chapter 4

Chapter 04: Questions

Name: __

Overview of Chapter Questions. There are 8 chapters in your leadership text. There are eight chapter questions assignments (this is one of them), which correspond to each of the chapters. You will complete one set of chapter questions after reading each chapter and then upload each set to Blackboard before the cutoff date and time specified in the syllabus.

My expectations are a minimum of 5-pages (single-spaced, 12 point font) for each set of chapter questions. Your chapter questions are listed below.

· To receive credit, this assignment is to be done as an individual assignment (without collaboration with others).

· Note cutoff dates and times. No late submittals accepted.

· Use spelling, grammar check, and page numbers.

· Chapter Questions Assignments are open book, open note.

· Chapter Questions become a very good study guide for your chapter exams, mid-term, and the final.

· Uploaded copy only. Please submit this assignment to Blackboard. Do not combine multiple submittals (single submittal only).

· Please leave the questions visible (do not delete them before beginning your answer).

Here are your questions. Begin your answer immediately after each question (please maintain correct question numbering). Following along in the text as you complete your answers is the most productive way to benefit from this assignment. You may lift text directly from the text for this assignment (do not worry about citing the source).

1. Given your present or past work, volunteer, life, or school experience list up to three of the subtle (covert) symbols in your environment. Discuss. So, besides just listing subtle symbols, such as smiles, everyone being at work on time, and professionalism (you will need to list your own), write a bit about what they help contribute to either a positive or negative environment. Your writing will build in subsequent questions on this and the next question, so think and write well. To the extent possible, stay with your same context as you go through these questions and that will help make the observations and writing make more sense and come easier for you. Above all, have fun with your thinking, writing, and reflecting – and learn something that will be valuable in helping you in your career, too.

2. List up to three of the obvious (overt) symbols in your work environment. Discuss. Refer back to the question immediately before this one and now identify and discuss obvious symbols in your environment – things that everyone sees and knows, such as receiving higher tips for giving excellent levels of customer service, and high levels of personal grooming among employees (list your own and not these). Now, go back and write about what these differences make either positive or negative.

3. How might these either help create positive or negative outcomes in the future? Some of this answer will likely be a repeat of what you have already written, which is okay.

4. Choose two or three of the symbols identified above and discuss how you would change them if you were the leader (what would you do?).

5. Do all the members of the group interpret the overt symbols identified within your organization in the same positive or negative way? Please discuss.

6. How do successful leaders use the above listed symbols to communicate within the different smaller groups as well as within the larger organization?

7. How are some of these symbols communicated? (In what manner, such as oral, written, visual, smelled, felt, etc?)

8. Which of the above mentioned forms of communication are used in your organization? Why do you suppose that this is the case?

9. What is the most effective form of communication used in your work place, such as oral, written, visual, smelled, felt, etc.? Identify and discuss.

10. All forms of communication have their pluses and minuses, but which form, in your opinion, probably has the greatest potential to be ineffective and why is that the case?

11. In what way is your organization oriented toward people (oral) or toward written communication and why do you suppose this is the case?

12. Okay, good work. This question begins a new line of thinking – personality. Here is the question: List at least two of your personality traits that you consider to be positive strengths. Now, go back to them and discuss why you consider them strengths and how they might benefit you in the future. If you need some ideas about personality traits, refer back to your text and or feel free to Google positive personality traits to become inspired.

13. Identify and discuss at least two aspects of your personality traits where you have the most room to improvement. If you need some ideas about personality traits, refer back to your text and or Google negative personality traits.

14. While it is unlikely that anyone change his or her core (fundamental and basic) personality, if you were to try to change any aspect(s) of your personality, what would they be and how would you change them?

15. Discuss your leadership style in terms of how it is formulated (what does it rely on in terms of the text, using examples such as personality, intuition, etc.? If you need some further ideas and inspiration and want to go wider on this question by re-visiting some of what we discussed in the theories of Blake and Moulton and Hersey and Blanchard (which is fine if you want to take that approach), Google leadership style.

16. What do you see as general cultural and societal influences (what is going on in the world), which affect you the most both positively and negatively (list and discuss a minimum of four)? So, you may wish to consider issues such as, but not limited to these: cultural differences, demographic differences, globalization, food choice, physical activity, self-esteem conflicts (self traps), and the like.

17. After reading this chapter, and given your present or past work, volunteer, life, or school experience, what is your perception of the leader of your organization (of choice)?

18. How would you describe this leader using terms from the text?

19. If you were able to have an honest and personal conversation with him or her, what would you advise him or her to start doing to help provide a more positive environment for you and the others?

20. If you were able to have an honest and personal conversation with him (or her), what would you advise him (or her) to stop doing to help provide a more positive environment for you and others?

21. If you were able to have an honest and personal conversation with him (or her), what would you advise him (or her) to change what he (or she) is doing to help provide a more positive environment for you and the others?

22. After reading this chapter, what do you think is this leader's perception of him or her self? Discuss.

23. Using elements described in the text and given your present or past work, volunteer, life, or school experience, describe your chosen environment in terms of its being oriented toward individuals, groups, and/or teams.

24. Given your present or past work, volunteer, life, or school experience, think of and describe the social structure of the people within your chosen group.

25. Referring back to your past few questions, what is the perceived benefit to you and your group to having one leader?

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