Businesses undergo different changes when it comes to their operations and management. Changes in operations and strategies are the very known modes of change emerging from natural occurrences such as climate and weather while some are from economical enforcement. While there are different stakeholders in effecting changes, the key determinants are the leaders of the organization. Discussing the role of leaders in managing change tends to bring insight on change evaluation, implementation and supervision. In Patagonia, the leadership took the lead to ensure change and the success of the business.
To comprehend the role of leadership in Patagonia, there must be a comprehension on the phases through which change takes place. These phases are: understanding, decision-making, Action and evaluation. (Gartenstein, 2019). One of the roles of leadership is decision-making and implementation also known as action. Patagonia’s leader Chouinard takes lead on most decisions made of the company. It starts by his initiation of pitons which later seemed to cause damage to the environment. His analysis drew him back to closing down the business; a decision that solely relied on him to protect the environment. Another decisive moment for him was when he decides to take up a clothe business designed for men which greatly reduced in sales during a recession. This fluctuation of sales called on him to reduce the burden by cutting off costs and dismissing some employees to enable him pay off his debts (Stratten, 2022). This was a hard decision to make bearing in mind the worth invested and the contribution of the taskforce towards the company’s progress.
During Patagonia’s existence, the role of leadership was also to lead by example while motivating the followers. For instance, to avoid burning out, Chouinard ensures he takes a break from work and ensures no contacts are made to him. He awards his workers with days off to bond with their families and do extra-curricular activities. This action ensures that the workers are motivated to work extra hard; which in return yields the success of the company based on their hiring and analysis processes (Stratten & Stratten, 2022). Leadership in managing change also looks for accountability, this is to say that in case of mishaps and setbacks the individual understands that they have a responsibility to own up to instead of blame games. Chouinard shows good leadership skills in managing change, in that, productivity and success of the company was founded in energized taskforce. When the company failed, He owned up to his mistakes and solely ensured he rein tracked his thought line and directions.
Leadership is also relevant for ensuring that good communication takes place throughout the company. Patagonia saw its leader take his juniors to a different place to only have them think on why the company was not performing well. This action was to enhance leadership to junior members open communication leading to either decision-making or involvement of both parties. While implementing change, the participation if all parties is necessary for the success of the change project. The feeling of relevance and belonging allows for adaptability and flexibility of all teams towards the stipulated change. In conclusion, Patagonia’s leadership role was to make decisions that favored the success of the company while in consideration of the factors contributing to the success of it; in this case; environment (Farra, 2021). The leadership was also to ensure accountability and implement the change while ensuring open communication for participatory roles of all stakeholders to change.
References
Farra, E. (2021). Patagonia has a new mission to “Save our home planet” – One of its first employees explains how they’ll get it done. Vouge.
Gartenstein, D. (2019). The importance of leadership in managing change. Bizfluent.
Stratten, S., & Stratten, A. (2022). Leadership in action: Patagonia case study | The People Space. Thepeoplespace.com. Web.