Week Seven: Theories in Action

When I think back to Theories and Models this past spring, I often think about our class discussions revolving around the ways in which men and women employ different leadership tactics. This is a phenomena I feel that I have witnessed in real time at my internship site.

On the business side of the magazine, the Chief Revenue Officer is the boss everyone looks to impress. JD, as people call him, serves as the CRO and is the man in charge. He very much employs a management-by-exception style when he leads, and mostly steps in when things are going awry in the office. He is definitely directive and straight to the point. He embodies everything I expected from a c-suite executive of a corporation.

There are two other leaders that rank just below him—the VP of Sales and the VP of Marketing. The VP of Sales is currently on maternity leave, but from what I know, she had a very different leadership style. My coworkers tell me she is a much more understanding, compassionate person, and is a more satisfying and motivating figure to work for. These reflections directly connect to what we learned about the typical leadership style of a woman: they employ individualized consideration and contingent reward.

The VP of Marketing falls somewhere between the two ends of the spectrum. He is less directive and chooses to listen before he speaks, but still exercises the management-by-exception style of leading more often than not. 

I have really enjoyed observing the different leadership styles employees put to use in this space and have appreciated the chance to hear about what works for the employees working under them and what they value in a boss. I feel as though this opportunity has definitely cemented some of the theories I learned about this spring—especially those related to gender and leadership style.