Research Paper on Successful IT Leaders: Inspiring Traits & Characteristics

Introduction

Leadership is one of the components that shape the nature and lifestyles of people in the world. Transformational leaders are important because they bring changes in the society based on the skills and knowledge (Greenberg, 2010). Many leaders have become successful in the Information Technology (IT) industry due to their good characters and traits. Inspiration, passion, self-confidence are important characters and traits portrayed by the successful IT leaders in their operation. Leadership involves the ability to consider the opinions of other people and appreciating their achievements based on the applied efforts. This paper succinctly describes the essential characters and traits of a successful leader in the field of Information Technology.

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Transformational Leaders in the Field of Information Technology

Bill Gates is a computer programmer and business investor. Bill gates are one of the co-founders of Microsoft, which is the leading PC's software company in the world. Gates practiced transformational leadership in the software company; therefore, helping the multinational corporation one of the best enterprises in the production of personal computers. Leaders in United States of America based on his leadership styles. Bill gates dropped out of school to pursue his IT dream and took risks according to his creativity and knowledge (Layton, 2014). Bill Gates was motivated by the successes Jeff Bezos as the richest business person in the world. Gates's passion and strong vision enabled him to lead other people. Steve Jobs is the second transformational leader in the field of Information Technology. Steve Jobs sparked the revolution of the personal computer and made Apple which is the American business (Isaacson, 2012). Appropriate vision in business also enabled Steve Jobs to effectively lead Apple Inc. towards attaining their goals.

Mark Zuckerberg is another transformational leader in the field of Information Technology. Mark used his skills and talent to design Facebook services and development; therefore, contributing to appropriate changes in the technology sector. Mark Zuckerberg adopted and illustrated the transformational leadership style. Mark Zuckerberg was a hardworking man when he started launched Facebook services. The fourth transformational leader in IT is Larry Page who is one of the founders of Google search engine. Page's vision was to "Organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful" (Isaacson, 2012). Currently, Google is one of the performing companies in the world due to efforts applied by Larry Page. Lastly, Jeff Bezos is another transformational leader in the field of technology. Jeff Bezos is a businessman and entrepreneur who founded the Amazon technologies. His leadership skills and successes motivated people like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

Characteristics and Traits of the Selected IT Leaders

The successes of Bill Gates were determined by his six unique character traits. Gates was a focused entrepreneur and computer programming operations. According to transformational leadership scholars, the ability to know and invent something new is different from being wise. Bill Gates focuses on the things he knows, that is software in the technology industry. Also, Gates worked with determination to dominate his software industry and made executions priority based on his skills and strongest perception of computer programming. The second character trait of Bill Gates is passion. Gates is a passionate leader who performed all operations according to his skills and talent.

Transformational leadership requires a lot of creativity to ensure effective management and control of resources. Gates is a creative leader who was able to develop the best computer software in the Information Technology industry. Lastly, Bill Gates is a caring man because he has been considering the needs of other employees in the software corporation. Also, Gates is ranked among the richest business people in the world who is a prolific giver to a philanthropic cause. Steve Jobs was a passionate leader at Apple Inc. Steve Jobs is remembered for his remarkable phrase that "people with passion can change the world" (Isaacson, 2012). Through his passion, Steve Jobs used some money from the stock to launch a computer company to revolutionize higher education research; therefore, leading to different innovations in Apple Inc. Steve Jobs was an inspired leader in Apple because of the successes of leaders like Jeff Bezos. Jobs was inspired by the innovations made by other IT leaders; therefore, enabling him to establish and design different brands in Apple Inc. some of the brands designed as a result of Jobs inspiration include iPad tablets, iPhone handsets, and iPod portable digital audio player.

Mark Zuckerberg has various unique character traits that enabled him to attain his expected goals and success (Zuckerberg, Sittig & Marlette, 2011). First, Mark Zuckerberg is a leader with a clear vision. Mark Zuckerberg's vision is to create a more connected and open world. Secondly, Mark Zuckerberg is a respectful person because he respects all employees based on their efforts and achievements in the Facebook Corporation. A transformational leader is always fearless in the operations. Mark Zuckerberg is a fearless leader because he acts without being intimidated by the decisions of his employees (Zuckerberg et al., 2011). Also, Mark Zuckerberg is a hardworking man he uses his knowledge and skills to create and design all services in the Facebook Corporation.

Jeff Bezos is a transformational leader due to his passion in the Amazon Technologies Corporation. Bezos is passionate about improving his innovative skills and producing quality products and services produced in Amazon Company. His passion enabled Jeff Bezos to establish appropriate vision statement for Amazon that states that encourages the corporation to provide quality services and products to the customers (Layton, 2014). Also, Jeff Bezos inspires his employees with the vision and the importance of teamwork and collaboration. Jeff Bezos is a determined leader because he insisted on the importance of promoting highest operational standards in Amazon; therefore, encouraging employees in the company to depend on their strength, courage, stamina, and perseverance to attain their vision.

Summary of the Traits and Characteristics the Leaders Have in Common

A critical analysis of the traits and characters portrayed by the successful individuals in the field of technology provide insightful information on the similarities between the personalities of the transformational leaders. One of the common trait identified from all the five selected transformational leaders is humility. For example, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg work with other employees in the companies regardless of their job positions or ranks. Secondly, the ability to create an effective vision is the main common characteristic among all transformational leaders analyzed in the Information Technology (IT) industry. The leaders normally develop the vision to enable their companies to attain the expected goals and business success. Visions created by the leaders are fundamental in guiding employees in their operations; therefore, ensuring effective performances in the companies (Wurman et al., 2014). The vision statements developed by the leaders are also influential because they ensure that employees are committed to the work assigned to them by the management. According to the literature, President John F. Kennedy envisioned the American astrologists towards landing on the moon (Greenberg, 2010). Layton, 2014

Secondly, transformational leaders have a common inspirational characteristic. According to the literature, Martin Luther King Jr. inspired the Americans to adopt and respect human rights; therefore, promoting equality of all people in United States regardless of racial differences. Interpersonal consideration is another characteristic that is common to all leaders analyzed in the Information Technology (IT) industry. From the analysis of the five selected IT leaders, it is clear that all of them consider the interests of their employees and customers. Also, self-confidence is another trait common to all leaders selected from the Information Technology sector. The leaders confidently perform various operations based on their skills and experiences.

What Makes the Successful Leaders Different from others?

The successful leaders have unique traits and characteristics that make them different from others (Greenberg, 2010). Also, the unique characteristics and traits are important for ensuring that the leaders assume their authority and power. First, successful leaders are always directed by their desires to achieve the ambitions of their organizations. Also, a determination is based on the tenacity and the ability of the leaders to influence others in their companies. Secondly, the integrity and honesty make successful leaders different from others. For example, Steve Jobs was accountable for all his operations. Reliability and openness result from honesty and integrity.

Thirdly, self-confidence makes successful leaders different from others. Effective leadership styles involve determination and confidence because leaders are required to trust their abilities. Fourthly, motivation has also made successful leaders unique from others in their operations. Leadership motivations involve the desire to influence other people employees in their organizations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, effective leadership styles are essential because they determine the qualities of the people based on their skills and knowledge. Transformational leaders Like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Steve Boss are among the successful people who have brought changes in Information Technology; therefore, shaping the livelihoods of the people in the world. Transformational leaders are important because they bring changes in a society based on their skills and knowledge. Leadership involves the ability to consider the opinions of other people and appreciating their achievements based on the applied efforts.

References

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