Class Participation Business Leadership Class
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week_2_participation.docLeadership in Organizations, Ch. 1
Discussion on this Learning Activity
Tip
posted by JAMEELAH NEWTON-JONES
Dec 19, 2013, 10:52 AM
Our article on Leadership Styles explores common leadership styles that have emerged from these core leadership theories. These include the "transformational leadership" style, which is often the most effective approach to use in business situations.
reference : www.mindtools.com
Re: Tip
posted by Susan Frear
Dec 19, 2013, 6:40 PM
Class,
From our readings, which leadership style do you think is most appropriate for your workplace and why? Explain your answer.
Susan
Re: Tip
posted by Vanessa Granados
Dec 20, 2013, 11:59 PM
I work in retail and direct leaderships plays a role in our daily lives. There are managers who will directly inspire us because they are in the store the same number of hours as us. They spend five days a week working in the store and inspiring every sales professional in the store to act in the best interest of the store and coworkers. Direct leadership is important because it influences employees to the right thing in the store while more important matter are not that important.
Re: Tip
posted by AMY ANDERSON
Dec 21, 2013, 5:40 AM
In the area that I work I believe that both direct and contingency theories apply to the leadership theories that can be used in a hospital setting. For direct leadership, the management is involved directly with the staff on different levels from patient care to how the assignment of staff is completed. At the same time they also use contingency due to variables changing at times. by using these types of theories in management they are able to do the right things for staff and patient care such as providing adequate and safe staffing for all involved.
Re: Tip
posted by MICHAEL MILIOTO
Dec 21, 2013, 7:59 AM
I believe that for my organization, the direct leadership style approach is the most efficient way of leading others. I work for the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, which is first line of defense for an incident that could possibly occur at the Pentagon. Our biggest threat right now could be a possibility of an active shooter scenario or an insider threat. I believe that the chain of command should use the direct leadership approach so that officers are able to receive guidance on what needs to be done. Many officers can get complacent because many of us man the same posts each shift and are not rotated as often.
In my opinion, the direct leadership style approach is important for this agency because many of us spend so much time with each other than our own families. When you are working a 12 hour shift with someone, you are getting to know them and how they are going to react when something will occur. This was before when I started but I spoke to many officers that worked in that building when the plane hit the Pentagon. Since that was back in 2001, not much has been happening. Having a leadership approach is an important element in this organization.
Re: Tip
posted by MICHAEL BLACK
Dec 21, 2013, 9:06 AM
I work at a Chocolate and Fudge Factory in a big warehouse. My organization is divided into five main substructures/departments: Production (the cooks), Packaging, Shipping & Receiving, Administration. (office workers), and Management (CFO). We currently use a mixture of the combined leadership styles mentioned in the book. I believed that we benefit the most from the Specialized Role or Shared Influence Process.
The Shared Influence Process states that there is one Leader and the rest are Followers. Anyone can share leadership and vice-versa (anyone can follow). This ties in directly to each department. For example in the Production Department, there is one floor supervisor and one head cook. The floor supervisor is the main leader and has the final say of what is done on the production line. This section is divided into two parts: the actual cooks (ones that cook the fudge) and the production side (add flavorings, colorings, pour the fudge, etc...) The head cook is in charge of ensuring that all the product is made correctly. I am a cook. I work under the head cook. If the head cook needs to take a break, leave early (doctor appointment, etc..), calls off sick, gets injured, etc..., then I am qualified to step in his shoes and start/finish the cooks. This is true with any of the multimedia cooks (we hire Temp Agency workers during the Holiday Season--they are not trained to carry on this function as they are temporarily employed by us). When the head cook is on the floor, we are his subordinates. When he is not there, we are able to fulfill his role (we only hire males in the production side because of the heavy lifting involved (60 Lbs. per cook): females work in the other departments! Fortunately, this is all in the past now.
Re: Tip
posted by TERISA BARANOSKI
Dec 21, 2013, 10:57 AM
Susan,
I work in manufacturing and I believe situational leadership work well with direct reports on the production floor. There is no best way that fits everyone or every area. Strategic Leadership work better in the office working with cross functional teams.
Leadership
posted by JAMEELAH NEWTON-JONES
Dec 19, 2013, 10:48 AM
In all things that are done/ created I believe there needs to be a leader. Leadership is so important because their are people out her who needs the guidance and direction of others. Being a leader doesn't mean you have to be controlling but you do need to know how to control certain situations.
Re: Leadership
posted by Robert THOMAS
Dec 19, 2013, 3:00 PM
It seems so simple about leadership as without control there would be chaos with employees working without any clear direction. This could cost a business thousands of dollars and sometimes put a company out of business if they do not have good leaders and specific goals to attend to. A leader possesses so many different qualities and skills to me that range from being able to influence employees that do not report to him or her. To me this is someone that will influence his or her boss and people at all levels of an organization motivating them to follow by example. In our book this is categorized as indirect leadership More
Re: Leadership
posted by MICHAEL BLACK
Dec 19, 2013, 6:17 PM
Hello Jameelah. There is a distinct difference between being in control and being controlling. Being in control means that you are able manage the situations you are in. One can be in control without bossing his or her peers and/or subordinates around. Being controlling is basically bossing people around! This is sometimes related to bullying. Among the various leadership styles, an effective style (which I have witnessed and used in my own life) is to lead by example. A leader that knows what he or she is doing, is not afraid to do the work themselves or with the rest of the team, and is honest and fair will always attract followers. This style allows the leader to guide the rest of the team without provoking any negative emotions and reactions! Whenever one earns respect as a leader and a person, then others willingly follow. Controlling situations (as much as is really possible) is not the same as controlling other people.
A person who is controlling comes off as not knowing how to do the job/task at hand (even if this is false, the perception prevails). Controlling people create rifts in relationships and negatively affect team dynamics. There are situations that call for this style of leadership (War, Disasters, etc...) but most commonly this style is not effective. Most of the time, whenever a person is told what to do, they react negatively and grudgingly perform the task (if they do anything at all!)
Re: Leadership
posted by Susan Frear
Dec 19, 2013, 6:45 PM
Class,
To be somewhat of a devil's advocate, in today's rapidly changing environment is control possible? If it is more difficult to maintain, what other qualities of a leader are necessary in our current environments?
Susan
Re: Leadership
posted by HELENA RUBIO-CASTRO
Dec 19, 2013, 11:35 PM
More than control I think it's possible to maintain a permanent atmosphere of team work. A leader has to inspire people to work together, provide example, be patient, encouraging, neutral and able to reach out for help when needed. It is a difficult task because depending on how many layers are above or below the leader it's possible that he/she has to deal with different and conflicting interests between the different teams he/she interacts with.
Re: Leadership
posted by Robert THOMAS
Dec 21, 2013, 12:49 PM
I think control is absolutely possible in todays modern business world where things can change from day to day and week to week. Things are always changing very rapidly for the company I work for and we adapt very quickly because this is just a normal part of the business environment we are working with. The vice president of the company I work for works closely with middle management on a daily basis, and middle management does the same with line level management. Employees are in constant contact with district managers everyday with emails, text messages, phone calls, and face to face when needed. Our vice president and people in middle management also reach out to us on a regular basis with company objectives, acknowledgments, and what not through emails encouraging us to call them directly for anything. Control is also possible with constant tracking of our goals with daily updates from each employee that must go out to their district managers, who report to middle and regional managers who then report directly to upper management. They see immediately where we are succeeding and where we must make adjustments for improvements and helps with the overall efficiency of the entire organization.
Re: Leadership
posted by AMY ANDERSON
Dec 21, 2013, 5:50 AM
Michael, I have to agree with you about what you stated between the difference of controlling and being in control. I am not one to be a controlling type of person but at the same time, there are situations that I need to be in control of. Those that are the ones that are under one that is controlling usually react negatively to that type of situation. One that is controlling can almost be considered a dictator and as our text and history has brought out, these type of leaders usually do not succeed for long.
Re: Leadership
posted by Susan Frear
Dec 19, 2013, 6:43 PM
Class,
Are there individuals in your organization that would be considered leaders that do not have an official managerial role? If so, what is it about them that causes them to be leaders?
Susan
Re: Leadership
posted by TERISA BARANOSKI
Dec 21, 2013, 11:03 AM
Yes, I have several team leaders and their jobs are to give direction to their teams out on the floor. They are leaders because they have stepped up and gotten noticed in one way or another. Some team leaders are natural leaders and have a charismatic personality, others have working knowledge of the product line others are just hard workers.
Re: Leadership
posted by Vanessa Granados
Dec 20, 2013, 11:57 PM
Leaders are not only managers and vice versa. It is quoted in the textbook that Managers do things right while leader do the right thing. This has been the best explanation of the definition and role of leaders and managers and how they differ. Leaders inspire others to become better people and strive for success. Leaders have excellent communication skills and managerial skills. Leaders must have followers who trust them and want to be like them and learn from them.
Leadership Theories
posted by MICHAEL MILIOTO
Dec 17, 2013, 1:24 PM
I believe that it is important to understand the different styles of leadership and theories. I worked in many different industries such as military, private, and now the federal government. There are different types of leaders, and there are just managers. I feel that there can be a huge difference when caring for employees and subordinates. At my current occupation at the Pentagon, we have a level of leadership that likes to micromanage the employees in our agency. For instance, they do not encourage critical thinking within the agency, even though there is so much experience between military, civilian, and prior law enforcement. People with college degrees and past leadership roles in other police departments are not encouraged to apply and not be put into leadership roles here. It is very discouraging for many here that have so much to offer the agency that officers are not being used to their fullest potential. I believe that this is why there is such a high turnover rate at this agency. As I said before, being in the military, I have seen how leaders should treat their employees and give them the tools they need to succeed. This, to me was an important chapter to understand and how I can improve on my own skills as a leader.
Re: Leadership Theories
posted by JAMEELAH NEWTON-JONES
Dec 17, 2013, 2:48 PM
What exactly makes a great leader? Do certain personality traits make people better-suited to leadership roles, or do characteristics of the situation make it more likely that certain people will take charge? When we look at the leaders around us - be it our employer or the President - we might find ourselves wondering exactly why these individuals excel in such positions. More
Re: Leadership Theories
posted by MICHAEL MILIOTO
Dec 18, 2013, 12:28 PM
I think that it is important to understand the important qualities that make up a leader. In the military, it is the ability to lead soldiers into combat areas and complete the mission. Having an accountability of your people and making sure that they receive the best training to prepare them for different situations is an important quality. Also, preparing them for the leadership role is necessary while in the military. When it comes to being the President of the United States, I feel that that job comes with a ton of responsibility and must be the spokesperson for a country is a big pair of shoes to fill. I think that it all depends on the organizations and what is expected of them is what separates them from a leader and manager. At my job now, there are some supervisors who are just simply in charge of officers, and there are ''leaders'' who can take officers and prepare them for the next level. More
Re: Leadership Theories
posted by Robert THOMAS
Dec 18, 2013, 6:42 PM
There are several definitions of leadership in our readings and although they are all good I think the one that sticks out to me is the last one that says "leadership is the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organization". My boss is a big influence on me and encompasses these qualities that help me become a more efficient and valuable member to my team and organization. I've also had managers who didn't work well with other people in general and just cared about getting promoted themselves. There's an obvious big difference between the two when working under someone and taking daily direction for the organization. More
Re: Leadership Theories
posted by Susan Frear
Dec 19, 2013, 6:47 PM
Robert, I would have to agree with you! There is certainly a huge need for individuals that are capable of bringing out the best in their direct reports and in nurturing potential. And, I am glad that you have a boss that takes on that role for you. Susan More
Re: Leadership Theories
posted by Robert THOMAS
Dec 21, 2013, 1:03 PM
Hello Susan,
Thank you and I am very glad as well as I express that all of the time to my family and coworkers as we all view someone who possesses these qualities as a rarity this day and age. I had to work very closely with a district manager for the same company and I have to say she was the most aggressive young woman I have ever met and worked with but in the most negative way possible. Her aggressiveness, work ethics, and solid performance allowed her to go from a account sales executive to district manager in one year, and a year after that she got promoted to be in charge of all of Arizona for our wine sales. I want to say she struck fear in all of her team with one of her team members having a break down and crying from all of the stress, also had the guys stressed out of their minds just from talking business on the phone, and I definitely was uncomfortable around her. What a difference a leader can make with education, motivation, inspiration, and overall job satisfaction.
Re: Leadership Theories
posted by CYNTHIA CHRISTENSEN
Dec 19, 2013, 5:37 PM
I think when you don't have a clear leader with the capabilities of leading it can become a stressful environment and be challenging to what the main goals or focuses are of the organization. Where I work at, we have a leader that cannot lead and it makes things more stressful as there are no guidelines or really rules as to how to do things and you are expected to take care of a lot of problems on your own yet when you do it's not the way the "leader" would have done it yet they want you to be empowered to make the decisions to fix the problems or solve them.
Leadership
posted by TERISA BARANOSKI
Dec 17, 2013, 12:55 AM
Wikipedia defines leadership as " a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". I think of leadership as a way to help others accomplish a goal by guiding and coordinating activities or removing obstacles. Leadership is the go to person who can motivates the team and make things happen.
Reference:
wikipedia.org/wiki/leadership.
Re: Leadership
posted by BILLY GUZMAN
Dec 17, 2013, 10:20 AM
Just an FYI Terisa, but wikipedia is not an accepted source to cite at UofP.
Re: Leadership
posted by TERISA BARANOSKI
Dec 17, 2013, 11:59 PM
Billy,
Thanks for the information I'll choose a different source going forward.
Re: Leadership
posted by Susan Frear
Dec 19, 2013, 6:49 PM
Class,
To piggy back on this comment, Wikipedia is not a recommended source because there is no guarantee that the date has been validated. Since it is maintained through volunteer contributors, you should always treat the information with some suspicion.
Susan
Re: Leadership
posted by JAMEELAH NEWTON-JONES
Dec 17, 2013, 2:49 PM
Why are some leaders successful, while others fail? The truth is that there is no "magic combination" of characteristics that makes a leader successful, and different characteristics matter in different circumstances. This doesn't mean, however, that you can't learn to be an effective leader. You just need to understand the various approaches to leadership, so that you can use the right approach for your own situation.
Re: Leadership
posted by MICHAEL MILIOTO
Dec 18, 2013, 12:35 PM
Hello Jameelah. I agree that there are different approaches to becoming a leader and it all depends on the situation at hand. At the Pentagon, there are so many different backgrounds that we all have, whether it is from prior military or prior law enforcement. I think that in order to be able to become a leader in a law enforcement agency, it is important to understand where many have come from and to use them to make your agency better.
At my agency, the supervisors here, well some of them, feel threatened by the variety of education and expierence that officers have. Although they are supervisors here, there are some that prefer that you do the bare minimum so that you do not pass them up when it comes time for promotion. I agree that there is no magical combination of characteristics that make a leader successful. There is only so much that can be taught, you either possess the ability to lead and help others, or you don't. It can be difficult to try and excel here at my agency. A lot of the upper command here is scared of change and look to promote only the ''yes men'' that will not ask questions or fix what is broken.
Re: Leadership
posted by MICHAEL BLACK
Dec 18, 2013, 5:20 PM
Hello Jameelah. I agree with you that a person can learn to be an effective leader. In fact, there are books, programs, and even college classes that teach leadership skills to anyone willing to learn. There are also those born with innate leadership abilities (like a talent or gift). While there is no right or wrong approach for defining what is the best type of leader, I would propose a combination of the two (teach those with innate traits the teachable skills) for a great leader.
Circumstances can dictate who leads just as necessity is the mother of invention! There is a time and place for "trained leaders" and born leaders. Both types have their own pros and cons. A person can be a born leader and still reject his or her calling (much like an artistic person never using his or her skills). Likewise, a person can be trained to be a leader and lack certain traits like confidence and creativity making them an average to sub-par leader!
As Michael posted above, there are numerous learning styles and techniques. I liken this to golf. (I do not play nor am a fan, except for miniature golf!). There is one objective: get the ball in the hole in the fewest number of strokes possible! Like learning styles, there are numerous types of golf clubs (putters, wedges, 9 irons, etc...). Each club is designed for a specific scenario and excels under these conditions. However, any club can be used for every stroke (this is not very effective but it is possible). Knowing which styles and techniques might be an art form more so than a science and there is no one perfect answer (the combinations are practically limitless!)
Re: Leadership
posted by Robert THOMAS
Dec 18, 2013, 7:07 PM
I think understanding the different approaches to leadership can help someone become more well rounded so they can adapt to various types of situations in the business world. Although some organizations are very rigid with how they control their types of leadership throughout the company and expect things to be ran a specific way. For me personally I like a leader who will push me to become better, educates, empowers, and motivates me as well. When I am working closely with someone who possesses these types of qualities we form a solid professional bond and working relationship that increases my job satisfaction.
Re: Leadership
posted by TERISA BARANOSKI
Dec 21, 2013, 11:06 AM
Robert,
I agree with your comment that understanding the different approaches to leadership can help you become a better manager. I understand that no two situations are the same and depending on who you are working with you need to be able to adjust your managing style in order to get the best results.
Re: Leadership
posted by AMY ANDERSON
Dec 18, 2013, 6:08 PM
Terisa,
Although University of Phoenix does not accept wikipedia as a source, i is interesting that they had a definition of it. According to Chapter One of Leadership in Organizations, it is very hard to actually define the term leadership. It can be used in so many different ways the term from our everyday vocabulary to management to scientifically. Our text brought out that "it carries extraneous connotations that create ambiguity of meaning." It was also brought out that "researchers usually define leadership according to their individual perspectives and the aspects of the phenomenon of most interest to them." So when it comes to the definition of leadership it can mean different things to different people.
Reference:
Yuki, G. (2013). Leadership in Organizations (8th ed.) Prentice Hall.
Leadership in Organizations, Ch. 7
Discussion on this Learning Activity
Briefly explain the path-goal theory.
posted by TERISA BARANOSKI
Dec 17, 2013, 12:17 AM
The path goal theory of leadership is a tool to encourage and support member's in achieving goals by outlining the path member's should use. The leader should set a clear path so member knows what is expected, remove all roadblocks and increase rewards for achieving the goal. On a daily bases I help production teams set production goals; as for an example my glass line is scheduled for 646 walls this week and I make out a report that tells them with their crew size how many production hours are needed to complete the walls and hit the productivity goal of 65%. I will meet with the team to find out how they want to handle the schedule if they feel there might be issues and what plan we can put in place for them to achieve their goals. I'll run interference for issues with suppliers and support the teams efforts. In the past 3 months this team has increased their productivity by 22%, the team member will enjoy a larger bonus in January do to the increase in productivity.
Re: Briefly explain the path-goal theory.
posted by MICHAEL MILIOTO
Dec 17, 2013, 1:31 PM
Hello Terisa good post. I agree that the Path Goal theory is an important part of molding and creating future leaders. During my time in the military, I had a Squad Leader who would offer and educate us on what is expected to be nominated for the promotion board. There were some soldiers that had no interest in wanting to be promoted, but there were some like myself, that worked very hard and put in that extra effort to be offered the opportunity for the promotion board. I believe that in order to achieve success within a team, the leader should be encouraging and supporting members of the team to achieve goals.
After I was promoted, I carried on that responsibility as an effective leader and I sought to help others as I was taught. It should be a cycle that should repeat to ensure that employees can transform into managers and leaders. In my opinion, this is a necessary element allowing others to achieve success and follow their own goals. Just letting employees know that they are valued and appreciated by the company or team can go a long way.
Re: Briefly explain the path-goal theory.
posted by Robert THOMAS
Dec 19, 2013, 3:08 PM
Having a clear path or plan helps people stay on track when they plan goals out and also provides a way to keep track of productivity. I think the path goal theory is a valuable tool for any organization as it can increase productivity and efficiency. Performance measurement is a great tool to see where a company is excelling and also shows areas that need attention where the organization can make the necessary adjustments to move forward. Rewards are a great motivational tool for all the hard work it took to achieve any goal or goals, and this also helps with motivating a team or individual employee to start all over again when working toward new goals.
Re: Briefly explain the path-goal theory.
posted by CYNTHIA CHRISTENSEN
Dec 19, 2013, 5:34 PM
I agree that using the path goal theory can be useful. I used to have several goals as to what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be but I do think life circumstance can contribute to putting your goals on hold or switching them because of the different circumstances that you are faced with. I had a plan of what I wanted and where I wanted to be and my dad was diagnosed with cancer in March of this year. He passed away at Thanksgiving. My goals are still relevant but a little blurry as the experience has changed me as to what is important as well as what I really want to do with my life. I have determined I need to time to heal and just go with the flow for the time being and I am guessing things will naturally fall into place when the timing is right or at some point I will realize that I need to reevaluate my goals and switch them up or end up working harder to achieve those goals. Has anyone else had a life changing experience that has changed their goals? I am guessing this is normal....
Re: Briefly explain the path-goal theory.
posted by MICHAEL BLACK
Dec 19, 2013, 6:47 PM
I am in agreement with you when dealing with this subject. I particularly liked how the Path-Goal Theory deals with situational variables. Not only does this allow for subordinates to have a clear path laid out before them, but it also shows the leader where he or she needs to make improvements. This information is invaluable! As in everything in life, moderation is the key principle.
This theory helps us to plan our goals, take the necessary steps toward reaching them, modify them (if necessary), and planning new goals once the original ones are achieved. A great benefit to this theory is the building up (edifying) of the subordinate's confidence level. Once this is achieved, the production levels increase proportionately and everyone benefits.
At my job, the packing lines are rewarded for their efforts. Whichever line produces the most packaged goods (in a set time limit) with the fewest errors is rewarded with an extra half hour for lunch! This is a great incentive as most of our employees are from Temp agencies and we only hire them seasonally! The supervisor illustrates how to correct their problem areas and increase their efficiency ratings! More pay is another great motivator/reward. None of these rewards are possible when the employee does not see clearly the path that he or she must follow. This theory allows everyone to see the path clearly.
Re: Briefly explain the path-goal theory.
posted by MICHAEL MILIOTO
Dec 20, 2013, 8:31 AM
Hello Michael. I agree that the good that comes out of using the Path Goal theory is to build up the employee's confidence level. When employees have a high sense of morale and motivation, then the production level will increase. I remember the days when I had to work within a Temp agency. I used to work for a pharmaceutical company that the only way that you could get hired was through a temp agency. The money was good and all, but the problem was that during the holidays or times where there was no longer a need to manufacture the vaccines that we were producing, we would spend between 4-5 months sitting at home just waiting to be called back for work. The supervisor I had was great. We worked on a production level where we were given a certain deadline to complete projects and assignments. Our supervisor would often reward us for meeting these deadlines by taking us out to lunches at nice restaurants or would find some way to keep the morale up during these crazy deadlines. My supervisor liked me so much because I was a hard worker and that I was a veteran, but the issue was that I worked for this temp agency. I think that working for this supervisor taught me a lot about taking care of your employees.
Leadership in Organizations, Ch. 12
Charismatic Leaders
posted by HELENA RUBIO-CASTRO
Dec 19, 2013, 11:53 PM
I can see how a charismatic leader can have both positive and negative contributions to an organization. Having just a central figure as a leader inhibits the participation and development of talent within a group, but at the same time a charismatic leader is an endless source of positive ideas, optimism and confidence in achieving organizational goals. In my experience, given the sheer size of my company, it is possible to have charismatic leaders that enhance the performance of this particular organization.
Re: Charismatic Leaders
posted by MICHAEL MILIOTO
Dec 20, 2013, 8:37 AM
Hello Helena. I also agree that having a charismatic leader can have a positive and negative effect on an organization. Although that these kinds of leaders are rare to an organization, I think that depending on the type of industry, these people should be included within the company or business. These leaders tend to ''think outside of the box'' to make the business better. At the Pentagon, I am currently with the Police Department there. My ultimate goal is to work as a Security Specialist there, where their main objective is to find and mitigate the threats that could occur to the organization. These types of people must be critical thinkers and must be able to see the strengths and weaknesses that could occur at this facility. Charismatic leaders are needed and are seen in many different types of organizations around the world. I mean, just look at the employees that work at a place like Google. These individuals are changing the way we think and operate each day and without them, there would be no imagination occurring at this organization.
Organizational Behavior, Ch. 12
Sharing Knowledge As a Leader
posted by HELENA RUBIO-CASTRO
Dec 20, 2013, 12:45 AM
One of the most interesting traits that I fail to cover as a leader is the part about sharing knowledge and mentoring others: I have to admit that I'm way too interested in my own growth and development to consider mentoring people who could potentially compete with me, but I enjoy being a teacher (I taught while I was in school) and I have trained lots of people in my company in lean principles. I have to take this skill one step further to help other people who work with me. After reading this chapter, I think mentoring will only enhance my leadership skills and will help me build more positive enthusiastic teams.
Sharing Knowledge As a Leader
posted by MICHAEL BLACK
Dec 20, 2013, 8:39 PM
Hello Helena. I tend to focus on my own development and growth as we'll. While I do not mind mentoring others, helping them out, offering guidance, etc..., I sometimes need to be reminded by a third party; usually my boss!
I really tend to believe that I am not worthy enough to lead others as I see myself as still learning. Of course, this thought is irrational. Sharing my knowledge and experiences with others is a tricky thong to do. On one hand, I want to share what I have learned,what works well, etc.... From my experiences (both good and bad) in order to save this person a lot of headaches and unnecessary stress! On the other hand, I do not want to come off as controlling, acting like a know-it-all, or telling them what to do. I have come to the conclusion that just because something works for me, it does not mean that these methods work (or are right) for everyone! Sometimes we need to step back, let go, and allow others to figure out these lessons for themselves. They might even arrive at better solutions than we did.
Re: Sharing Knowledge As a Leader
posted by MICHAEL MILIOTO
Dec 21, 2013, 8:07 AM
I agree Helena. I am having an issue like the example you have stated. I have a sergeant that is only looking to look out for himself and himself only. In my opinion, that is what a leader should represent. I have been with my agency only a few months now and is looking to make sergeant as I did when I was in the military. I go above and beyond what is expected of an officer here at my job and would like to see that my hard work will account for something. Well, my current supervisor sees this as a threat to what he is trying to do, and I believe that he is trying to hold me back from my own goals.
This supervisor has a negative attitude towards officers and tries to enforce certain rules and regulations that he is not even able to follow. I do agree with you that if you are able to teach others and show them the way, that is what will make you a better leader. At my job, there are some very selfish people that will only look out for themselves and then throw you under the bus when someone else is trying to do good for themselves.
Re: Sharing Knowledge As a Leader
posted by Susan Frear
Dec 21, 2013, 3:31 PM
Helena,
There is a real positive personal development reason to be more concerned about the growth of your employees - the more they look good, the more you look good!
While it is always nice to do this for their best interest, there is no question that you and your overall team will benefit too.
Susan
Re: Sharing Knowledge As a Leader
posted by CYNTHIA CHRISTENSEN
Dec 21, 2013, 5:55 PM
I have a background of training new hires as well as helping employees that have been there forever. I like to think if they know as much as I can get them to learn it's only going to benefit the whole team as they can help me when I need it but also those around them and it totally makes you look good that you are willing to step up and teach someone else something that they didn't know or understand. Where I work now it's only 6 employees but everyone knows they can ask me about computer problems or how to do certain things as I am really good at what I do. Even the owner will send customers to me as he knows I can help them to figure out what it is they need help with. It's a good feeling to help others but it also makes the company stronger as knowledge is power.
Visibility of the Leader
posted by HELENA RUBIO-CASTRO
Dec 20, 2013, 12:23 AM
Regardless of the leadership style is the leader who takes the bulk of the credit for the success or failure of a team. Even though there is a lot of emphasis on teamwork, in any given business scenario, i.e. Carol Bartz former CEO of Yahoo, as the textbook mentions, lost her job for failing to increase the company's revenues. It was not her who single handedly could have achieved this goal, but she was the only one who was hired based on the expectation that she would increase revenue. I think that this is the most intimidating aspect of being a visible leader. I know that there is no way my team thinks I'm not outstanding - and humble too :) but I'm sure if I was sitting higher up in the corporate world I'm sure that it will be harder to gather unanimous support from your team.
