Taran Swan's Characteristics Of An Effective Leader

Throughout my career, I have always been taught “management is doing things right, but leadership is doing things the right way.” Managers tend to focus on tactical day to day tasks with a directive or controlling approach. A leader will ensure processes are executed with emotional intelligence, strategically focused, and continuously motivating employees to drive themselves. Taran Swan exemplifies characteristics of an effective leader, as she leads her team to start Nickelodeon Latin America. The qualities that Swan possess that impacts the team’s process, culture, and outcome are her skills of communicating effectively, demonstrating accountability, and engaging and inspiring. The impact Taran Swan has on her team’s process is through

She first demonstrates holding herself accountable, through cost efficient management. Starting the venture of Nickelodeon Latin America, she knew at any point Viacom could stop all efforts in building the channel. To be a responsible leader, she controlled costs through her plan that “Nickelodeon would share infrastructure and staff with MTV Latin America” (Hill, Doughty, 1999, p.3). Alongside displaying personal accountability, Swan established accountability practices with her team. She gave her team ownership of department processes. “I trust them as managers that they are not going to go over budget” (Hill, Doughty, 1999, p.12). One employee stated, “Taran did an excellent job involving all the different departments and allowing everyone to contribute ideas on how to make the launch successful” (Hill, Doughty, 1999, p. 4). Having employee involvement and holding them accountable to commitments, not only keeps a motivated team, but generates successful outcomes within the organization. Her staff knew that she was very consistent with follow up and challenging them to reach full potential. Harry Neuhaus, Vice President of advertising sales, explained how “she constantly challenged” him to propose short-term goals, that will impact the long-term outcomes (Hill, Doughty, 1999, p.11). With this, Swan established a system of rotating leadership for executive

Jeff Dunn, COO of Nickelodeon, describes Swan as of being “exceptionally competent, warm and personable, and people liked working with her” (Hill, Doughty, 1999 p.5). Swan identifies herself as a “coach and a cheerleader” to get her team excited and knowledgeable about Nickelodeon Latin America (Hill, Doughty, 1999, p.5). As an effective leader, building culture is important to the overall process and outcomes of an organization. Swan wanted her employees to be included in all aspects of the business “so they could become more well-rounded and help each other” (Hill, Doughty, 1999, p.6). She demonstrates how an inclusive culture can uplift and motivate a team to work together to accomplish goals. Swan also inspired her team by knowing all their core strengths and opportunities as leaders. She spent extensive personal time with individuals, such as Pierluigi Gazzolo, who valued that he “always felt she knew what you were doing, and she never forgot to give a pat on the back” (Hill, Doughty, 1999, p.11). Swan genuinely valued her team at work, rewarded them through team building, and socialized with the team off