The Leadership Qualities of Ted Turner - Research Paper Example

? Ted Turner Table of Contents Introduction 3 Thesis ment 3 Ted Turner- Leadership Approach and Style 4 Conclusion 7 Works Cited 8 Introduction The project seeks to bring forth the leadership qualities of Ted Turner, who is a businessman and founder of CNN, the Cable News Network. CNN, which is the first twenty four hours cable news channel, was initiated through the founding of WTBS, which was the pioneer in the concept of cable television. Besides being a businessman, he is also known for being a great philanthropist who provided an amount of $1 billion to the United Nations which created the foundation of the organization. Known for being a great leader, Turner received the Bower Award from the Franklin Institute for Business Leadership. The success and growth of CNN can be largely attributed to the stature of this great man and his style of leadership. The characteristic which distinguished Turner from other leaders is his ability of diversity into areas in which he had little knowledge. Known for his ability to take unusual risks and then transform them into successful businesses, Turner was the master of certain unique and rare leadership qualities. The project seeks to discuss the leadership skills of Ted Turner in the light of leadership theories, styles and approaches. This is done by analysing both his quality traits and those leadership traits which were not present in his personality (Fitzgerald 3). Thesis Statement The project seeks to analyse and present the leadership qualities and attributes of Ted Turner, who is the owner of the Cable Network Channel, CNN. This includes exploring the ways in which he has established the vision in the organization and led people towards realising that vision. The project explores the unique qualities and attributes of Turner as a leader. Particular reference is drawn in ways in which has realised an unconventional and innovative vision in the organization, his social and ethical concerns towards society, the type of structure and culture he established in the organization and his motivational techniques at the workplace. Ted Turner- Leadership Approach and Style Ted Turner is a legendary example of an entrepreneurial visionary leader. This is demonstrated through the fact that he could assess and pick up a trend which people would want in the long run. This was the vision behind starting an all news cable channel which could be accessed by people at any time of the day. CNN, besides being an immense commercial success is also a complete transformation and revolution in the way people avail news from across the globe. After establishment of the vision, Ted worked towards implementing the vision with tenacity and will. The entrepreneurial visionary leadership of Turner gets reflected through his first purchase of channel 17, a television station in Atlanta which had a weak UHF signal. Industry experts had expected that the plan would fail even before it started. However, the station emerged as a success on Turner’s application of a certain new technology which eventually revolutionised the television industry. Turner has been particularly successful in implementing his vision in the organization and influencing his employees in believing and realising that vision. Even while the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) was spreading across the country, cable programs were generally regarded as producing old and low rated shows and programs. The industry was expecting for quality content and demanded high from HBO and Turner Broadcasting System. For an individual who hardly watched television programs, Ted Turner had a passion for savvy programming in his television stations. This is partly because he could perceive that which others could not, i.e. the values which lay hidden the old and worn out television movies and shows. He influenced his men and followers to believe that instead of running the shows on rental basis, he should rather own them so that he could run them frequently and as often as he wished to. Establishing this vision in the organization and directing his followers towards realising the vision is what took the company towards success and victory (Pandya 121). Being a leader, Ted Turner is particularly concerned about ethical and social responsibilities in the organization. Turner installed a number of solar panels at the parking slots in Turner Enterprises Inc. These were installed as solar panels. He has particularly used the solar energy source with the aim to reduce consumption and save other energy sources in his organization. He makes his followers and people of the organization believe that the organization must contribute to the benefit of society in order to earn its goodwill which will eventually be reflected through performance and productivity. His leadership quality gets reflected through the fact that he not only influences his followers and men to believe in his vision, but also other industrial leaders to do the same (O'Hara). He believes consumption of solar energy can be done by everyone as the technology already exists and can be used easily. His sense of corporate social responsibility and ethical issues gets demonstrated throng his passion for environmental causes and the way he tries to spread such causes amongst business leaders and the countrymen. Once he had said that all businessmen can use solar panels in fence posts and then electrify those fences so as to keep out people they did not want to let in. He even suggested to businessmen that if they considered solar power inappropriate for their businesses, they would seek outside assistance for identifying ways in which their businesses could make a difference to the world. He suggests hiring of environmental consultants for attaining recommendations which would be specific for the kind of business or company they were. They should also try and reduce carbon footprints and reduce energy consumption as much as possible. He believed that beyond the big things, there were myriad of small things to do. While entering his office, people would find his office lights dim and as he uses low voltage bulbs and uses energy only when he needs it (O'Hara). Ted Turner demonstrates a charismatic style of leadership. He depicts a role which each one strives to follow. He emerged as a hero and idol which people wanted to follow. They had immense faith in his vision and strategies which is why he was faced with very little resistance during the time of his entrepreneurship. When he was faced with resistance from his employees regarding particular issues or strategies, he did not try to impose his decisions and judgement on them. He, rather, chose to give reasons and rationale behind his choice of decisions which is one of the basic traits of charismatic leaders (O'Hara). He sought to counsel his followers and men in his organizations to effectively handle resistance. Many a times his business decisions were confronted with employee resistance and conflicts. In such cases he did not resort to any kind of conflict management strategies. He, rather, discussed with his employees he had a strategic vision and purpose and explained them the alignment of the decision with the long term vision of his company. In other words, he had the power to influence people in the right direction and path and bring them to common terms with him such that they began to believe in his visions and strived to realise them (O'Hara). The organizational structure of Turner Inc depicts a flat organizational structure. This is because he disliked bureaucracy and hierarchy. He treated people on a common platform and was well aware of the frustrations and constraints of conventional bureaucratic systems. His typical ways of motivating people was recognising their efforts and attaining their consent and participation with regards to decisions and strategies taken in the organization. Providing people with adequate liberty and freedom at the workplace and allowing them space to perform their activities at their will kept them motivated and eliminated frustrations at the workplace (DuBrin 130). Conclusion The study reveals some of the most critical qualities and characteristics of the leader Ted Turner, the owner of the cable network channel CNN. The growth and success of the channel can be greatly attributed to his leadership style and qualities. His leadership traits are regarded as entrepreneurial visionary. This is because of his ability to diversify into areas in which he had very little and then emerging successful in those areas. The initiation of CNN was also one of his rare and unique visions which brought him tremendous success and appreciation. His leadership style depicted high concern for the society and environment at large. He has particularly influenced his followers, employees and also other business leaders into thinking that businesses could be conducted with substantial contribution to the society. He has deliberately tried to minimise the use of energy in his organization in order to save as much energy of the society as possible. His considers the consent and participation of people of prime importance and seeks to place them on the same platform. This has been particularly beneficial in influencing them to believe in his strategies and plans, motivate them at the workplace and also remove frustrations from the workplace too. Works Cited DuBrin, A. J. Leadership: Research Findings, Practice, and Skills. Cengage Learning. USA: 2012. Print. Fitzgerald, P. In the Words of Great Business Leaders. 2000. Web. May 22, 2012. http://www.usq.edu.au/extrafiles/business/journals/HRMJournal/BookReviews/Fitzgerald-Fentster.pdf O'Hara, K. J. How Ted Turner has built success by sticking to a few key principles. On a mission. 2011. Web. May 22, 2012. http://www.sbnonline.com/2011/07/how-ted-turner-has-built-success-by-sticking-to-a-few-key-principles/ Pandya, M. Nightly Business Report Presents Lasting Leadership: What You Can Learn From The Top 25 Business People Of Our Times. Pearson Education India. 2005. Print. Read More