Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Journalism 405
March 22, 16
Leadership Essay
Bob Iger
CEO of Disney
Biography
Robert A. Iger is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Walt Disney
Company. As Chairman and CEO, Iger is the steward of the world’s largest media
company and some of the most respected and beloved brands around the globe.
Since acting as CEO of Disney, Iger has made Disney an industry leader through its
creative content offerings across new and multiple platforms. Prior to his current
role he began his career as a weatherman for a local television station. He joined
ABC in 1974 and gradually rose though its ranks. In 1989, Iger was named head of
ABC Entertainment and served as president of the ABC Network in 1993. Six years
later Disney named Iger president of Walt Disney International, and soon after in
2000 Iger was president and chief operating officer making him the company’s
number two executive chairman and CEO under Michael Eisner. “Under Iger’s
leadership: stock is up 38% over the last 12 months, valuable brands like Pixar,
Marvel and LucasFilm are now part of Disney fold, and the company is innovating on
all fronts with the new Disney Infinity video game and a magic bracelet idea coming
soon to Disney Parks that will make visits easier and more memorable.” (1)
There is no questioning that Bob Iger is an excellent leader. Through his long
line of success he has been able to adapt to change and motivate his team to move
forward. He does this by having strong Leader traits and behaviors. These are
ventures for the Walt Disney Company. Iger has done this by establishing direction
and creating a vision, aligning people and communications goals, and finally
with employees to identify the need for a chance and create a guide to that vision
followers through connecting the follower’s sense of identity and self worth to the
project. Being a role model for followers in order to inspire them to raise their
interest in the project through challenging followers to take ownership for their
work. By doing this, it allows leaders to align followers with tasks that enhance their
Iger’s transformational leadership can been seen through making both himself and
his team advance to a higher level of motivation and success. Iger has constructed
Disney’s organization of leaders into a management team called the “C-suite”. The
both male and female employees. The goal of this design is to communicate what the
Walt Disney Company’s goal is by ensuring that Walt Disney’s, the founder, mission
is communicated to every single employee. The whole idea here is that the
this vision. Leaders have set up their organization and teams in such a way that
autonomy.
started with Walt Disney himself. Iger has implemented “The Bass Handbook of
consideration for employee’s as “The stars are the people we actually put on the
playing field that have created so much value for the company over the years.” (3)
environment for his employees that allow them to take risks, which also helps them
learn from their mistakes. Through his three major investments in Pixar, Marvel,
and LucasFilms, he has provided inspirational motivation for his staff. Finally, an
pride, respect, and trust in his staff members in all departments of the organization.
Leader Traits
important to understand his leadership traits and behaviors. Before you are able to
verbal ability to communicate, and a perceptual ability to be able to deal with and
give meaning to sensory stimuli. Self-Confidence gives a leader belief that one can
make a difference. The Determination and desire to get the job done includes
initiative, persistence, and drive. The Integrity to be honest and trustworthy allows
you take responsibility for actions. Lastly, Sociability is the capability to seek out
pleasant social relationship by being friendly, outgoing, and courteous. As you can
see though his productive transformational leadership Iger possesses all five of
these major traits. His intelligence is shown through the ability to set a structured
thoughts and ideas. Having the belief that he can make a difference by investing in
take initiative and have an ambitious drive he thrives in determination to get the job
done. Empowering employees to try new ideas shows integrity to be honest and
take responsibility for ones actions and mistakes. And finally establishing a positive
Leader Behaviors
identify how leaders combine these two kinds of behaviors to influence employees
in their efforts to reach a goal. The two general kinds of behaviors leaders use are
task and relationship. Leaders who use task behaviors facilitate goal
accomplishments helping group members achieve their objects. Leaders who use
this behavior focus on getting the job accomplished rather than nurturing team
comfortable with themselves, with each other, and with the situation in which they
find themselves. Instead of main focus being on accomplishing the task at hand
these leaders nurture employees caring more about their wellbeing. The way Iger
combines these behaviors best supports the Team Management style. He places
both a task and interpersonal relationship behavior that promotes a high degree of
Conclusion
In conclusion to this essay I support why Robert A. Iger Chairman and Chief
possesses both leadership traits and behaviors that allow his to be an effective
organized management team Iger has been able to motivate and inspire his
1, Block, Alex Ben. "Disney CEO Bob Iger Shares His Approach to Leadership at UCLA Awards
Gala." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.
<http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-ceo-bob-iger-shares-659053>.
2, Gates, Corey. "Leadership Analysis: The Walt Disney Company."Linkedin.com. N.p., n.d.
Web. <https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leadership-analysis-walt-disney-company-r-cory-
gates-mba-candidate>.
3, "Robert A. Iger - The Walt Disney Company." The Walt Disney Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 23
Mar. 2016. <https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/leaders/robert-a-iger/>.