Howard Schultz

Transformational Leadership at Work by: Christopher Garcia

Idealized Influence

Howard Schultz makes others passionate based on his actions.

- Donating $100,000 from profits annually to low income areas in order to boost job in those communities.

This creates commitment and engagement to the vision of inspiring and nurturing the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time. Not only does Schultz talk the talk, he walks the talk.

Inspirational Motivation

Starbucks is known for doing business with integrity, ethics and love.

As Howard recounted one of his visits to London, where he went into a cheese shop. He saw the interior was poorly stocked, poorly lit, and staffed by a old man. When Schultz asked how the man paid for rent, the old man told him he own the building and that it had been in the family for a really long time. He added that although he could make more money selling the place, he would lose the ability to pass this down to his son and discontinue the cheese tradition. It was this man’s love for his product and his responsibility to pass this down which was the inspiring part.

It is the fact that Howard Schultz learn something from this that represents the inspirational motivation. The expectations to know the coffee inside and out is there, however its the love for the product that makes the company unique.

Intellectual Stimulation

According to an essay on Howard Schultz, Intellectual stimulation comes from leaders who solicit new and novel approaches for performance to work. Howard Schultz proavtively used the feedback from the employees. In turn the employees felt empowered and encouraged which led to he “Frappuccino”, one of Starbucks most thriving innovations. Leaders with a character lending itself to intellectual stimulation stimulate and encourage their followers to explore new ways of doing things. (Mullins, 1996)

Individualized Consideration

Individualized consideration includes attaining unique and particular needs of followers to make sure that they are included in transformation processes of the organization. People are treated personally and differently on the base of their skill and knowledge. (Mullins, 1996) According to my brother Tony who works at Starbucks, the company created “Working Solution” to help them with their personal needs by providing them assistance when required. They also offer different training programs for all class of employees according to their skill and knowledge.