Power, Politics and Influence Tactics of Leadership Between Steve Jobs and Anita Roddick

A. Similarities

Both Steve Jobs and Anita Roddick have personal power type. According to Yukl 2006, personal power type includes referent and expert power that are gained from admiration, respect and knowledge respectively. However, the common interesting thing of these two leaders is that their knowledge did not come from academic training but from their own experience. This seems to increase their personal power as they got unique knowledge of how to do their jobs well (Hickson et al., 1971). In addition, both leaders are transformational leaders (Scott. E 2003). Dubrin et al., 1968 assert that transformational leaders have influence on others through being respected and admired. Thus, both Steve Jobs and Anita Roddick have referent power.

B.Differences

Although, both Anita Roddick and Steve Jobs have similar source of power that is legitimate power that leaders have legal right to make a decision (Zand 1997). However, there are differences in the way they gain these powers. Anita Roddick is founder of Body Shop so it is transparent that she got the whole right to make decision in term of Bodyshop’s business. However, Steve Jobs is just one of Apple’s founders. Therefore, his right to make decision might have to be shared with other founders. According to Finklstein 1992, how strong power is related to amount of money that leader invests in the company. Steve Jobs has approximately 50% of Apple’s share (Mintz 2009). In addition, he is also CEO of Apple so he got highest right to make a decision.

Steve Jobs and Anita Roddick use different other powers to lead their employees. Steve Jobs uses reward power to increase culture amongst Apple’s retail employees. According to Bubrin et al., 1968, transactional leader often use rewards and punishment to control behaviours. In addition, Scott (2003) reckons that Steve Jobs is both transactional and transformational leader. These might explain why Jobs uses rewards power to lead his employees.

In contrast, Anita...