BRIDGING THEORY AND PRACTICE LEADERSHIP Assignment

BRIDGING THEORY AND PRACTICE LEADERSHIP - Assignment Example Due to the importance and relevance of leadership, there are several academic and professional studies that have been conducted on it to make its application and usage very simple and forthcoming. It is not surprising therefore that there are several theories of leadership in the academic world. The question that remains however is the level to which these leadership theories are applied in professional world. The essence of this paper is therefore to examine how the gap between theory and practice leadership can be bridged. This process is undertaken by examining the life of a world renowned leader on how this leader has contributed to society and used various leadership behaviors. The paper concluded with recommendations on how the leader can improve on the type of leadership style practiced. Biography of the leader Mary Nichols is the leader, whose personal and professional is examined as a case study in this paper. Mary Nichols holds a B.A from Cornell University and has J.D from Yale Law School, which earned her one of her earliest careers as a journalist with The Wall Street Journal. She worked as an attorney with specializations in the areas of environmental and health science from 1971 to 1974. As a professional, Mary Nichols takes leadership at the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as the head of the organization. Her current position comes as a result of rising through the ranks in the CARB. This is because under Governor Jerry Brown, Mary served at the CARB from 1975 to 1982 (Tett and Burnett, 2003). She them left her position for other engagements, which were however related to environmental leadership. In 2007, Mary Nichols was back to CARB ahead of Govenor Brown’s recall to the statehouse, and this time she acted for four years. Today, she heads the CARB but before she worked with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where she was the Assistant Administrator of Air and Radiation, consolidating her experience and depth of k nown as an environmentalist. Generally, the legacy of Mary Nichols at her position remains her accolade as a fierce advocate for the institutionalization of what has been described as cutting edge technology that has not only transformed her state but her nation and the world as a whole (Tabachnick and Fidell, 2001). Specific to her credit are the successful push through with policies that have brought about boosting in fuel economy, the cutting of acid rain and reduction in the impact of greenhouse gases on the environment. Mary has been tagged by international media and environmental advocates as a woman who leads with global standards. Interestingly, Mary Nichols attributes her successes to the cooperation and united spirit she has had from the entire people of California and subordinates who work under her. Into the future with Nichols, California is looking at the reduction of harmful diesel pm through the adoption of California’s diesel truck rules in 2014 by 7 tons a d ay and 3 tons a day in 2023 (Tett and Burnett, 2003). Contributions to society/organization As a third timer at the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and working under three different heads of states, there are several contributions that can be outlined of Mary Nichol in terms of how she has transformed the organization within which she works and society as a whole. As far as her organization is concerned, Mary Nichols will be credited with structural and organizational changes at CARB. Analysts have said that there were clear differences in Mary Nichols from 1975 to 1982 at CARB and the Mary Nichols who is today the head of the same organization. This is because she contributed to a restructuring exercise that