In: Operations Management
The servant leadership management style involves focus on customers as well as employees. It is characterised by a collaborative and supportive work environment where decision making is done by a team and not an individual. Successes and failures are attributed to the whole teams rather than individuals. But, more focus is given to customers. Companies following servant leadership management style focus on empowering their employees and keeping them happy which ib turn helps the companies keep their customers happy and satisfied. Best example is Southwest Airlines' CEO which emphasized on respecting and supporting its employees, who in turn will serve their customers better and keep them happy.
However, Branson's leadership management style represents that style in which leaders take risks in order to deliver results. Here, the focus is on delivering results by continual improvements. Also, the focus is on empowering individuals who are full of creativity and dynamism and will take risks to provide solutions to solve complex problems, thus developing the culture of meritocracy and individualism. This style is usually followed by companies trying to achieve supernormal results or when the company's growth is stagnated or the company has stopped innovating. Richard Brandon, the founder of Virgin Group, is known as an innovative leader.