Leadership Lesson #1: Keep it honest and keep it simple. What did Mary Barra learn from leadership jiu jitsu? She's the first woman to run a global automaker. In addition to logical reasoning, you need to be attuned to what people care about their fears and aspirations. What HP's Big Move Can Teach Entrepreneurs. Quick Learner: Barra always puts her priority in learning new things and developing her skills. The Mary Barra leadership style also revolves around maximizing the use of technology to fuel innovation. On her watch, GM invested millions in electric vehicles and self-driving cars to keep the company profitable in todays agile world. Id call that a win-win-win! An extraordinary example of the remarkable leadership skills of Mary Barra is how she put General Motors back on track from filing bankruptcy to regaining its stature of being one of the most important auto companies in the US in just four years. But she is building the kind of legacy that anyone, leader or not, could be proud of. Barra, who rose through the ranks, is the highest-ranking female executive in the auto industry. In her speech at the Wharton People Analytics Conference, she said, really focusing on engaging with people, and making sure you do win their hearts and minds and how you empower them, I think has been key.. (1.25 Marks ) (Min words 200-250) 3. Transformational leaders are exemplary positive role models who attract admiration. One of the most noteworthy leadership lessons from Mary Barra to learn is the skill of lifelong learning and exploring. To be the Best Source of Business Strategy & Analysis. This is a BETA experience. She immediately acknowledged the problem. Demonstrate service and empathy for everyone you interact with. Its not what you might think and its not what most would expect. But there would be no time for celebration. GM is Mary Barras company now, and she has to do the same thing.. General Motors, America's largest car manufacturer, has named Mary Barra its chief executive, making her the first woman to head a major auto firm. She is quite humble and collaborative, keen to give all the credit to her team members rather than taking the limelight on herself. Mary also calls hall meetings to gather various concepts and ideas from different individuals in order to run a project. Here are some of the numbers to examine her success: Based on numbers, Barra's record as head of GM has been mixed. These facts are just a glimpse at her success. Smile more. Some leadership styles that are considered beneficial, such as transformational, charismatic, and authentic leadership, demonstrate a great deal of Mary Barra's Leadership Mary Barra is the highest ranking woman in the automotive industry. Through her knowledge, experience, leadership skills, Mary continued to distinguish herself and advance within GM's management structure. . Mary Barra has been the chairman and CEO of General Motors since 2014. Be conscious of how you make the other person feel. Barra, a native of Royal Oak Mich., a suburb just outside of Detroit, has gained much success . Barra wants to spend time with the employees who are newly recruited to check out whether their values match with her. You may opt-out by. View mary barra.docx from BUSINESS 2102 at JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY. In 1999, she was named General Director, Internal Communications for GM North America. Transformational change is the most challenging leadership strategy that can be adopted in business. Leading with Uniqueness Transactional vs. transformational leadership is not a question of a good vs. bad, right vs. wrong approach to leadership. GM's results over the next couple of years will go a long way to determining that. Here, we will break down what exactly you, as a small business owner, can take away from this hugely successful trailblazer. Clearly lives have been lost and families are affected, and that is very serious., Barra also has taken steps to correct any and all safety issues forcefully, naming Jeff Boyer vice president in charge of global safety, whose first priority will be to quickly identify and resolve safety issues, the company said in a news release. Mary Barra has earned a widespread reputation for honesty, integrity and talent. I. Communication Skill: While steering an organization with loads of employees towards success, Mary Barra made it possible by her communication skill and she simplified her message to everyone which helped all the employees to understand the focus of the organization. She crafted new policies that fostered responsibility, cooperation, and inclusiveness in the workplace. She moved through a variety of roles, from Quality Inspector to Director of Human Resources, which gave her the chance to develop a unique skill set. At this years conference, Prof. Adam Grant hosted the keynote discussion with Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, about people management. Unfortunately for Barra, its not all positive, though. Stocks Showing Rising Market Leadership: Teradyne Earns 82 RS Rating . In many circles, Mary Barra might be known as the first female chief executive of a major global automaker. Why Should You Shop for Home Insurance Even if You Arent Relocating? Just as Barra focuses on transformational leadership to run her corporation, leaders should always emulate this character and be willing to embrace change. Here are just some of GM's honours and awards under her tenure: Considering Barra's ascent, you would expect GM's finances to be among the best they have ever been. In what ways does she fit or not fit that model? Either way, she is the consummate fearless brand. In the commencement speech she delivered at Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2016, she said, As leaders, we have an obligation to act responsibly and courageously for people and the planet, because our actions have long-term effects on the generations that come after us. In an era that rewards inclusion, these have been integral adjustments. Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors. One study found that a regular gratitude practice also leads to increased happiness and optimism. She accepted GMs mistake publicly, hired Kenneth Fienberg, known for handling high-profile victim compensation cases, and initiated a thorough investigation. "That begins with my sincere apologies to everyone who has been affected by this recall, especially the families and friends (of those) who lost their lives or were injured. Mary Barra will be the first person to say that GMs performance under her leadership is the result of a company-wide commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. She is first female Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General. She came across as a caring and genuine human being. Elon Musk, Reed Hastings, Mary Barra: A Guide to Leadership From the Covid-19 Crisis. In association with, Top-ranked manufacturer in the 23rd annual Automotive Loyalty Awards, Best Gorgeous Costume Design 2018 at the 2018 Motor Show in Thailand, North American Chevrolet Colorado with Thai-Built DURAMAX Engine Wins MOTOR TREND 2016 Truck of the Year, Listening to Customers wins Chevrolet three 'Car of the Year 2015' awards, All GM brands in the top 10 in the Benchmark Dependability Study, GM named one of the 2015 'Top Companies for Executive Women' by the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE). Barra has worked at GM her entire life, starting at the age of 18 as an electrical engineer. Her leadership style connects to a democratic leadership style where she makes sure everyone has an equal right to give their views. Never stops for learning made her a great leader and she possesses this quality from the beginning. She was described as having masterfully handled the crisis . II. It enables you to achieve almost anything, Barra said. Her job, which was meant to pay for her college tuition, was to inspect hoods and fender panels of the Pontiac Grand Prix. Partner, Exec|Comm, a global communication skills consultancy The car company has rebounded under her leadership. (1.25 Marks ) (Min words 200) Barra focused on empowering the workforce to create and innovate with the goal of positioning GM as the industry leader for safer, more environmentally-friendly vehicles. She is an excellent communicator. Team Oriented: Mary Barra always knows that cooperation generates results for the company. If You Think Im a Joke the Jokes On You! She made such daring decisions which other GM leader would never dream of. And Barra inherited this colossal, lethal mess when she became the first female CEO of one of Detroit's Big Three. Mary Barra's Leadership Style: What Entrepreneurs Can Learn. Required fields are marked *. But in reality, its analogous with going into a boxing match with one hand tied behind your back. The same holds true for your business for your brand. After graduating, Mary began full time employment at GM, working in part, on the Pontiac Fiero. In an era where transformational leadership is becoming even more relevant, these simple yet highly effective habits can help you master the how of being transformational, enhance both your and your teams happiness and improve overall performance. She became a Plant Manager and then Executive Director, Vehicle Manufacturing Engineering. Whether your company is on the Fortune 100 list or local business, place your emphasis on your customer, provide value, exceed their expectations. . 7 How old was Mary Barra when she started her career? Big blonde hair. With that in mind, how can the quality of happiness be applied in leadership? It takes courage to be this honest and forthright. Today, Mary Barra is the first woman to lead any of the Big Three automobile manufacturers in America- Fiat Chrysler, Ford and GM. As a result, GM walloped Tesla by rolling out moderately priced, long-range electric vehicle. Its called emotional contagionand its the reason why we can feel so enthused and energized by the presence of a positive upbeat person, and yet sapped of energy when around a serial complainer. Weve worked hard with the city of Detroit but we have more work to do. Mary Barra is a role model for many. Your email address will not be published. Condenser Makes Drinking Water from Air without Using Energy. The way she treated her staff with dignity and respect was truly amazing. Pragmatic optimism means youre not blind to risks or obstacles, but you self-regulate negative thinking so youre not hindered by it and instead are empowered to take considered action. By every definition, Barra is a transformational leader whose influence will permanently reshape General Motors. Several top business people from both inside and outside of GM,have stated that she is one of the most talented executives theyve ever encountered. With this communication flair, Barra was able to initiate a communications strategy where communication moved both ways on the hierarchy ladder so that meltdowns could be tackled before they materialized. The manager makes the decision and announces it 2. Stanisic, B. Barra maintained that this is one of the most important things leaders can do. She sprang into action again following the killing of George Floyd and the swelling . She has the skill of pulling the final decision and making things right for the company. Too often, we find girls in middle school back away from math and science. In a unique move for a corporation, she committed that GM would makefull restitution prior to knowing the financial impact. By 2015, Mary had pulled GM from major markets including Europe, Russia, India, South Africa. Continue ReadingDownload Free PDF. Under Barra's leadership, GM envisions a world with zero crashes, to save lives; zero emissions, so future . Her parents were of Finnish heritage he a die maker at General Motors (GM) Pontiac division, she a stay-at-home mom and part time bookkeeper. Her communication style, which involves calling meetings impromptu to discuss issues and find solutions without delay, is another important leadership skill to learn from Mary Barra. When the Virgin Groups Richard Branson ran his record company, he was known for intentionally skipping over the most qualified individuals in the company, and instead would empower assistants with projects to contribute their ideas for change and achieving the organizations vision. The CEO of General Motors, Mary Barra, is a fixture on Fortune's list of the Most Powerful Women in business. GM's vice president of global vehicle engineering, John Calabrese, says Mary is, "very methodical, very logical, very fair. leadership-gm-ceo-mary-barra-wharton-people-analytics-conference/. She was named the CEO of General Motors, assuming that position on January 15, 2014 making her the first ever female to head a major automobile manufacturing company. It means working to improve the communities where we live and work by.. They act as advisors and coaches, listening to followers and providing support. 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