Leadership

Question 1

Is leadership a process or ability?

Answer 1

Leadership is both the process itself and the individual’s ability to act.

Question 2

What did the Hay Group identify as the most important leadership traits?

Answer 2

Trustworthiness and the ability to communicate.

Question 3

What does Posner list as the most important traits?

Answer 3

Honest
forward-looking
competent
inspiring
intelligent.

Question 4

Is simply having the traits enough for a leader to inspire others?

Answer 4

Must be able to demonstrate on a regular basis and observed by others.

Question 5

List the leadership principles of the American Army.

Answer 5

1. Know yourself and seek self improvement
2. Be technically proficient
3. Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions
4. Make sound and timely decisions
5. Set the example
6. Know your people and look out for them
7. Keep your workers informed
8. Develop sense of responsibility in your workers
9. Ensure tasks are understood, supervised and accomplished
10. Train as a team
11. Use the full capabilities of your organization.

Question 6

The four factors of leadership include what? Describe each.

Answer 6

1. Follower
2. Leader
3. Communication
4. Situation.

Question 7

Differentiate between a task-oriented, transaction, and transformational leader.

Answer 7

Task-oriented leader: focuses on the job and concentrates on specific tasks assigned to each employee to reach goal accomplishment.
Transaction leader: given power to perform certain tasks and reward/punish for the team’s performance.
Transformational leader: motivates the team to be effective and efficient, focusing the group on the final outcome or goal attainment.

Question 8

Identify and define the four basic leadership theories.

Answer 8

1. Trait
2. Behavior
3. Situation
4. Transformational leadership theory.

Question 9

Define the four types of leaders in the Four Framework Approach.

Answer 9

1. Structural framework – emphasize structure, strategy, environment, implementation, experimentation and adaptation.
2. Human resources framework – believe in people, are visible and accessible, move decision-making down into the organization.
3. Political framework – clarify what they want, assess the distribution of power, build networks with stakeholders, use persuasion, negotiation and coercion.
4. Symbolic framework – play certain roles and give impressions, using symbols to capture attention.

Question 10

Use the Managerial Grid to identify and describe four types of leaders.

Answer 10

1. Authoritarian – 9 on task, 1 on people = high task, low relationship.
2. Team leader – 9 on task, 9 on people = high task, high relationship.
3. Country club – 1 on task, 9 on people = low task, high relationship.
4. Impoverished – 1 on task, 1 on people = low task, low relationship.

Question 11

Using the Style and Situation Model describe the different leadership styles.

Answer 11

1. Telling – high task, low relationship.
2. Selling - high task, high relationship.
3. Participating - high task, low relationship.
4. Delegating - low task, low relationship.

Question 12

Define communication.

Answer 12

The exchange and flow of information and ideas from one person to another.

Question 13

When does effective communication occur?

Answer 13

Only if the receiver understands the exact information or idea that was intended to transmit.

Question 14

What three things are needed for communication to occur?

Answer 14

1. Thought – information exists with sender (idea, concept, information).
2. Encoding – message is sent to receiver.
3. Decoding – receiver translates the message into a concept or information they understand.

Question 15

Differentiate between content and context.

Answer 15

Content is the actual words/symbols of the message known as language. Context is the way the message is delivered and known as paralanguage.

Question 16

What are the barriers to communication? Describe each.

Answer 16

• Culture, background, bias
• Noise
• Ourselves
• Perception
• Message
• Environmental
• Smothering
• Stress.

Question 17

Differentiate between listening and hearing.

Answer 17

Hearing = sound reaches ear. Listening = understanding message.

Question 18

What is the difference between passive and active listeners?

Answer 18

Passive listening is when the receiver has little motivation to listen carefully. Active listening improves mutual understanding.

Question 19

What are the traits of active listeners? Describe each.

Answer 19

• More time listening than talking
• Doesn’t finish the sentences of others
• Is aware of biases
• Doesn’t dominate the conversation
• Responds after the other party is done talking
• Provides feedback
• Asks open ended questions.

Question 20

What can you do in a work environment to promote better listening?

Answer 20

It can be as simple as, if you have something else on your mind, write it down before you start a conversation.

Question 21

Describe the four listening styles as well as the positive and negative aspects of each.

Answer 21

1. People-oriented – strong focus on others and their feelings. May be too intrusive.
2. Content-oriented – more interested in what’s being said than who is talking. Focus on facts and evidence.
3. Action-oriented – are interested on what will be done and what actions will happen.
4. Time-oriented – allocate time for listening and don’t want to exceed it.

Question 22

What is the purpose of feedback?

Answer 22

To change and alter messages to the original intention is understood by the receiver. Providing feedback is accomplished by paraphrasing the words.

Question 23

Describe the categories of feedback.

Answer 23

1. Evaluate – make a judgement of the statement.
2. Interpretive - paraphrasing.
3. Supportive – attempt to assist or bolster the other communicator.
4. Probing - attempt to gain additional information or clarify the point.
5. Understanding – attempt to understand the other communicator by their statements.

Question 24

Define non-verbal communication.

Answer 24

Communication without words. Includes behaviors like facial expressions, tone of voice, eye contact, posture.

Question 25

Why is non-verbal communication used?

Answer 25

Situations where non-verbal communication is more effective than verbal communication. Non-verbal signals are powerful because they express feelings.

Question 26

Describe the most common types of non-verbal communications.

Answer 26

1. Eye contact
2. Facial expressions
3. Gestures
4. Posture
5. Proximity
6. Vocal.

Question 27

Name and describe the ten interview types.

Answer 27

1. Screening interview
2. Informational interview
3. Directive style – clear agenda to ensure parity between interviews
4. Meandering style – used by inexperienced interviewers, broad open ended questions
5. Stress interview- aptitude to withstand the company culture, to clients and other stressors
6. Behavioral interview – use employee’s previous behavior to indicate future performance
7. Audition – skill tests to evaluate experience in programs etc.
8. Group interview
9. Tag team interview – multiple people interviewing the candidate at once
10. Follow up interview.

Question 28

What questions should be avoided in an interview?

Answer 28

Questions about race, gender, religion, marital status, age, disabilities, ethnic background, country of origin, sexual preferences, or age.