This is an extensive study of two famous, influential and iconic leaders in the world of business, Jack Welch and Ratan Tata. They served in the corporate world as effective and successful leaders for more than 20 years. We found differences in their leadership styles across different cultures. We also determined key common elements contributing to their success. We isolated two contrasting styles of leadership from Jack Welch’s simplicity and speed in decision making to Ratan Tata’s ‘heroic’ corporate expansion. We suggest a list of recommendations for MBA students aspiring to be authentic leaders of the future.

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Comparative Study of Two Iconic Leaders:
Contrasting cross-cultural leadership styles
Rahul Sarkar
Asian Institute of Management
123 Paseo de Roxas, Makati, Philippine
ABSTRACT
This is an extensive study of two famous, influential and iconic leaders in the
world of business, Jack Welch and Ratan Tata. They served in the corporate
world as effective and successful leaders for more than 20 years. We found
differences in their leadership styles across different cultures. We also
determined key common elements contributing to their success. We isolated
two contrasting styles of leadership from Jack Welch‟s simplicity and speed in
decision making to Ratan Tata‟s „heroic‟ corporate expansion. We suggest a list
of recommendations for MBA students aspiring to be authentic leaders of the
future.
Keywords: Leadership, Management, Leadership Styles, Jack Welch, Ratan
Tata, Philanthropy, Magnanimous, Framework
1. Introduction

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Leadership has plethora of definitions. It is most commonly considered as a process by which
a person influences others to accomplish objectives and in turn directs the organisation to
make it more unified. However the distinction between the leader and leadership is important
to note the leader is an individual; leadership is the function or activity this individual
performs. As per the Principles of Management leading is establishing direction and
influencing others to follow that direction. Peter G. Northouse‟s Leadership: Theory and
Practice is often used in introductory leadership courses and defines leadership as an
individual‟s influence on a group in order to reach a goal. (Rosch D, 2010)
The corporate definition of leadership is the ability of a company's management to make
sound decisions and inspire others to perform well. (Leadership)
2. Traits of a Successful leader
Some of the Traits of a Successful Leader are:
Building Excellence - A leader should have the capability to build excellence. Excellence is
not achieved by commanding, it is achieved through building. In order to reach that stage a
leader‟s belief‟s, values and skills should be in the best interest of his team.
Integrity - In order to win the trust and commitment of his team a leader should uphold his
values and display honesty and integrity in all his actions.
Visionary – Effective leaders envision what they want to achieve and how they can be
successful in achieving it. A good Leader has his future on his finger tips with his goals and
vision in sync.
Broad Minded – A good leader is open to all ideas and beliefs and respects it at the same
time. He treats all people as equal and heeds no regard to cast and creed and nationality.
Persuasion Capability – In order to believe in the Leaders credibility, his image, his
reputation his mission, his facts he should have good persuasion capability.
Engagement - “Esprit De Corps” is something the leaders have to ensure is imbibed in his
team. This can be done by offering challenges, seeking their ideas and rewarding them for
their contribution and providing a sense of recognition.
Risk Taker -True leaders are not afraid to take risks or make mistakes. True leaders make
mistakes born from risk.
Dedication - A leader spends every time and energy in accomplishing the task at hand in
order to inspire dedication to his team. Also, to ensure the team gets closer towards the vision
he showcases sincerity and dedication at all stages. (Clark)

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3. Leadership Styles
Leadership style is the manner and approach of a leader in providing direction, implementing
plans, and motivating people. (Handbook, 1973)
The Early Studies
The earliest significant research for identifying different leadership styles was conducted by a
group of researchers led by Kurt Lewin in 1939. This early research helped identify three
major leadership styles – Authoritarian Leadership (Autocratic), Participative Leadership
(Democratic) & Delegative Leadership (Laissez Faire).
Authoritarian leaders, also known as autocratic leaders, provide clear expectations for what
needs to be done, when it should be done, and how it should be done. There is also a clear
division between the leader and the followers. Authoritarian leaders make decisions
independently with little or no input from the rest of the group.
Lewin‟s study found that participative leadership, also known as democratic leadership, is
generally the most effective leadership style. Democratic leaders offer guidance to group
members, but they also participate in the group and allow input from other group members.
Participative leaders encourage group members to participate, but retain the final say over the
decision-making process. Group members feel engaged in the process and are more
motivated and creative.
Delegative leaders offer little or no guidance to group members and leave decision-making
up to group members. While this style can be effective in situations where group members
are highly qualified in an area of expertise, it often leads to poorly defined roles and a lack of
motivation. (Cherry, Lewin's Leadership Styles) (Lewin, 1939)
The Later Studies
Further research in the field has identified more specific styles of leadership. A comparatively
recent research into leadership styles is Daniel Goleman‟s Leadership that gets results, a
research study published in the Harvard Business Review in 2000. The publication was the
culmination of a 3 year study of about 3000 middle level managers by Daniel Goleman.
Goleman identified 6 leadership styles among the managers he studies, some of which are
similar in nature to the leadership styles identified by Kurt Lewin in 1939, but Goleman
identified a few other leadership styles as well. In all, he identified six leadership styles,
based on his study – the pace-setting leader, the authoritative leader, the affiliative leader, the
coaching leader, the coercive leader & the democratic leader. (Goleman, 2000)

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The pacesetting leader expects and models excellence and self-direction. If this style were
summed up in one phrase, it would be “Do as I do, now.” The pacesetting style works best
when the team is already motivated and skilled, and the leader needs quick results. Used
extensively, however, this style can overwhelm team members and squelch innovation.
The authoritative leader mobilizes the team toward a common vision and focuses on end
goals, leaving the means up to each individual. If this style were summed up in one phrase, it
would be “Come with me.” The authoritative style works best when the team needs a new
vision because circumstances have changed, or when explicit guidance is not required.
Authoritative leaders inspire an entrepreneurial spirit and vibrant enthusiasm for the mission.
It is not the best fit when the leader is working with a team of experts who know more than
him or her.
The affiliative leader works to create emotional bonds that bring a feeling of bonding and
belonging to the organization. If this style were summed up in one phrase, it would be
“People come first.” The affiliative style works best in times of stress, when teammates need
to heal from a trauma, or when the team needs to rebuild trust. This style should not be used
exclusively, because a sole reliance on praise and nurturing can foster mediocre performance
and a lack of direction.
The coaching leader develops people for the future. If this style were summed up in one
phrase, it would be “Try this.” The coaching style works best when the leader wants to help
teammates build lasting personal strengths that make them more successful overall. It is least
effective when teammates are defiant and unwilling to change or learn, or if the leader lacks
proficiency.
The coercive leader demands immediate compliance. If this style were summed up in one
phrase, it would be “Do what I tell you.” The coercive style is most effective in times of
crisis, such as in a company turnaround or a takeover attempt, or during an actual emergency
like a tornado or a fire. This style can also help control a problem teammate when everything
else has failed. However, it should be avoided in almost every other case because it can
alienate people and stifle flexibility and inventiveness.
The democratic leader builds consensus through participation. If this style were summed up
in one phrase, it would be “What do you think?” The democratic style is most effective when
the leader needs the team to buy into or have ownership of a decision, plan, or goal, or if he
or she is uncertain and needs fresh ideas from qualified teammates. It is not the best choice in
an emergency situation, when time is of the essence for another reason or when teammates
are not informed enough to offer sufficient guidance to the leader. (BENINCASA, 2012)
However as a conclusion to the study, Goleman suggests that in order for the organization to
have best results it is essential for the leader to not rely of any single leadership style.
Findings from the study indicate that, the more style a leader exhibits, the better. This
conclusion from the study of leadership styles directly links with the situational theory of
leadership, which is just one of the several leadership theories that have been proposed to
understand the complexities of the term itself. In order to understand leadership styles it is

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also essential to have a basic understanding of the various leadership theories and their
evolution through various research studies undertaken mostly during the last century.
4. Theories of Leadership
The early theories of leadership tried to identify what separates the leader from the followers.
Whereas in subsequent theories various other factors such as situation, skill level, type of
followers, etc. were also taken into consideration. In all, there are 8 major leadership theories
– great man theories, trait theories, behaviourist theories, situational leadership, contingency
theory, participative theories, management (transactional) theories and relationship
(transformational) theories (Bolden, 2003 ).
Great man theories assume that the capacity for leadership is inherent – that great leaders are
born not made. These theories often portray great leaders as heroic, mythic and destined to
rise to leadership when needed.
Similar in some ways to "Great Man" theories, trait theories assume that people inherit
certain qualities and traits that make them better suited to leadership. (Stogdill, 1974)
Behavioural theories of leadership are based upon the belief that great leaders are made, not
born. Rooted in behaviourism, this leadership theory focuses on the actions of leaders not on
mental qualities or internal states. According to this theory, people can learn to become
leaders through teaching and observation. (McGregor, 1960)
Situational theories propose that leaders choose the best course of action based upon
situational variables. Different styles of leadership may be more appropriate for certain types
of decision-making.
Contingency theory is a refinement of the situational viewpoint and focuses on identifying
the situational variables which best predict the most appropriate or effective leadership style
to fit the particular circumstances.
Participative leadership theories suggest that the ideal leadership style is one that takes the
input of others into account. These leaders encourage participation and contributions from
group members and help group members feel more relevant and committed to the decision-
making process.
Management theories, also known as transactional theories, focus on the role of supervision,
organization and group performance. These theories base leadership on a system of rewards
and punishments. Managerial theories are often used in business; when employees are
successful, they are rewarded; when they fail, they are reprimanded or punished. (Covey,
1992)
Relationship theories, also known as transformational theories, focus upon the connections
formed between leaders and followers. Transformational leaders motivate and inspire people

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by helping group members see the importance and higher good of the task. These leaders are
focused on the performance of group members, but also want each person to fulfil his or her
potential. Leaders with this style often have high ethical and moral standards. (Cherry,
Leadership Theories - 8 Major Leadership Theories)
Two iconic examples who showcased the above theories of leadership effectively in the 21st
century are Ratan Tata and Jack Welch.
Ratan Tata widely recognized as the person responsible for transforming the Tata Group
from an unwieldy collection of businesses into a relatively more nimble group of companies
better prepared to take advantage of opportunities. He took the reins of Tata Group and
injected professionalism in the Group. His two mantras for growth -innovation and
globalization have put Tata on global map
Jack Welch during his 20 years of work as the CEO of GE transformed the company from an
aging industrial manufacturer into one of the world‟s most competitive organization,
by building more shareholder wealth than any corporate chief in history. His adaptability and
the constant hunger for change are remarkable.
5. Ratan Tata
“I think the true legacy that a leader would like to leave behind is that he made a difference;
that he improved the quality of life of the people that he served”
Swiss Ambassador Philippe Welti1
Widely recognized as the person responsible for transforming the Tata Group, a large India-
based conglomerate, Ratan Tata has made his contribution to the shaping of new values in
doing business in India and in the world. India has acknowledged this achievement long ago;
the world is taking over India‟s judgment on this leader now.
Ratan N Tata has been the Chairman of Tata Sons, the promoter holding company of the Tata
group, since 1991. He is also the Chairman of the major Tata companies, including Tata
Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Power, Tata Global Beverages, Tata
Chemicals, Indian Hotels and Tata Teleservices. Mr. Tata also serves on the board of
directors of Alcoa. He is also on the international advisory boards of Mitsubishi Corporation,
the American International Group, JP Morgan Chase, Rolls Royce, Temasek Holdings and
the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Mr Tata is also associated with various organizations
in India and overseas. He is the Chairman of two of the largest private-sector-promoted
philanthropic trusts in India. He is a member of the Indian Prime Minister‟s Council on Trade
and Industry. He is the President of the Court of the Indian Institute of Science and Chairman
of the Council of Management of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. He also serves
on the board of trustees of Cornell University and the University of Southern California.
1
Swiss Outstanding awards coverage : http://www.blaser.com/download/Switzerland_final.pdf

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Mr Tata received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell in 1962. He worked briefly
with Jones and Emmons in Los Angeles before returning to India in late 1962. He completed
the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1975. Mr Tata joined the
Tata group in 1962.
Personality Traits of Ratan Tata:
Very dignified and Ethical – MR Ratan Tata has never been involved into corrupt practices in
his two decade long career in Tata Group. He has never paid bribe to get things done.
Dependable – One of the traits of Mr Ratan Tata is help. Managing more than hundred
companies, he has never shied away from giving guidance to his top management. He
supported both Tata Steel and Tata Motors CEOs during the acquisition of Corus and Jaguar.
Top management can always take advice from him and he is always there to support you.
Believes In Keeping Promises – Mr Ratan Tata is known to keep his promises. He kept his
promise to make a people‟s car at $2500 even though it met with so many hurdles. Mr ratan
Tata can incur losses but will never go back on his promises. During the Mumbai terrorist
attack, he promised to pay every family affected with cash. Just within 6 months he has given
cash to victims‟ family along with a job in Tata Group.
Loyal and Believes in Relationships – Tata Group has been around for a century and have
contributed to national economy immensely. Mr Ratan Tata has developed long lasting
relationship with its suppliers, distributors and helps them in all possible way. Even Mr Tata
was instrumental in developing relationship with government and helps them without
charging a single penny.
Questioning the Unquestionable – Mr Ratan Tata has a vision, and in order to realize the
vision, he has taken unprecedented steps. Deals like Corus and Jaguar will not have been
possible if Mr Ratan Tata wouldn‟t have gone the unconventional way.
Risk taker not a Speculator – He is clearly a risk taker and he takes risks on his own terms.
Investing in rotten firms and turning them around shows the risk appetite of MR Ratan Tata.
Exemplary Leadership Qualities and a Tremendous Motivator – MR Ratan Tata motivates
each employee within Tata Group. His humility and respect for individuals have made him a
great leader. He motivated his team in the acquisition of St James court hotel, the biggest and
oldest in London when share prices were falling and recession was looming thick and large.
His own efforts in pursuing a goal show the character of the man.
Leadership Traits of Ratan Tata
Visionary - “One hundred years from now, I expect the Tata‟s to be much bigger than it is
now. More importantly, I hope the Group comes to be regarded as being the best in India.
Best in the manner in which we operate, best in the products we deliver and best in our value
systems and ethics. Having said that, I hope that a hundred years from now we will spread

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our wings far beyond India” said Tata when asked about his vision. (The qualities that make
Ratan Tata a born leader, 2011)
Strategist- He is a deep thinker and extremely strategic. He is always 2-3 steps ahead"- Alan
Rosling ED, TATA Sons. Mr Ratan Tata understands the movement of market and takes
steps accordingly. It was his strategic decision to go global and acquire brands.
Initiator & Change champion - Ratan was the chief architect of the Corus deal. Although
worried about the magnitude and the amount of money involved in the deal he instilled
confidence in core Tata group employees for this deal.
Risk taker -“If you put a gun to my head, you had better take the gun away or pull the trigger,
because I'm not moving.” Ratan Tata. While he doesn't look it, he's one of the toughest
people ever known in India
Expertise - He has a tremendous technological brain. When people come to him for a critical
decision, he will give a very quick answer; his responses would be crisp, and leaving no room
for doubt. His involvement in cross-border deals could be quite significant. And that‟s
precisely what gives the CEOs the confidence to move ahead without doubts.
Influence Tactics - Ratan Tata has shown that there is no other way he will do business other
than do it ethically. He uses Consultation, Rational persuasion and Exchange tactics. (The
qualities that make Ratan Tata a born leader, 2011)
6. Jack Welch
“When you were made a leader, you weren’t given a crown; you were given a responsibility
to bring out the best in others”
Jack Welch2
John Francis “Jack” Welch who is 67 years old today is one of the most well-known and
iconic world business leaders of this modern era. He was Chairman and CEO of General
Electric, one of the world‟s largest companies (with USD26 billion annual revenue and
411,000 employees), between 1981 and 2001. His achievements as a dynamic and successful
business leader have earned him considerable respect and following in the world today.
Jack, an American chemical engineer, business executive, and author, was born on 19
November 1935 in Massachusetts, USA. He is a graduate from the University of Illinois
(1960) and University of Massachusetts (1957). He joined General Electric in 1960 and
became its CEO 21 years later – becoming the youngest CEO of his generation.
During the 20 plus years that Jack ran General Electric, it became the most valuable
corporation in the world, increasing its value over 30 times from USD 14 billion to over USD
2
Good Reads: www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/ (Accessed on 22 October, 2012)

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400 billion by early 2000. His leadership also turned out more Fortune 500 CEO‟s than any
other company in history.
The hallmark of Jack Welch‟s leadership was his insight and effort in consolidating and
streamlining General Electric‟s business and making it no. 1 or 2 in the industries it was
involved in. He also diversified and shifted General Electric‟s business from manufacturing
to financial services.
What made Jack Welch special and successful at General Electric? Jack Welch has been
studied extensively as a corporate leader and many books have been written about him on the
subject. For example, the books written by Jeffrey A. Krames, one of the world‟s foremost
experts on Jack Welch (three of his books were named “Best Leadership Books of the Year”,
focused on the characteristics of Jack‟s leadership style and how they could be exported to
other companies and industries.
Jack Welch’s Leadership Styles
Perhaps the most prominent leadership framework or principles personal espoused by Jack
Welch himself as representing his leadership style are the “4 E model” of Leadership (Bryce,
2012). Bryce explained Jack Welch‟s leadership characteristics under the 4 E model as:
Energy – He was a leader with boundless energy who worked extremely hard and at a very
fast pace and was on the go all the time. He basically set the pace for everyone else and was
the yardstick for his organisation. Nothing was impossible in Jack Welch‟s world.
Energizer – He was a leader who could inspire, motivate and spark people to perform or got
them excited about a cause. He was good at changing and setting new strategic directions
and implementing them with the support of his employees.
Edge – He was a leader with a competitive edge, who rose to challenges, thrived under
difficult situations and could make the hard decisions and stood by them. He was strong on
innovation, new ideas and change, and had the courage to see them through.
Execute – He was a leader that was results driven who was good at converting plans and
intentions into actions and desired results in a systematic and calculated manner – the “walk
the talk” kind.
Jack Welch’s idea’s practised in the real world:
Jack Welch also pioneered or crafted many critical ideas and initiatives which are widely
practiced in the business world today (Archnahr., 2012). For example, he was a great
advocate of simplifying the business which in the case of GE would have been a complicated
feat. By downsizing and changing GE to a simpler business model, he made the company
more efficient and flexible. Jack Welch also introduced the idea of less formality is better,
removing bureaucracy, putting values first such as pleasing customers than numbers and
treating change as an opportunity and not a threat.

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According to (Bryce, 2012), Jack Welch‟s leadership model has inspired many of the next
generation of great business leaders. For example, James McNerney, CEO of 3M, and Bob
Nardelli, CEO of Home Depot, have both implemented the 4 E leadership model in their
organisations. He has been a role model to many and is widely considered a living example
of how good leadership can make a big difference to our everyday lives.
Bryce added that since retiring, Jack Welch has continued to work as a consultant and
adviser, public speaker, lecturer, author and columnist. He founded a business school at the
Chancellor University. Jack was married three times and has four children from his first
wife. Personally, he has a reputation for being a no nonsense and heartless boss.

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Figure 1: Leaders Snapshot

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7. Leadership Framework
Figure 2: Leadership Framework

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The above framework tries to depict three fundamental blocks - the traits in leaders, the
effects of these traits on our surroundings and the reasons as to why a leader has those traits.
The center represents the sphere around Leadership. In other words leadership stands on four
fundamental pillars of Values, Self, Experiences and People/Support Group.
The trait “self” includes the individuality of the leader, the factors that make an individual
such as self-reflection, happiness, social acceptance, risk taker and openness to Feedback
helps an individual to learn according to the changing environment. We also take into
consideration both intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation which make a particular style
of leadership.
The pillar “experiences” looks at the childhood, college and professional life of the leader
and how they can impact on his personality.
The third block “people/support group” includes the parents, friends and mentors, who could
inspire the leader in his career and they helped him to become how he is.
The fourth area “values” comprises humility, trust, loyalty, respect and these affect the
exercise of the leader‟s power over others and influence the organization.
Through these traits, the leader influences the organization which in turn influences
communities which constitute a nation and hence the world
Leaders like Jack Welch and Ratan Tata have roles multifold. They not only run organization
from purely business perspective but they also contribute to the society they are in. Both GE
and Tata have been known for pro philanthropic companies and both organizations contribute
to the Nation GDP enormously. These leaders follow a set of values and take decisions based
on it. Both Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation levels are quite high and rely on happiness,
achievement, social acceptance etc.
8. Commonalities & Differences
Based on the above mentioned framework we have listed down several of the commonalities
between the two leaders, but there are a few contrasting characteristics which needs to be
highlighted.
The easiest to spot from the framework is the differences in experience. Ratan Tata was born
into a family of industrialists and grew up in a life of comparative luxury whereas Jack Welch
was born into a middle class family. However that is where the differences end as both then
went on to pursue their higher education at reputed universities; A B.S. degree in chemical
engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1957, and M.S. and Ph.D at the
University of Illinois in 1960 for Jack Welch and A B.S. in architecture with structural
engineering from Cornell University in 1962 for Ratan Tata. Both started their career at
almost the lowest rung on the corporate ladder. Jack Welch joined GE as a junior engineer
and rose up the ladder from the ranks. Ratan Tata worked on the shop floor among the blast

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furnaces of Tata Steel at Jamshedpur, India. The potential in both was identified by the higher
management at both were then placed in management positions early in their careers. (Ford,
2010) (Young, 2007)
This is the stage of the career where the differences crop up again which directly impacts the
leadership styles of the two future leaders with respect to the values segment in the
framework. Between 1970-1986, Ratan Tata was at the helm of affairs of two ailing firms
National Radio & Electronics Co. & Empress Mills Cotton Factory wherein he face several
labour unrests which required him to confront unions and face up to strikes & lockouts.
Although he was unsuccessful at completely turning around both the industries, this turned
out to be the formative experience for Ratan Tata as a corporate leader directly influencing
him & his leadership style. This experience helped him develop respect for people – peers,
subordinates & competitors. His often quoted virtue of earnest humility was trait developed
& emphasised during course of several negotiations with labour unions during his time at the
helm of NELCO & Empress Mills. This two attributes point towards affiliative and/or
democratic style of leadership as his dominant leadership style.
Jack Welch became the youngest Vice President of a highly bureaucratic GE in 1972 &
would later go on to become the CEO in 1981. His primary task was to streamline the
organization and during his formative years as a corporate leader, Jack Welch was required to
be a ruthless, no nonsense boss due to the nature of the assignment facing him in turn earning
him the nickname „Neutron Jack‟. Hence the most dominant leadership style for Jack Welch
was that of an authoritative leader.
The differences in the formative experience for corporate leadership is what separates the
leadership styles of the two leaders and this is derived from the various segments mentioned
in the framework – Self, Values, Experience & People/Support Group.
However as per the situational theory of leadership, a successful leader is one who is able to
apply the different leadership styles based on the different situations confronting them. The
above mentioned difference between leadership styles of the two leaders were a product of
the situation confronting them and were just an example of the diverse & complex nature of
situation faced by a corporate leader.
9. Recommendations
Confront Barriers and Take risks: There are barriers often in the path of leaders. The barriers
can be economic, organizational or even people related. It is important that leaders confront
these barriers and find solutions to bypass them. Sometimes it is necessary for leaders to step
outside the box, to be innovative. Leaders must be flexible enough to know when it is time to
try a new procedure or implement a new policy. For many taking a risk is frightening, but
such behaviour can be invaluable, benefiting the entire group. Risk taking ability is one of the
most important characteristics defining a leader.

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Commitment (Willis, 2008): Any person who assumes a leadership role needs to be
committed. An effective leader is a person who can commit to using his or her ability to lead
others, perform technical skills, perform business skills as well as organizational skills and
conceptualize situations, thus helping to ensure goal achievement. Commitment is one of the
key for success of leaders. A committed leader is always inspiring to his followers. Leaders‟
commitment inspires people to raise their own commitment.
Experiential Learning: Draw up experiences from your childhood, college and professional
life and build on them. These experiences hit your sub-conscious state and gradually develop
you in a better person. Covey (1989) points out the need to be proactive for leadership
positions. Covey further points out that experiences of past life help you in understanding
your surroundings and act accordingly. Individuals who assume leadership must be proactive
to be successful.
Manage Conflict: Conflict among people is a natural, inevitable, and constant factor
of human interaction. An effective leader expects conflict and is able to manage it in a
productive manner. A leader listens to the other person‟s point of view and makes sure that
he understands what they‟re trying to say. A leader channelizes conflict to his advantage and
manages it effectively (Noronha, 2002).
Ethical and Honest: (Bracey H, 1990) point out the importance of truthfulness in leadership.
A true leader is always admired and looked at. Yet at the same time the leader must
compassionately tell the truth. Moreover being ethical is the best policy in the long run for
any organization as has been well documented by the experiences of several pharmaceutical
companies which regularly face ethical choices in the day to day operations. A case in point
is the experience of Merck with the drug for treating river blindness in Africa (Velasquez,
1998).
Empathize: Roger D‟Aprix stated that leaders must be “loving in [their] organizational
relationships” cited in (Goldhaber, 1993). Acknowledge the value of our co-workers and
respect them with the dignity they deserve. We let them know that we care for them. This
helps in creating a better team. The ability to connect to your followers is critical to the
success of the leader and his organization as the followers form an equally important part of
the leadership equation and hence cannot be ignored.
Translate your ideas into action: An effective leader should walk the talk. You cannot only
give ideas and not pursue any of them. Your followers lose interest in your ideas and then in
you. An effective leader needs to ensure that ideas are being worked upon or rejected and
channelize the team towards translating these ideas. The most important part to be considered
in order to make the followers believe in your idea is to provide actionable steps to carry
forward the idea with milestones for course correction, if required. Providing such a clear
path for implementing the ideas is critical as it helps the leader to clearly transfer their ideas
to their followers.
Nurture Success Culture: (Tata, 2000) An effective leader ensures right culture in the
organization. By right culture, we mean success. An organization should be forward looking,

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learn from its past. An effective leader should practice this and ensure that the company also
follow these rules. Leaders must confront barriers, translate ideas into actions and nurture
success culture by facilitating learning. The idea of such a culture can be translated into
action by using
10. Conclusion
Leadership is an extensive topic to research about. We as management students on taking up
this study on Leadership realised how colossal the world of leadership is.
Leadership in terms of management is supposed to be the most organised form of business.
However, there is no stereotype style of leadership and yet all the great leaders have ended up
successfully. There is no set time frame and still this has been going on for decades. There
are no set rules and principles and yet it seems so principles oriented. We realised of how
leadership is an infinite study. There is no single conclusion, there is no single rule there is no
set connotations.
For the purpose of this study we had to limit ourselves to choose two leaders in specific,
hence selecting them was a task, in order to study a contrast, to learn their success stories, to
feel their passion and also to experience their products/services/management.
In terms of Mr Ratan Tata and Mr Jack Welch some of our takeaways as future leaders in the
world of business are:
 Lead as per the situation- we have seen in both their examples that they have been
situational leaders and it helps tackle the current scenario effectively.
 Inspirational – Through the success of their organization and in their own way they
managed to inspire the common man.
Some limitations observed during the research were:
 Method of Study – The method of study was primarily secondary research where in
no interaction whatsoever was made with the leaders and hence it limited the scope of
our paper.
 Considering we had only 2 leaders to study we cannot generalize on their styles and
success factors of leadership.
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17. 17 | P a g e
16. Reference
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