British Petroleum Case Study - Leadership

Question 3
Do you believe Horton's and Simon's leadership styles to be determined by personality or do you see them as acquired or both? Explain.
"Leadership is a function of knowing yourself, having a vision that is well communicated, building trust among colleagues, and taking effective action to realize your own leadership potential." - Warren Bennis.
If we stick to Bennis' definition of leadership, it could be said that both Simon's and Horton's leadership styles are solely determined by their personalities. However, as we have seen throughout this case study, there are external influences which have oriented each CEO's management and leadership style.
Horton spent most of his life i the United States, so when he implemented the Project 1990, you could sense the influence of his pas t experience on the new continent. Furthermore, Horton's primary education was that of an engineer, which can also be a determinant of his leadership stye. However, the fact that he imposed his decisions on his colleagues and employees, is mostly due to his personality. It can consequently be said that his personality dominated his leadership style. …