Being the president of a sorority is a significant job, especially if you are in charge of a group of sisters who are your own age. It’s challenging to strike a balance between friendship and leadership, but with the appropriate strategy, you may lead well while preserving good connections with your sisters. Now, what happens if there is a situation in which ethics are violated and the president must compromise a larger group of over two-hundred girls to save themselves? This very situation has occurred at many prestigious schools which in turn has eliminates the sorority organization from being involved in any activities and on campus in general.
To begin, when there is an ethics issue within a sorority that compromises their school involvement, new leadership is typically called upon to push any corruption out and to pull a fresh perspective in. Even with a new leader, followers may still feel compromised within an organization which may have a negative effect on them. In the case of Steve Jobs and Apple Inc., Job was often seen as a more hands-on leader with a power struggle when leading his team/organization of employees. There was a time when Jobs was forced out of the leadership of the company he created because of how involved he was. Eventually, he was reinstated back into the company because of their financial struggles for over ten more years, but then again resigned due to his failing health. That is when Tim Cook took over the position of CEO of Apple Inc. and had a different approach to his leadership of Apple employees (Dormehl, 2022). Cook was presented with the problem of filling the shoes of a renowned leader while upholding the company’s success and reputation for innovation. Some Apple supporters and investors initially viewed Cook’s management style and vision for the company with skepticism, worried that he would not be able to keep the company moving forward. But over time, Cook was able to win over the Apple community’s respect and trust, and the business flourished under his direction. Apple has grown into one of the most successful and profitable businesses in the world, with a devoted following and a reputation for innovation and brilliance. Comparing Tim Cook’s leadership to Steve Jobs’, there were several ways in which Tim Cook improved Apple Inc. The corporation underwent several significant changes under Cook, among them a stronger emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility. He oversaw the creation of new initiatives such as the company’s attempts to lessen its carbon impact and the Apple Renew program, which encourages users to recycle their outdated technology. Cook also oversaw the introduction of numerous new products, including the Apple Watch and AirPods, as well as the company’s entry into new areas, such as China. In 2018, Apple became the first publicly listed U.S. firm to attain a market valuation of $1 trillion under Cook’s leadership (Duffy, 2021). With a change in leadership style, Cook was able to continue Apple’s success and further grow the company into one of the most influential companies on the globe. Although there was not a significant ethical issue involving Jobs besides his very controlling behavior, this situation can still be related back to a change in leadership and how a leader can win over their followers as a new member of an organization.
In a situation where sorority members must adhere to new leadership after a negative occurrence, it is difficult to win over the trust of a couple of hundred young women. In comparing the leadership of the former and current presidents, the first president exhibited similar traits to Steve Jobs in having a vision for the organization. A sorority president must, however, be inclusive and collaborative in their leadership approach rather than dictatorial. They should pay attention to the opinions and worries of their constituents, assign tasks wisely, and endeavor to foster a culture of encouragement and support inside the company. In doing so, members can feel more a part of the organization, and with trust being given to them, they will in turn feel more trusting towards their leader. In being collaborative, Cook illustrated himself as a more approachable leader. We learned in this course that collaboration is a trait of the servant leadership approach. Northouse (2022) states a servant leader prioritizes the needs of others and sees to it that those needs are met (p. 253). This approach puts a high focus on empathy, cooperation, and the development of others, which might lead to a successful workplace that motivates staff, fosters job satisfaction, and promotes organizational success. A new leader may show their dedication to the company and its people by taking a servant leadership stance, in which they can establish trust via their actions. A leader may foster a supportive environment inside the company by paying attention to the wants and requirements of their subordinates, assigning tasks efficiently, and offering possibilities for growth and development. After experiencing a change in leadership because of an inappropriate situation, a new sorority president can implement servant leadership by prioritizing the needs and growth of the members. Conception, emotional healing, and assisting followers to advance are a few servant-leader traits (Northouse, 2022, p. 261-262). In particular, a person in this role may do this by facilitating frequent meetings, encouraging members to speak up, and facilitating one-on-one interactions. In order to encourage organization members to take ownership of the part they play and contribute to the success of the sorority, the president might assign members tasks depending on their skills and interests(after getting to know everyone). The president can also offer tools and chances for members to develop, such as mentoring programs (big&little sisters) and workshops on the sorority’s culture, values, and goals. The new sorority president may establish a feeling of community and collaboration, foster trust and confidence among the members, and create a pleasant and supportive atmosphere for all members to thrive by putting servant leadership into practice.
In a nutshell, being the president of a sorority let alone a corporate organization may be a difficult job, especially when ethical dilemmas could occur. However, a president can effectively lead and rebuild positive relations with the sisters if they use the right leadership approach. In situations where a new leader is required because of ethical transgressions, the new leader might take a servant leadership stance to win the members’ confidence and esteem. This strategy, which puts members’ needs and growth first, will promote a cooperative and encouraging atmosphere where all members can flourish. A sorority president may build an environment of support and encouragement inside their organization by adhering to these rules, which will result in a vibrant and long-lasting sorority community.
References
Dormehl, L. (2022, September 16). Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs leaves and rejoins Apple. Cult of Mac. Retrieved April 2023, from https://www.cultofmac.com/445723/today-in-apple-history-steve-jobs-leaves-and-rejoins-apple/#:~:text=Two%20significant%20days%20in%20Jobs’%20career%20took%20place%20on%20this%20day.&text=September%2016%2C%201985%20and%201997,as%20its%20new%20interim%20CEO.
Duffy, C. (2021, August 24). How Tim Cook has grown the Apple Empire in his decade as CEO | CNN business. CNN. Retrieved April 2023, from https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/24/tech/tim-cook-apple-ceo-ten-years/index.html
Northouse, P. G. (2022). Leadership: Theory and practice (9th ed.). SAGE.