Question

Assignment #3 for Chapters 6-7

Answer the 7 questions below from Chapters 6-7. Feel free to use examples and cite the text when appropriate. To make this easier to read, you may use bullets, lists etc., but you must write grammatically correct. Please include the question with the answer. Do not just submit answers. Your answers should be complete sentences. These are NOT one sentence answers.

Submit your responses as a Word attachment in the assignments tab in Canvas under Assignment #3.

Chapter 6

1. Discuss what is meant by servant leadership.
2. Positive organizational behavior emphasizes individual strengths to include "psychological capital." What is meant by that concept?
3. The neocharismatic and inspirational approaches provide several advantages over other views of leadership, one of which is a focus on leaders at top levels. Explain your opinion of why the focus is only on top level leaders and not middle level leaders also.

Chapter 7

4. Discuss the differences between micro and macro leadership.
5. List and explain the six strategic forces impacting senior leadership style.
6. What is meant by the statement: "as an organization matures the leader's influence is replaced by a strong culture"? Give examples.
7. Explain the differences between the participative innovator (PI) and the status quo guardian (SQG).

Answer 1

Chapter 6

Servant leadership is a style of leadership where the main objective of the leader is to serve his/her followers. Conventionally leaders are expected to influence the followers/subordinates and get them to do their bidding. This means usually the subordinates or followers listen to the leader and does his/her bidding. In case of servant leadership the role is different. The leader tends to help the followers and thus makes the followers depend on him and his services.

Psychological capital is a concept that comprises of four key elements in context to organization behavior. These are hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism. These four key elements indicate if an employee or individual has positive psychological capital or negative. When employees and managers have positive psychological capital they tend to improve their attitudes, behavior, and performance in the organization.

One of the key reasons why focus on leaders at top level works well with neo-charismatic leadership approach is that it reduce the surface area of criticism. When an organization’s different levels share equal amount of focus, image management may become challenge. For example, let’s consider a company has 20 leaders. There is a high possibility that one of them will make mistake and thus tend to bring down the reputation of the company. However, if the same company has a single top leader and 19 other leaders who are not focused on, then there is a possibility that the company will manage a good image because the top leader will be charismatic, inspirational and a star in the public eye. This is why the focus is only on top level leaders in this approach.