Leadership in Tony Fernandez

2.0 Traits of Tan Sri Tony Fernandes

2.1 Leadership Trait Theories

Leadership Trait Theories attempt to elaborate different characteristics for leadership effectiveness to identify a set of physical and psychological traits that possesses by all the successful people. In this assignment, we are able to identify some of the traits in Tony Fernandes.

2.1.1 Self-confidence

Definition

Tan Sri Tony Fernandes is a person of self-confidence. Self-confidence is defined in a general way to include several related concepts such as self-esteem and self-efficacy. Most studies on leader self-confidence or self-efficacy found that it is related positively to effectiveness and advancement (Bass, 1990). Self-confidence differentiated between effective and ineffective managers in the study of critical incidents by Boyatzis (1982), and self-confidence predicted subsequent advancement to higher levels of management in the assessment center research at AT&T (Howard & Bray, 1988).

Examples

Leaders with high self-confidence are more likely to attempt difficult tasks and to set challenging objectives for themselves. For instance, Tony mortgaged his home and sank his savings to acquire AirAsia, comprising two ageing Boeing 737-300 jets and USD$11 million(RM40 million) worth of debts, for one ringgit. This is a bold decision that not everybody can make, but only people with high self-confidence.

Besides, it is especially important for high self-confidence people to act confident and be decisive in a crisis. For instance, Tony started his operation just after the September 11, 2001, the biggest crisis in the history of commercial aviation when nobody wanted to fly. Eventually, just one year after his take over, AirAsia had broken even and cleared all its debts and had led AirAsia to become one of the world’s best low cost airlines in Asia.

2.1.2 Stability

Definition

Tan Sri Tony Fernandes also a person of emotional stability, which is well adjusted and does...