Critical Thinking Critical Thinking: Leadership Concept and Leadership Styles Course Learning Outcome: Apply different management and leadership styles for different situations (LO 3.1) Select a Business leaders located in the Saudi Arabia. Write a three page paper which includes the following: 1. Determine the key Leadership qualities the leader possesses. Why do you like him or her? 2. Based on your research, explain the impact the leader has on his or her organization. 3. What are the components of being a business leader? Examine yourself to determine whether you are a business leader based on these components. 4. Next, examine your potential as a transformational business leader and suggest ways for you to develop this type of leadership skill. Directions: 1. This assignment is an individual assignments. 2. All students are encouraged to use their own words. 3. The paper should be about three page long and may not include the title page, abstract or required reference page. 4. Use Saudi Electronic University academic writing standards and APA style guidelines. 5. Support your submission with course material concepts, principles and theories from the textbook and at least two scholarly peer-reviewed journal articles unless the assignment calls for more. 6. It is strongly encouraged that you submit all assignments into the safe assignment Originality Check prior to submitting it to your instructor for grading. 7. The paper can be broken down into three parts (an introduction paragraph, the essay’s body and a conclusion paragraph) addressing the above questions.

Introduction

Lubna Suliman Olayan is one of the greatest Saudi Arabian business women born to Sulaiman Olayan and Maryam bint Jassim. She was later named as one of the influential people in 2005 and has progressed to be on the Forbes list of most influential women in the field of business and leadership in general. She is the first woman in the country’s history to deliver an opening keynote address at a critical conference at the Jeddah economic forum. Currently, she is the chief executive officer and assistant chairman Olayan groups industry that deals with investments, real estate, businesses, customer and industrial associated operations done in the Gulf area. Moreover, she has been one of the members of the board of Schlumberger since 2012 and later linked up with the board of Ma’aden that is considered a Saudi public organization dealing with the mining sector. Olayan leadership styles are an admiration to a majority of the people across the globe, and due to the qualities, she holds regarding leadership qualities.

Key Leadership Qualities

Lubna Olayan represents an essential milestone for the women in the Saudi region linked with the stereotypes defined by the community and was chosen due to the many strides she has accomplished which are uncommon for women in the area. According to Gazzaz, L. (2017), she is one of the practical examples of women that have never given into the problems of a conservative society; as such, she plays a significant responsibility in encouraging the dreams and hopes of the young women both in the community, as well as the universe. She is the current leader of the most influential investment capital business in the gulf which is still the biggest investors in the nation and regional stock markets. Under her leadership quality and motivation, the company has been able to secure lucrative Middle East distribution franchises for various brands including Burger King and Coca-Cola. Olayan has demonstrated her relentless urge for success in the business environment of Saudi Arabia and the entire gulf. Her passion to succeed is not only limited to the business surrounding, but she has also played an active duty in affirming women rights and freedom. These are qualities of a motivational leader who is out to encourage and motivate people towards accomplishing the set goals and objectives.

Impact on the Organization

Through her leadership qualities and drive, the financing institution has turned out to be the biggest investors in the country together with the regional stock markets. Sill, under her control and administration qualities, the institution has been able to achieve a lucrative Middle East distribution franchises as mentioned earlier hence being referred as one of the prominent example women who have strongly motivated to succeed in the business environment. Typically, executives with the drive continuously strive to accomplish the next lucrative level of accomplishment whether in terms of institutional position or self-growth. As outlined by Alexander, N. H. (2013), a drive is considered as a motivational feature that enhances the effort degree of a leader towards achieving the set mission and objective.

Components of a Business Leader

Some of the elements of being a good business leader include honesty and integrity as effective leaders come up with an institutional culture built in these two fundamental values and hold all workers accountable to the values. Without honesty and integrity in the business environment, their business will not be able to accomplish the set long term goals and objectives. Effective leaders ought to be trustworthy as they are evaluated for always sticking with the truth and for exercising the highest degrees of ethical conduct (Alexander, 2013). Also, as part of the components, being a business leader needs the team building spirit and drive as effective leaders should possess outstanding team building techniques that in turn require the ability to attract and keep top talent. All business leaders know that they cannot perform every duty alone and that having the best talent increases the opportunity for success. They recognize that they require building a team with complementary technique sets and experiences and continuously look to engage people that know more than they perform.  On a personal examination, there are numerous components showed in the business environment and this is a clear indication of being a good business leader.

Transformational Business Leader

The transformational leadership is a style in which executives constantly encourage, motivate and inspire workers to innovate and create a change that will help in increasing and shaping the prospect success of the organization (McCleskey, 2014). This kind of leadership motivates and inspires their workforce without micromanaging as trained workers are trusted with the business’s operations and are allowed to take in charge of the decisions in their respective careers. This type of leadership skill can only be developed coming up with an inspiring vision of the future, motivating various individuals to buy into and deliver the idea. Still, it can be achieved by creating an ever-stronger, trust-centred relationship with other colleagues.

In conclusion, the increasing degree of change in the business environment is a more significant factor in the leadership environment as effective leadership is the fundamental drive towards achieving the set business goals and objectives. Lubna Olayan has always been an inspiration to women, and her leadership qualities are regarded as motivational and inspiring to the business world.

References

Alexander, N. H. (2013). Saudi Arabia female students’ perception of effective female leaders. Advancing Women in Leadership, 33, 142-150.

Gazzaz, L. (2017). Renaissance of Saudi Women leaders’ achievement (Doctoral dissertation, Brunel University London).

McCleskey, J. A. (2014). Situational, transformational, and transactional leadership and leadership development. Journal of Business Studies Quarterly, 5(4), 117.