Introduction
Over the years, the world has witnessed some remarkable leaders who have steered their respective organizations, countries, and/or communities to success. Despite salient efforts to uncover the leadership traits and behaviors that define successful leaders, there is no single blueprint for becoming an effective leader. This paper seeks to critically explore two such icons, Martin Luther King Junior and Steve Jobs, who made remarkable contributions in the field of civil rights and information technology, respectively. Attention will be drawn to the profiles of these leaders, their leadership styles and the approaches they took to achieve their goals. Furthermore, a comparison will be made between both personalities to distinguish their methods as historical difference-makers and the individual traits that made them world-beaters. That they left great footprints in their various arena of endeavors is not in doubt, this paper will try to x-ray how they were able to achieve such feats as protracted.
Explanation and Justification of Key Concepts
Martin Luther King Junior
Dr. Luther was an important figure in the pursuit of equality for black people in America. He was born in Georgia and went to Morehouse College for his higher education. At the age of fifteen, he completed high school and entered Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania to study sociology (Hendrix, 2015). In 1948, he studied systematic theology at Boston University for three years before receiving his doctorate from Boston University.
During his time at Boston University, he met and married Coretta Scott, with whom he had four children. From the onset of his career as a clergyman and social activist, Dr. King advocated for nonviolent resistance to effect social change. This was informed by his Christian upbringing and his study of Mohandas Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolent civil disobedience. In 1955, he led the successful boycott of Montgomery’s public buses which were segregated (Martin & Sørensen, 2016). The following year, he helped found a religious conference (Christian) where he coordinated various protests against racial segregation in the South.
During the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. had now ascended to be viewed as a prominent figure. With this position, he utilized it to organize ideological resistance, consequently delivering his now-famous “I Have a Dream” speech (Ling, 2015). This kind of activism accentuated the accommodation of black people previously excluded from civil obligations, which hallmarked the end to the discrimination that black people had suffered and contended with for centuries (Ling, 2015). Unfortunately, King’s life was cut short in 1968 when he was assassinated. Despite his untimely death, his legacy continues to live on through the numerous achievements he made in the advancement of civil rights in America.
Steve Jobs
Born in 1955, Steve Jobs was a technocrat, entrepreneur, business mogul, and investor. He developed an interest in electronics at an early age, leading him to drop out of college after one semester to pursue a career in that field. In 1976, Jobs and his friend Wozniak commenced Apple Computer Company. The first fruit of their efforts is recorded as Apple I, which the two sold to hobbyists (Isaacson, 2021). Apple I’s success paved the way for the development of the Apple II, one of the first commercially successful personal computers.
Under Jobs’ leadership, Apple introduced a number of ground-breaking products, such as the Macintosh computer, the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad, which revolutionized the information technology industry. Since 2003, Job has carried an illness (cancer) that accentuated his passing on in 2011 (Lakin, 2015). During his lifetime, he was widely criticized for his autocratic leadership style but he was also hailed as a visionary and one of the most successful entrepreneurs of his generation.
Analysis
For people to excel to the point of becoming icons and legends, they must have had some personality traits and feats that set them apart. In the case of Martin Luther King Jr., his commitment to non-violent resistance as a way of effecting social change was informed by his Christian upbringing and study of Mohandas Gandhi’s philosophy. This made him a visionary leader who was ahead of his time. Additionally, his “I Have a Dream” speech is considered a game-changer in global history (King, 2015). Conversely, in the case of Steve Jobs, his entrepreneurial spirit and dogged determination helped him turn Apple into one of the most successful companies in the world (Bilton, 2014). He was also known for his autocratic leadership style, which helped him maintain tight control over his company and its products.
A good leader pursues goals with passion and determination and has the ability to inspire others to do the same. According to Saeed et al. (2014), they also possess a clear vision, are decisive, and are able to take risks. Lastly, they are able to lead by example and are not afraid to challenge the status quo. From the aforementioned, it is clear that both Martin Luther King Jr. and Steve Jobs possessed many of the qualities that make up a good leader. They were both men of integrity who possessed the courage to stand up for what they believed in. Additionally, they were both confident in their abilities and had the discipline to see their respective visions through to the end.
While both Martin Luther King Jr. and Steve Jobs were successful in their own right, they achieved this success in different ways. King’s commitment to nonviolent resistance and his “I Have a Dream” speech helped him achieve social change on a large scale. Jobs’ entrepreneurial spirit and technological innovation helped him revolutionize the information technology industry (Buble et al., 2014). Both men were icons in their respective fields and their legacies continue to live on long after their deaths.
Critical Evaluation of Each Leader’s Approach to Leadership
A number of factors may impact how a leader approaches an issue, which is one reason why leadership is frequently regarded as the ability possessed by an individual to affect others to attain a common aim. These could range from their upbringing to the context in which they are operating to their personal values and beliefs (Yoffie & Cusumano, 2021). Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s leadership approach is made by three principles that not only enhanced his influence but also compelled millions of individuals to look to him as a role model (Gallo, 2019). Many followed while he was living and long after his unexpected death. These principles include focusing on values and beliefs, pursuing goals with passion and determination, and being a visionary.
Jobs’ leadership style, on the other hand, was much more autocratic in nature and often involved him making unilateral decisions without consulting others. This was evident in the way he ran Apple and made decisions about its products. While this approach helped him maintain tight control over his company, it also caused him to have divergent opinions with many individuals both inside and outside of Apple. Regardless of their different approaches, both King and Jobs were successful in achieving their goals.
When evaluating each leader’s approach to leadership, it is important to consider the context in which they were operating. Dr. King was a leader in a period when African Americans engaged in a battle for their rights and equality in the United States. King’s focus on values and beliefs helped him tap into the collective consciousness of his community and inspired them to fight for change (Al Khajeh, 2018). Jobs, on the other hand, was a leader during the technological revolution. His focus on innovation and progress helped him create products that changed the way people live and work.
While King’s leadership style was more effective in achieving social change, Jobs’ leadership style was more effective in achieving economic success. This is not to say that one approach is better than the other, but rather that each approach is better suited for different types of goals. When evaluating leaders, it is important to consider not only their approach to leadership but also the context in which they are operating.
Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Steve Jobs were successful leaders who achieved great things. While they had different approaches to leadership, they both possessed the qualities that make up a good leader. They were both men of integrity who had the courage to stand up for what they believed in. Additionally, they were both confident in their abilities and had the discipline to see their respective visions through to the end (Al Khajeh, 2018). What made each of them successful was their ability to adapt their leadership styles to fit the needs of their respective contexts. When evaluating leaders, it is important to consider not only their approach to leadership but also the context in which they are operating.
When critiquing each leader’s approach to leadership, it is essential to examine the environment in which they led. Dr. King was a primary figurehead during the Civil Rights Movement, a time characterized by immense social injustice toward African Americans. His speeches urging nonviolent protesting in the face of brutal oppression moved his followers to take action and eventually helped bring about desegregation and other legislative changes. Steve Jobs, on the other hand, was at the forefront of the technological revolution; his products changed the way people communicate and consume information. Jobs’ passion for progress and innovation helped him create products that have had a lasting impact on society (Bilton, 2014). Thus, due to the different contexts in which they led, it is not surprising that King and Jobs had different approaches to leadership.
Comparing and contrasting Dr. King’s and Jobs’ leadership models and accomplishments
A closer look at the leadership models of Dr. King and Steve Jobs reveals some interesting similarities and differences. Both men were incredibly effective leaders who achieved amazing things, but they did so in very different ways. Dr. King was a visionary leader who inspired people with his words and his actions. He was passionate about equality and social justice, and he used his platform to speak out against discrimination and promote civil rights (King, 2015). He was also willing to take risks and make sacrifices for the cause, which ultimately led to his untimely death. Steve Jobs, on the other hand, was a more pragmatic leader who focused on innovation and results (Boyle et al., 2015). He did not necessarily care about changing the world, but he wanted to change the way we interact with technology. He was also known for being a demanding and sometimes difficult boss, but his employees were fiercely loyal to him because they believed in his vision.
Although both men were incredibly successful leaders, they achieved their success in different ways. Dr. King was more of an idealistic leader who inspired others with his words and actions, while Steve Jobs was more of a results-oriented leader who focused on innovation and progress. It is imperative to also recognize that the two leaders operated in different historical contexts; Dr. King was fighting for equality during a time of segregation and racism, while Steve Jobs was building a tech empire during the rise of the digital age. Thus, these differences augmented varying realities and opportunities for both that relate to the needs of the populations they led (Sethuraman & Suresh, 2014). Nevertheless, the accomplishments of each are highly respected and celebrated.
It is also important to note that both leaders faced significant challenges during their lifetimes. To be born in a period of inequality, where black people were discriminated against and treated as second-class citizens, was undoubtedly a challenge for Dr. King. And to be born into a world where technology was still in its infancy must have been a challenge for Steve Jobs. But both men overcame these challenges to become highly successful leaders. History further reveals that King was assassinated at the age of 39, while Steve Jobs died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 56 (Boyle et al., 2015). However, despite these tragic endings, both men left behind legacies that continue to impact the world today. Dr. King’s dream of equality and social justice lives on through the work of the civil rights movement, while Steve Jobs’ vision of a more connected and technologically advanced world has been realized through the products and services of Apple Inc.
Such a comparison of two influential and game-changing figures, Dr. King and Steve Jobs, is essential to understanding varying leadership models and how their pivotal role in elucidating success. Dr. King recognized the need to combat unjust laws and racial injustices. That urgency drove him and his leadership team to take remarkable steps in order to make a difference. Conversely, Steve showcased boldness to challenge the status quo by introducing new and innovative products that improved the way people live and work. As such, courage in leadership cannot be understated as a critical success factor (Gallo, 2019). It is also insightful to look at the different leadership styles of King and Jobs to understand how each man achieved such great things. Dr. King was more of an inspirational or transformational leader, while Steve Jobs was more of a transactional leader (Alvesson, 2020). Although both men were highly effective in their own ways, it is clear that different types of leadership are needed in different contexts to achieve success.
To be a Dr. Luther or Steve Jobs, one has to think and behave differently. They need to be passionate about their dreams and be able to pursue them with determination. They also need to have a clear vision and be decisive in the face of adversity. Lastly, they need to lead by example and challenge the status quo. These are the qualities that made both men legends in their own time. And while both Dr. King and Steve Jobs had very different leadership styles, they were both able to achieve great things in their respective fields.
Conclusion
To be a leader takes more than the life one is born into. Leadership envelopes many facets that make a person who they are. A leader could be anyone, and it is not always the people at the top of the totem pole that garner the most respect. Oftentimes, those with a different perspective or way of thinking can bring about change. Whether it is by speaking out like Dr. King or by building something new like Steve Jobs, leaders have the potential to make a significant impact on the world. What is important is that they are able to inspire others to follow their lead. And while one man’s leadership was cut short by tragedy, and other natural causes, their legacies continue to live on and inspire others to greatness. History is undoubtedly an unparalleled teacher, and by studying the leadership of figures like Dr. King and Steve Jobs, current and future generations can learn valuable lessons about what it takes to be an effective leader.
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