Five Approaches To Leadership: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

Leadership and Strategy

Stacy Strickland

MGT/521

July 10, 2017

Ms. Rosas Leadership and Strategy

Leadership is a way to get employees to voluntarily meet their organizational goals. Leadership is doing the right thing. A leader has the final say, and sometimes it can be against the policy. A manager will do the planning, organizing, directing and controlling in an organization. Leaders inspire, encourage and rally others to achieve their goals. Managers implement a company’s vision and strategic plan, whereas, leaders create and articulate that vision and plan. There are five approaches to leadership. They are trait theory, behavioral theory, situational theory, transformational theory and three additional perspectives, known as leader,

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield uses the situational leadership. Anthem is a rapid growing company in the health care industry, which is known to be one of the best and biggest in the industry. Anthem recognized that organizational is competitive. Goals were specific, but not that easy. Anthem states, “that they wanted to break down bureaucratic barriers, increase self-leadership, deliver effective communications, strive on business results and unique service, execute its business plans thoughtfully and effectively, and strive to make the organization a great place to work, move beyond “command and control” and leadership by intimidation, and promote a learning culture. Using Situational Leadership II (SLII) The Ken Blanchard Companies as the foundation of its leadership training, the company created a mixed learning approach incorporating classroom, online, and web-based courses designed to improve organizational effectiveness. Most all leaders and managers reported a high level of confidence that their use of the SLII skills will pay off in the future through decreased work errors, increased retention of high-performing associates, achievement of critical business goals, higher employee morale, and increased customer satisfaction. An Anthem leadership consultant incorporated an impact study to show that SLII applications have made a significant impact on the company’s culture. Seventy-three percent of managers indicate that conversations with their staff improved; 79.5 percent of managers stated that they are able to determine the development needs of their staff accurately; 79.8 percent of managers stated that they are comfortable using multiple leadership styles; 68.3 percent of managers stated they are better able to manage the performance of their staff using SLII skills; and, Anthem realized a $2.5M cost avoidance because of a performance conversation with an associate. It appears