11.1: What is leadership and why does it matter in the workplace? Flashcards
What percentage of U.S. employees would forgo a substantial pay raise if their direct supervisor were fired?
35% of U.S. employees.
Why is leadership important in the workplace? (LO 11.1)
Leadership is crucial because it influences employees’ motivation, satisfaction, and overall group performance.
What practical focus does this chapter on leadership emphasize?
Preventing supervisors from becoming disliked by their employees.
How does Churchill define leadership?
“Leadership is taking people in a direction they would not otherwise go.”
What are the key characteristics of effective leaders?
They influence people to set aside personal concerns, support a larger agenda, and motivate them to go beyond their call of duty.
How is leadership effectiveness measured?
By achieving high group performance over time through engagement, rather than just control or influence.
Why does leadership draw significant attention according to meta-analyses?
Leadership significantly influences organizational success across industries and nations, and it provides a sustainable competitive advantage since people are an organization’s unique, non-duplicable asset.
What is a key outcome of effective leadership?
Effective leadership inspires individuals to achieve more than they thought possible, leading to significant accomplishments and organizational success.
What is often responsible for failed careers and unhappy employees in organizations?
A lack of inspired leadership.
What does OB Myths 11.1 suggest about leadership incompetence?
Leadership failure is more related to toxic behaviors and undesirable qualities, such as narcissism and antisocial tendencies, than to a lack of desirable traits.
What are common traits linked to leadership derailment?
Negative personality characteristics and abusive management techniques, such as narcissism and antisocial tendencies.
Why is there difficulty in understanding leadership effectiveness?
The abundance of “how-to” lists, models, and laws creates misinformation, making it hard to determine what truly contributes to leadership effectiveness.
Who is Al “Chainsaw” Dunlap, and what is he known for?
Al “Chainsaw” Dunlap turned around Scott Paper by laying off 11,000 employees, but later caused an accounting scandal at Sunbeam, leading to bankruptcy and toxic workplaces.
What leadership failure is associated with Carly Fiorina during her tenure at Hewlett-Packard?
Fiorina slashed employment while tripling her salary, creating dissatisfaction among employees and stockholders, which led to her resignation and a stock increase.
What unethical practices were linked to John Stumpf’s leadership at Wells Fargo?
Employees were pressured to create fake accounts and sell unrequested services, leading to mass firings and a toxic work environment.
