skill. While they are in fact opposite approaches to leadership, both offer advantages and are important styles of leadership to understand and apply in certain types of situations.. A leader may naturally gravitate towards either the transactional or transformational side in . Leadership Lesson #1: Keep it honest and keep it simple. People have died in GM cars with faulty ignitions. GM is Mary Barras company now, and she has to do the same thing.. Moreover, in board meetings, she suggests asking different opinions and later she takes the boards feedback into consideration. Subscribeandfollow. Its her leadership that sets the tone for the companys new path and modified corporate culture. Once again, Barra somehow managed to leave her reputation intact and the company unscathed, illustrating how proactive measures, effective crisis management and the ability to switch between management styles has seen her thrive as a leader. There isnt a single industry that isnt impacted by technology. At this year's conference, Prof. Adam Grant hosted the keynote discussion with Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, about people management. During the 1998 General Motors strike, Mary Barra was appointed as the internal communications director to bridge the communication gap between union workers and the management. In 23 years, shed gone from inspecting fenders to being in charge of worldwide product development. She noted that she would tell her younger self to start "embracing new and different opportunities," which "would be a good place to start". She never wastes her time by not taking the blame rather she admits the blunders and owns them to make them right. GM initiated a program called Speak Up for Safety where Marys commitment was If youre worried Im worried.. Transformational Leadership: Reinventing the Rules of the Game. Here, we will break down what exactly you, as a small business owner, can take away from this hugely successful trailblazer. , one indispensable quality, core to being an impactful transformational leader, appears have! Name, email, and promised to change the fundamentals of GM 's culture to making bold decisions with companys... Things right for the victims, transparency with investigators and regulators and a commitment to create new! 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