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PEERS
CHILDREN
WORK GROUPS
SUBORDINATES
BOSSES/STAFF
100
One of your peers in the engineering department has dropped by to visit you at least three times in the last couple of weeks to discuss his new project. He claims that the project is going well, but his frequent visits indicate to you that he lacks confidence. You know from independent sources that this project is progressing nicely. You should use____ leadership.
What is Supporting (S3)? Listen to your peer and try to reassure him that he can handle the project. Discuss alternative actions, but be careful not to make any decisions for him.
100
You believe that it is important for your children to do certain chores around the house in order to learn responsibility. Your twelve-year old consistently does not do her chores. Her room is a mess and when you ask her to clean it, she ignores you. You have tried sitting down with her and talking about what she needs to do and why, but that tactic has not been successful. You should use… Leadership style.
What is Coaching (S2)? Explain how you want the room cleaned and why a clean room is important; however, listen to what your child has to say on the matter. Try to involve her in discussions about what a clean room should look like and how she might more easily keep her room clean. Let her know the standards you expect.
100
Your work group has just been assigned a new member. He doesn't understand how to do most of his work, but he tries hard to complete all of his assignments. He has come to you and asked for advice about his job. You should use___ leadership style.
What is Directive (S1)? Give the employee specific guidelines on what to do and how to do it.
100
A new planning and data collection software program has just been introduced into your company. Your secretary is reluctant to try the new software. She claims that she does not have the time to learn how to use the new software and would rather continue the old programs. You have a great deal of experience with the new software, and you have explained the importance of using the software. Your efforts so far have been ineffective, and your secretary continues to avoid learning the new software. You should use.... leadership style
What is Coaching (S2)? Explain to your secretary the rationale and benefits of the new software and set times to work with her on it. Make an effort to listen to and incorporate any of her suggestions about ways in which she can gain the necessary software skills.
100
You and your boss have had a volatile relationship. Although you would like to help her more, she does not seem to recognize your expertise or to respond to your interest in helping. Over the last two weeks, you have learned that your boss lacks confidence in establishing forecasts for a product on which you are an expert. As usual, your boss has not sought your advice. Although she seems aware that she could use the help, she is hesitant about asking for it. You should use___ leadership style.
What is Coaching (S2)? Offer your help on the report. Suggest specific alternatives and solutions that your boss might pursue on this project. Draw out her reactions to your plan and in detail describe the rationale for the position you take. Stress to your boss that bottom-line results are really all that concern you.
200
A friend and co-worker has come to you for help. He seems totally lost and confused about how to do his job. His performance is well below standard. Both you and your co-worker know that he is in jeopardy of losing his job. Although he is discouraged, he wants to do something about it quickly. You should use--- leadership style.
What is Coaching (S2)? Listen to your co-worker’s concerns. Give him specific ideas on how to improve his performance, and be sure to incorporate his suggestions. Assure him that he can improve. Follow up with him over the next few weeks to see how he is implementing the ideas you both discussed. Be sure to praise the progress he makes.
200
Your seventeen-year old daughter is an excellent driver and generally very responsible. She has not been late in the past. This evening she borrowed the family car and was 45 minutes late returning from a movie, which she attended with her girlfriend. You should use ___leadership style.
What is Delegating (S4)? Let your daughter know that you are happy she is home. Explain that because she was late and had not called, you thought something might have happened to her. Do not make a big issue of the incident.
200
As a result of some new strategic goals set by top management, you must reorganize your department. Individuals in your department have been successful in their current positions. They work well together as a team and have made suggestions for needed changes in the past. They see the need for this departmental reorganization and have extensive professional skills. You should use ...leadership style
What is Delegating (S4)? Give the group the assignment of reorganizing the department. Ask them to complete the task in a week and to submit it for your final approval.
200
A woman who works for you has demonstrated so much ability on a certain project that you have asked her to make a presentation to a group of executives who will be visiting the company next week. While the woman is very capable, and you feel that she is the best person to make the presentation, she seems to lack confidence. She makes frequent references to her lack of formal education, and she told you that she frankly cannot see herself making the presentation. You should use...leadership style.
What is Supporting (S3)? Ask the woman to do the presentation. Talk with her about her fears. Try to build her confidence by praising her for her past accomplishments. Explore the alternatives she has for the presentation, but leave the specifics to her.
200
A staff member has just been appointed to her first supervisory position. She is excited about her new job and wants to begin setting goals with her team. Unfortunately, she has no formal management training and does not understand how to write meaningful goals. You should use___ leadership style.
What is Directive (S1)? Teach your staff member how to develop meaningful goals and watch her set goals with one of her employees. Then meet with her to review her progress
300
You have been working at the same level as another employee in the organization for the past two years. During this period, she has helped you greatly. You feel that she is one of the top performers in your company, but you feel guilty because you have not done much to help her. She is presently working on a very difficult project, which seems to be going well. You have some free time. You should use...leadership style
What is Delegating (S4)? Thank your peer for all the help she has given you. Let her know how she has helped you and offer your assistance.
300
Your ten-year-old son has just come home with his report card. Overall, he is very pleased with his grades. He has received an "A" or a "B" in four-out-of-five subjects. But your son is quite concerned with a "C-" he received in Social Studies, and he wants to improve. He feels a little discouraged about his lack of progress. You should use--- leadership style.
What is Coaching (S2)? Listen to your son’s concerns, talk with him about how to study and give him the steps to follow to prepare the next day’s assignments. Ask him what he thinks about your ideas. Reassure him that his grade will improve if he work at it. Occasionally help him with his Social Studies homework.
300
You are a newly appointed team Leader of a team that has several pieces of heavy machinery. One of the team members has not been maintaining her machine. She has worked for the company only two months and seems unclear about what to do. She wants to change the situation, but she does not have the skills. You should use___ leadership style.
What is Directing (S1)? Tell the employee, in specific ways, how to turn the problems around. Follow up with her to see that your directions are carried out, and spend some time with her to show her what to do.
300
Two of your managers who have to work together are having problems getting along. In the past, they have not demonstrated the interpersonal skills necessary to work together. They seem to be spending more time trying to catch one another doing something wrong, rather than working out their differences. The conflict is drastically affecting their group's performance. You should use... leadership style.
What is Coaching (S2)? Listen to each of the managers and then decide what they need to do to work more effectively together. Make it clear that they must solve this problem.
300
Your boss is scheduled to attend two weeks of executive training immediately following her upcoming vacation. She must choose one of the group leaders to act in her place while she is away. One group leader was left in charge the last time and performed adequately but did not handle one problem because he was not confident that he had the right solution. This group leader wants another shot at filling in so the boss agreed to let him. The boss should use ____leadership style
What is Delegating (S4)? The boss should tell this group leader that he is in charge in her absence. The boss should give the group leader a phone number where she can be reached if he feels he really needs to check with her.
400
Your peer is having trouble with the performance review system your company has just revised. He lacks proficiency in writing objectives and in communicating regular priorities. You have heard from another source that he is unconcerned that his employees want more specific, frequent feedback about their performance. He visits you often and complains about the system. You would use___ leadership style
What is Coaching (S2)? Share with this peer the rationale and importance of a well-implemented performance review system. Set a deadline for the completion of his reviews. Explore his concerns and listen to his reservations. Be specific and detailed about how he is to work with his people. Show him techniques he might use to do his reviews more effectively.
400
Your ten-year-old son keeps his room in immaculate condition. He takes great pride in how neat and organized he keeps it. When you come home from work today, you notice that his room is a mess. You should use... leadership style.
What is Delegating (S4)? Do not bother your son. He will probably take care of it himself.
400
The group you manage seems dissatisfied with the way they are working together on projects. Most of the members are frustrated with the lack of group output and are confused about the best way to get things accomplished. Not only is group's production low, but there is considerable bickering among many of the group members. You should use___ leadership style
What is Coaching (S2)? Incorporate their suggestions as much as you can. Suggest specific steps they might follow to raise their output. Provide them with reassurance and support for their involvement in task improvement.
400
You have been in a new managerial position for approximately five months. One of your employees, who has been with the company for 18 years, has poor performance. He has a reputation for being good at making bid estimates, but lately his bids take longer to complete and sometimes show glaring inaccuracies. His delays and mistakes have steadily been costing the company money. You should use---leadership style.
What is Supporting (S3)? Ask the employee about his present performance. Tell him that his performance needs to be improved. Ask him why he is no longer the best estimator in the company. Listen and see if you can help.
400
You are the facilitator to a team of interdepartmental task force that is working on recommendations to the president and the executive council. The committee has gone through many upheavals in the year the team members have been together, and they have finally made some important break-through in their work. They have learned to follow established procedures and to utilize cooperative tactics for “fence mending” among individual members in order to keep the project on schedule. A slight problem with formatting the report has recently arisen, and the group wants you to tell them how to solve it. You should use ___ leadership style.
What is Supporting (S3)? Express your delight in being able to help the team. Encourage all the team members to share their ideas with you. When all the ideas and rationales have been fully explored, let the group reach a consensus about an appropriate format for the report.
500
Your friend and peer is the team leader of a skilled trades team who do not work well together at team meetings. Most of them push their points too hard, fail to build on another's comments and seldom show any appreciation for contributions made by other team members. These skilled trades team members hate attending these often unproductive staff meetings and feel that they have little to show for the time spent at these meeting. Your peer is struggling with how to get them on the collaborating track and wants your help. You should use___ leadership style.
What is Coaching (S2)? Suggest that the team leader have a concern sharing meeting with the skilled trades team members. Discuss how they function as a group. Elicit feelings and suggestions about the proposed solutions and incorporate them in the plan. The team leader should be certain to implement the plan and continue to solicit input from the team members as the plan progresses.
500
Your 17 year old daughter is a high school senior honor student and has demonstrated that she is responsible. She is unsure of where she would like to attend college and what she wants as her major. She has been reviewing material from universities for the last six months and has expressed her frustration. You would use ___ leadership style
What is Coaching (S2)? Listen to your daughter’s concerns. Give her specific ideas on how to evaluate the schools she may be considering. Assure her that she can select the school that is the best fit for her. Follow-up with her to see how she is implementing the ideas you both discussed. Be sure to praise her progress.
500
You lead a newly formed work team comprised of members who have been with the company for several years. The team members are moderately eager to work together, but most members have not worked in teams before now. They are concerned about how the team will function together, what output they are responsible for and what resources will be available to accomplish their complex task. You should use___ leadership style.
What is Directing (S1)? Tell the team what their roles and responsibilities should be. Provide the organization’s vision and goals while helping them align their personal goals and objectives with the organizations. Outline the resources available and facilitate some of their future meetings to guide the group toward attaining their goals.
500
A subordinate, who has worked for the company for over nine years and in your unit for over five years, has shown a great capacity for solving problems. His past performance has been better than average and, in fact, he was even considered for your job before you were appointed. In the three months that you have been the unit manager, there has been a steady decline in his performance. You should use___ leadership style.
What is Supporting (S3)? Share with the employee the downward trends in his performance. Ask if anything outside the work setting is contributing to his lapse on the job. Listen carefully to see if you can help. Stress that you need his commitment if he and the unit are to succeed.
500
You have recruited and just hired the competition's top Human Resource manager. This person comes with great credentials and much experience in HR but she lacks experience in a joint environment. Right now she really needs extensive information about your organization's policies, practices, and procedures. You should use___ leadership style.
What is Directing (S1)? Give the new HR director a crash course on your organization, services, products, its policies and procedures. Be specific about the information you provide and supervise her closely. Be certain that key areas of responsibility are clear and that measures of performance and standards are carefully outlined. Work hard to acclimate her to the organization as quickly as possible.