Module 2 - Case
SERVANT LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION, AND ORGANIZATIONS AS SYSTEMS
Background
In the movie Peaceful Warrior, the character "Socrates" (as played by Nick Nolte) says, "There's no greater purpose than service to others."
This is the premise upon which servant leadership is based. However, in today's economy, we see many leaders who are motivated by money, power, and prestige, but not by serving others.
Our forefathers, the first Presidents of the United States, were not motivated by money or the like, but out of a deep service to the establishment of this country. This SLP will examine their leadership styles through the lens of the servant leader.
Required Reading
Refer to the Background readings for this module.
Case Assignment
Select one out of the first ten Presidents of the USA (George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, or John Tyler) who you consider to be an outstanding example of a servant leader.
Then, prepare a 5- to 6-page paper (not including the cover and reference pages) in which you Analyze the leadership style of your selected President in terms of the Servant Leadership model, and critically comment on whether this approach would be effective in today's world.
Keys to the Assignment
The key aspects of this assignment that should be covered in your paper include:
• Conduct independent research on this individual and create a profile of this leader.
o What makes this person a servant leader? Support your answer with examples.
• Discuss the added value of a servant leader based upon your leader's profile.
• Fast forward to today.
o Do you think servant leaders are needed in all organizations?
o What would an organization full of servant leaders be like? Justify your response.
o What are the significant contingencies that would lean in favor or against servant leadership?
Module 2 - SLP
SERVANT LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION, AND ORGANIZATIONS AS SYSTEMS
Background
In today's business world, we rely on leaders to make persuasive arguments to motivate employees and "get the job done." This requires both written and oral skills.
In Module 1 SLP, we examined the use of ethos, logos, and pathos in influence. In this SLP, you will apply these principles to make your own argument as if you were a supervisor in your Fortune 10 company.Go to Fortune Magazines Top 100 Companies to Work For 2016 and choose a company from the Top 10.
Required Reading
Refer to the required and optional readings on effective communication messages and methods, as well as the readings from Module 1 on ethos, logos, and pathos.
Session Long Project
Using what you have learned in this module and module 1 about effective communication, develop a slide deck (minimum of 8 slides) with voice narration in which you introduce a new organizational policy at your company.
Keys to the Assignment
The key aspects of this assignment that, at a mimimum, should be covered in your presentation include:
• Your presentation should consist of at least 8 slides explaining the implementation of a new organizational policy (e.g., no cell phones on the job) and an audio recording of your presentation (no more than 5 minutes long) where you (a dedicated leader) communicate the benefits and implications of your policy.
The goal is to be able to influence (e.g., ethos, logos, pathos) your followers/audience to embrace this organizational change.
• Once you have completed the PowerPoint presentation, you will use "Record Narration" to record your presentation using a microphone.
You will submit the PowerPoint presentation with voiceover for a grade. (Please discuss any special issues with your instructor if you are unable to complete any portion of this assignment).
You will be particularly assessed on:
• Your completion of all the steps in the exercise.
• Your ability to synthesize information and present a concise and meaningful PowerPoint and audio presentation.
• How well you demonstrate the principles of communication presented in this module.
• The clarity and quality of your PowerPoint and audio presentations.