Discussion

1. It is interesting to note the relationship between the study of leadership and the study of management success. So, do you think that the early effort exerted in a new leadership role leads to ongoing success? What do you think?

2. As a leader in a new role or position can be a stressful situation and many variables that can influence their success rate. A clear understanding of their new role and how they fall into this position is part of their success rate. Guidance from their superior or having the ability to shadow who they are replacing can be key elements that would make the sociopolitical skills easier for the new leader. The new leader should have the willingness to open up about his experience and some personal to make their new team see that they are human as the rest of the team. The background information gives the team knowledge on their background and a building block for trust and opening the door for them to ask questions.

This position could have some additional challenges for someone that is coming into the position from outside of the company because they also need to learn the company as a whole on top of the new position. That could also be a benefit as well to remove previous company issues and mentalities of the employees. "Individuals who believe in their own competence and above-average qualities are more likely to take action at work" (Pfeffer, 2014). To be placed into the leader position from an outside organization could give a new leader a lack in confidence without a strong knowledge of the company.

"A good team realizes that is does not have all the answers, and therefore it should not be shy about asking for help when needed" (Anand & Daft, 2007, p.333). A good leader has the confidence and knowledge on how to establish the team and bringing them together to gain the answers through research can have an upper hand with being successful and advancing in the work environment. Creating a working team environment only makes leaders successful. "Humans have for all times sought information in order to support their activities" (Andersen, 2006, p. 217).

References

Anand, N. & Daft, R. L. (2007). What is the right organizational design? Organizational dynamics, 36, 329-344. Retrieved fromhttp://faculty.cbpp.uaa.alaska.edu/afgjp/PADM610/What%20is%20the%20Right%20Organization%20Design.pdf

Andersen, J. (2006). The public sphere and discursive activities: information literacy as sociopolitical skills. Journal of Documentation 62(2), 213-228.

Pfeffer, J. (2014). Do workplace hierarchies still matter? Retrieved from http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/jeffrey-pfeffer-do-workplace-hierarchies-still-matter

3. Learning communities and organizations profit from having members with different learning styles because each style has particular strengths and weaknesses. What do you think?