The
Franchise Takes a look at WWF CEO Vince McMahon
"Vince knows what you want - and how to make you pay for it." According to
Stuff magazine this makes Vincent K. McMahon the seventh most dangerous and persuasive man. Vince McMahon is not the CEO of
World Wrestling Federation Entertainment (WWFE), but there is little doubt that Vince is the leader of this corporation.
Mr. McMahon, as he is known on his wrestling programs, is surely a complicated individual. On television Mr. McMahon leads by example.
How many business leaders have fallen from the top of a steel cage and through an announce table? Not many, but Vince McMahon has. In a
recent Playboy interview Vince speaks of his unusual upbringing and the life of a successful businessman. What kind of personality
traits does Vince McMahon possess? What kind of effective leader traits does McMahon have? These questions are certainly important. These issues will be addressed.
McMahon will be analyzed further using concepts in the text.
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Vince McMahon: Chariman of WWFE
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Vince McMahon stands at 6'2" and 240 pounds, which
makes him physically imposing. McMahon probably lead in a similar way. He probably is high in the surgency
personality dimension. He is the boss and will gladly let people know it. McMahon appears to have high interest
in getting himself ahead. As he goes so will WWFE. Vince McMahon clearly leads by competing and influencing.
As the fall through the announce table would suggest McMahon leads by example. These kinds of traits describe
a man who is most likely high in surgency.
This begs the question of how McMahon would rate in agreeableness.
McMahon claims to be a people person, but in a business setting this is not really the case. As Barry Blaustein can
attest McMahon does not put anyone's needs above his own in a business setting. It is fair to say that Vince McMahon
is weak in the agreeableness personality dimension.
Vince McMahon is a highly competitive person. When it comes to his
business he is under quite a bit of pressure. Vince thrives on the pressure that is required to run a successful
wrestling promotion. If McMahon's level of adjustment was placed on that continuum it would be on the stable side.
As the head of such a large corporation McMahon has to display an unreal amount of stability and grace under fire.
Conscientiousness is something else Vince McMahon probably has in spades.
This dimension includes traits related to achievement. McMahon sleeps only four hours a night. He does this because he is
highly committed to achieving goals and getting WWFE ahead. McMahon is certainly a dependable and responsible person.
Vince puts in extremely long and tough hours. He is not afraid to put in the extra time or effort. Vince McMahon is a
driven individual.
As for the openness-to-experience personality dimension this would
be a tough one to categorize Vince McMahon in. He would probably rank moderately in this dimension. On one hand he has
shown an ability to "think outside the box" such as making professional wrestling a national affair. Before him wrestling
was a strictly regional and territorial product. McMahon had a vision to take it national. He performed this beautifully.
Once he found a recipe he was very hesitant to change it. The World Wrestling Federation appeared to be a sinking ship
before Vince changed his approach to his product. He almost waited too long to make the change. He did eventually change
and now the WWF has become the undisputed leader in American professional wrestling.
The Big Five Model of Personality has proven useful in categorizing
Vince McMahon by his known traits. Vince McMahon carries many traits of an effective leader. Now it is important to
look at these traits.
Vince McMahon certainly has a
dominant personality. With his bodybuilder physique he demands attention when he enters
any room. He surely has more self-confidence than any person should. Vince definitely
has the dominance trait. As he only sleeps four hours a night and manages to effectively
lead a corporation that includes he dominant professional wrestling promotion and an
upstart football leagues (XFL) it is safe to assume that he is a high energy individual.
McMahon does not accept setbacks. He approaches life with an unbridled enthusiasm and drive.
These are examples of his high energy. Another thing that McMahon has never lacked is self-confidence.
As a young man he believed he could make wrestling a national deal. He did that and then some.
He revolutionized the professional wrestling industry. He had the guts to start a new football
league in partnership with NBC. Vince McMahon is surely confident. An interesting thing that
Vince let known in his Playboy interview is that he has a high internal locus of control.
It has already been demonstrated
that he has stability about him. He uses his power wisely for the most part and is secure and positive.
His views don't change with the weather and he won't be persuaded easily. Obviously throughout his
public career Vince has displayed intelligence. He also is flexible. Vince McMahon could be successful
in almost any situation.
Here it is probably more important
to look at the two factors that he does not appear to possess. Vince McMahon has been attacked for
steroid use in his promotion and the content of his television programs. This does not appear to be
the problems a man of great integrity would face. He has been likened to an evil P.T. Barnum. Also
Vince McMahon is ruthless and cunning. He surely is not too concerned about the welfare of others.
He sleeps little and works long hours. He expects the same from his employees. This concludes the
analysis of McMahon's leadership traits.
Other points to ponder as far
as Vince McMahon is concerned are his management style and motivation. According to the Achievement
Motivation Theory Vince McMahon would be almost off the charts in the need for power (n Pow). Vince
likes to be the man in charge. In Titan Towers he is the supreme ruler. This goes from the boardroom
to the wrestling ring. Vince McMahon has the final say as far as on-air angles are concerned. According
to the text people strong in the need for power have the dominance trait, tend to be self-confident with
high energy. Vince McMahon seems to possess all of these. He clearly likes to be in charge and have control.
Vince McMahon did not back down from the Justice Department and will not back down from anybody. The text's
description of people high in the need for power seems to have been written for McMahon. As far as his
management style is concerned I think it is fair to say that Vince is autocratic and Theory X. This goes
along with the dominance trait and the need for power.
Vince McMahon may not be the
CEO of WWFE, but he clearly is the boss and the leader. Vince has displayed certain attributes
in his time in the public eye. McMahon likes to be in charge.
References:
Lussier, R. N., & Achu, C.F. (2001). Leadership: Theory, Application, Skill Development. Cinncinnati, OH; South-Western College Publishing
The
Franchise is a founding member of SupTool's Domain. He bears
no relation to The Franchise Shane Douglas of WCW, even though
he has held the WCW World Title and Shane hasn't. You can visit
his personal forum here.
