leadership – Cheap Research Essays

leadership

Chapter 4] Style Approach 89
never a moment when Susan is not doing something. Rumor has it thatS ~ eats her lunch standing up.
Employees’ reactions to Susan are strong and varied. Some people like style, and others do not Those who like her style talk about how gr ized and efficient the store is when she is in charge. Susan makes tasks and goals for everyone very clear. She keeps everyone busy;
they go home at night, they feel as if they have accomplished someT .They like to work for Susan because she knows what she is doing.
who do not like her style complain that she is too driven. lt seemsw her sole purpose for being at the store is to get the job done. Shem, if ever, takes a break or just hangs out with the staff.These people Susan is pretty hard to relate to, and as a result it is not much funng at Marathon Sports.
Susan is beginning to sense that employees have a mixed reaction to leadership style.This bothers her, but she does not know what to do u, o it. In addition to her work at the store, Susan struggles hard to bet .- o – spouse and mother of three children.
tions
According to the style approach, how would you describe Susan’s leadership?
Why does her leadership style create such a pronounced reaction fiom her subordinates?
Do you think she should change her style?
Would she be effective if she changed?
SE 4.3
We Are Family
Moore has been hired as the director of marketing and comtions for a medium-sized college in the Midwest. With a long of success as a marketing and public relations professional, she was the unanimous choice of the hiring committee. Betsy is excited to be working for Marianne, the vice president of college advancement, who comes from a similar background to Betsy’s. In a meeting with Marianne, Betsy is told the college needs an aggressive plan to revamp and energize the school’s marketing and communications efforts. Betsy and Marianne seem in perfect sync with the direction they believe is right for the college’s program. Marianne also explains that she has established a departmental culture of teamwork and empowerment and that she is a strong advocate of being a mentor to her subordinates rather than a manager.

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Betsy has four direct reports: two writers, Bridget and Suzanne, who are young women in their 2os; and Carol and Francine, graphic designers who are in their 5os. In her first month, Betsy puts together a meeting with her direct reports to develop a new communications plan for the college, presenting the desired goals to the team and asking for their ideas on initiatives and improvements to meet those goals. Bridget and Suzanne provide little in the way of suggested changes, with Bridget asking pointedly, “Why do we need to change anything?”

In her weekly meeting with the vice president, Betsy talks about the resistance to change she encountered from the team. Marianne nods, saying she heard some of the team members’ concerns when she went to lunch with them earlier in the week. When Betsy looks surprised, Marianne gives her a knowing smile.“We are like a family here; we have close relationships outside of work. I go to lunch or the movies with Suzanne and Bridget at least once a week. But don’t worry; I am only a sounding board for them, and encourage them to come to you to resolve their issues.They know you are their boss.”

But they don’t come to Betsy. Soon, Bridget stops coming to work at 8 a.m., showing up at Io a.m. daily.As a result, she misses the weekly planning meetings.When Betsy approaches her about it, Bridget tells her,“lt’s OK with Marianne; she says as long as I am using the time to exercise and
improve my health she supports it.”

Betsy meets with Suzanne to implement some changes to Suzanne’s pet project, the internal newsletter: Suzanne gets blustery and tearful,
accusing Betsy of insulting her work. Later, Betsy watches Suzanne and Marianne leave the office together for lunch.A few hours later, Marianne
comes into Betsy’s office and tells her, “Go easy on the newsletter

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Chapter 4 IStyle Approach 91
t dnnges. Suzanne is an insecure person, and she is feeling criticized and 3: down by you right now.”

Betsy’s relationship with the other two staff members is better.

Neither seems to have the close contact with Marianne that the younger

members have.They seem enthusiastic and supportive of the new i – ‘on Betsy wants to take the program in.

As the weeks go by. Marianne begins having regular“Mentor Meetings”

Bridget and Suzanne, going to lunch with both women at least twice W ueek.After watching the three walk out together one day, Francine asks if it troubles her. Betsy replies, as calmly as she can, ‘‘It is part of ne’s mentoring program.”
Francine rolls her eyes and says, “Marianne’s not mentoring anyone; filst wants someone to go to lunch with every day.”
After 4 months on the job, Betsy goes to Marianne and outlines the that the vice president’s close relationships with Bridget and have presented to the progress of the marketing and communiprogram. She asks her directly, “Please stop.”

I ‘ – gives her the knowing, motherly smile again.“l see a lot of poten Bridget and Suzanne and want to help foster that.” she explains.“They
young in their careers, and my relationship with them is important

7 I can provide the mentoring and guidance to develop their abilities.”‘K’s creating problems between them and me,” Betsy points out“lt – -; – them if they can circumvent me every time they disagree with men’: getting any work done.You and I have to be on the same team.’’