Leadership Development

Question 1

Passive vs. Attentive vs. Active Listening

Answer 1

Passive: No interaction with the speaker (listening to a podcast)
Attentive: listener has some interaction with the speaker, such as listening to a class instructor
Active: listener has high level of interaction with the speaker, listening for content, meaning, and feelings

Question 2

Groups / Teams Definition and Goal

Answer 2

Groups are any group, including social communities that have something in common. Teams are special groups in which the commonality is a shared goal.

Shared goals create interdependence on one another. Group processes ensure all team members are active participants.

Question 3

• involving everyone in vision creation
• clarifying/defining decision-making responsibilities
• identifying and leveraging collaboration opportunities
• establishing values and guiding principles

Answer 3

Activities that build high-performance teams

Question 4

• Answer participant questions as they facilitate learning
• Addressing concerns when they coach managers
• Responding to requests from senior leaders
• Solving issues as they consult with managers

Answer 4

When listening skills are critical for TD professionals

Question 5

2 activities that can foster teamwork and collaboration

Answer 5

Creating shared experiences
Maintaining excellent communication

Question 6

Kenneth Thomas and Ralph Kilmann Conflict Model

Answer 6

5 different modes for responding to conflict on 2 dimensions (cooperativeness and assertiveness).
- Competing: satisfy their own needs without regard to and often at the expense of others’ involved; trying to win; standing up for your own rights (high assertiveness, low cooperation)
- Accommodating: neglect their own concerns to satisfy the concerns of others; yielding to others’ points of view; obeying when you don’t want to (high cooperation, low assertiveness)
- Avoiding: individuals do not address conflict; do not seek to satisfy their own interests or the interests of others; side-stepping or postponing an issue; withdrawing from threatening situation (low assertiveness and cooperation)
- Collaborating: Work with others to find a solutions that fully satisfies all interests; dig into an issue to understand underlying concerns; finding a win-win solution (high assertiveness and cooperation)
- Compromising: Seek to partially satisfy all participants; meet in the middle (equal assertiveness and cooperation)

Question 7

One important way to lessen conflict in a group

Answer 7

Writing clear role expectations

Question 8

Conflict Resolution Strategies (7)

Answer 8

• Use “I-messages” rather than “you-messages”
• Address conflict directly
• Avoid the words “always” and “never”
• Consider what is known about the other person in terms of behaviors and personality
• Think about their relationship and history with the individuals, their communication style, and general behavior patterns, which will help them anticipate potential reactions
• Focus on what they need to talk about and communicating concerns in a clear, specific, and neutral way; for example, identifying the central issue maintains focus and prevents one from slipping into other matters
• Make sure to focus on behavior, not personality.

Question 9

Managing Team Conflict (10)

Answer 9

• Identify the root cause of the conflict.
• Identify what’s at stake for the team.
• Assess how the team is currently managing the situation.
• Listen to both sides—or more.
• If necessary, speak with individuals separately.
• Ask the team to gather the facts.
• Bring the individuals together.
• Find a common ground.
• Be clear about outcome expectations.
• Create a plan of action as a team.

Question 10

Ways to Diffuse Conflict (9)

Answer 10

Stay calm.
Listen to all perspectives.
Identify points of agreement and disagreement.
Manage one’s own response.
Set limits and ground rules.
Handle challenging questions.
Confront negative feelings.
Prioritize the main points of conflict.
Prevent a physical confrontation.

Question 11

Great Man Theories

Answer 11

propose that great leaders are born with the confidence, charisma, and intelligence to be natural-born leaders

Question 12

Trait Theories

Answer 12

some people have certain qualities that make them better leaders

Question 13

Behavioral Theories

Answer 13

focus on the actions of leaders

Question 14

Kurt Lewin (1930s) - 3 Types of Leaders (Behavioral Theory)

Answer 14

democratic leaders: allow their team to provide input before making a decision
autocratic leaders: make decisions without consulting their teams
laissez-faire leaders: allow the team to make decisions without interfering

Question 15

Contingency Theories

Answer 15

there is no one correct type of leadership and that some leaders focus on particular variables related to the environment

Question 16

Situational Theories

Answer 16

closely related to contingency theories, where leaders choose the best action based on the situation, the person, and the decision that needs to be made

Question 17

Participative Theories

Answer 17

the ideal style is one that includes other people’s input

Question 18

Management or Transactional Theories

Answer 18

focus on the role of supervision and group performance; these leadership theories are based on a system of rewards and punishments, and the leader influences others by what they offer in exchange

Question 19

Relationship or Transformational Theories

Answer 19

Focus on the connections formed between leaders and followers.
They inspire and motivate others by helping the team see the higher good of the task.
They are also focused on the task but want all team members to fulfill their potential.

Question 20

Ancona, Backman, and Isaacs (2019) (Contemporary Leadership Theory)

Answer 20

Mature companies struggle to balance need for innovation and discipline. Leadership emerges at all levels, which allows companies to continue to function efficiently and exploit new opportunities quickly.
entrepreneurial - lower level leaders
enabling leaders - mid-level leaders
architecting leaders - senior/executive leaders near the top

Question 21

Robert Greenleaf’s Servant Leadership (Contemporary Leadership Theory)

Answer 21

focuses on the development and well-being of the people
leaders share power
leaders put the needs of others ahead of the organization

Question 22

Authentic Leadership (Contemporary Leadership Theory)

Answer 22

emphasizes the leader’s sincerity and self-awareness
based on honesty and transparency
values input from employees
stresses an internal moral perspective

Question 23

Adaptive Leadership (Contemporary Leadership Theory)

Answer 23

focuses on adjusting and thriving in changing environments, such as expanding to new markets, shifting to new products, or changing its brand—it is “purposeful evolution in real time”

Question 24

Global Leadership (Contemporary Leadership Theory)

Answer 24

emphasizes the unique requirements of an organization that is based in multiple world-wide regions. Focuses on:
- profound self-awareness
- sensitivity to cultural diversity
- professional and personal presence
- the ability to think strategically globally

Question 25

The role of a leader (Kouzes and Posner)

Answer 25

a leader must:
1. model the way
2. inspire a shared vision
3. challenge the process
4. enable others to act
5. encourage the heart

Question 26

TD professionals’ role in Groups/Teams

Answer 26

TD professionals’ role is to account for all individuals’ differing characteristics, wants, needs, and behavior styles in group dynamics.

Group dynamics include setting goals, maintaining healthy communication, making decisions, providing leadership, resolving conflict, and creating shared experiences.

Question 27

Individual characteristics in group dynamics (4)

Answer 27

Individuals may worry about personal identity, how well they relate to one another, and how team membership will affect work.

Their desire to belong may create different attitudes than normal.

Consensus of group may overwhelm or influence individual preferences.

May cause a person’s behavior to change in a group.

Question 28

Group/team facilitator role

Answer 28

Listening is the key when observing a group.

Carefully watch what the group is doing as a unit, as well as interactions among individual team members.

Provide proper feedback and correctly timed facilitation tools to alter what the group is doing.