CEO Heidi Ganahl does possess the qualities associated with contemporary leadership.

1) I believe that
CEO Heidi Ganahl does possess the qualities associated with contemporary
leadership. “Her love of what she does is contagious,” according to Sue. She
also said that Heidi is strong, passionate and strives to be the best. The
company works through franchising, with the goal of having similar service,
attributes, and looks while handling 200 other creative ideas. She attempts to
keep the companies consistent with her original viewpoints. She also does not
have an ego, but she knows that she is capable. Heidi is truly authentic,
according to Sue, which is crucial in contemporary leadership. I think she is a
very capable leader based on this video, because she is open to other ideas as
long as they stick to Camp Bow Wow’s original ideals.
2) Heidi shows charismatic and
visionary leadership. Visionary leadership
“creates a positive image of the future that motivates organizational members
and provides direction for future planning and goal setting.” She is very
goal-oriented and she says in the video that she has high expectations for the
company. She wants the company to be the very best it can and to help the
animals as best they can. She is not willing to let anyone come in the way of
the company’s rise to success, because she is a visionary.
Charismatic leadership is shown by one who creates an exceptionally
strong relationship with followers, which is something she does very well. Heidi
is a perfect example of this, because she has many friends in the business,
many family members in the business, and she has also made many friends over
time with her employees and management members. She has to draw a line between
her friends and family and the business side of operations. Her lofty
aspirations require people to work hard and do well, without which the company
cannot reach her expectations. She does not enjoy having to tell friends and
family members that they are not doing well enough and she says that it is hard
for her, but she does not let that come between her company and success.
3) I believe that Heidi Ganahl is not far away from the Team
Management portion of the Leadership Grid. She wants committed people to be
working for her and being franchise holders, but she is equally as concerned
about production. Under the definition, “Work accomplished is from committed
people. Interdependence through a common stake in organizational purpose leads
to relationships of trust and respect.” Ganahl follows this more closely than
any of the other portions of the grid, because she has a huge concern for
production, but she also has great relationships with the people in her
company. She has to put a lot of trust in other people to get things done
because it is a franchise-based company. The other people have to do well if
the company is going to succeed. She also has an open-door policy to allow
access to her at any time, because people have to be able to accomplish what is
asked of them. If they did not have access to Heidi at all times, they could be
confused or be less effective for the company. Heidi’s leadership involves a
great deal of concern for people and for production, because she loves having
good relationships with her employees, but she also makes it clear that she has
heavy aspirations.