Assignment
1. Of the five key elements of leadership (Influence, Organizational Objectives, People, Change, Leader Followers) which do you think is the most important? Why?
2. Do you think leaders are born or are they made? If you think leadership skills can be taught, what would you do to develop those skills?
3. Of the three managerial leadership skills (Decision Making Skills, Technical Skills, Interpersonal Skills) which skill is your strength? Why?
4. Think of a manager you currently have or had in the past. Which of the University of Iowa leadership styles does or did your manager use most often?
5. Explain that manager's behavior and why you think that behavior fits within the style you chose.
6. Based on the University of Michigan Leadership Model, which leadership style do you think you exhibit? Explain.
7. Based on the Ohio State University Leadership Model, which leadership style do you think you exhibit? Explain.
8. Identify a specific task assigned to you by a manager. Break down the steps he or she took in the oral message-sending process. Share this with your classmates.
9. What is your weakest listening skill? How can you improve that?
10. Have you ever used paraphrasing? Has it been used on you? Describe the situation and your thoughts on whether it was helpful in communicating.
11. Based on the LMX theory, focus on the existence of in-groups and out-groups. Think about a working unit or organization you are or were involved in that included in-groups and out-groups. Describe how the manager's behavior and actions toward the in-group was different from those toward the out-group. Did this difference impact the out-group's productivity? How?
12. The team focused leadership discussed in the TMX theory is said to result in group identification and increased productivity. In your opinion, is this correct? Do you think employing a TMX centered approach to leadership would increase effectiveness?
13. Think of a leader from your work or education experience you think has charisma. Explain why you think he or she has charisma and how it is demonstrated.
14. With respect to this leader, how did he or she impact your work ethic, job satisfaction, or performance? Explain.
15. Was this leader a transformational leader or a transactional leader? Explain.