In this paper, the focus will be on the six
vignettes provided to study the leadership styles exercised in each those six
vignettes. Then the discussion will further evolve to understand and outline
the key points based on which such determination (of leadership styles) is
made. These key points will not be discussed in extreme details, but a summary
will be given to establishing my point best here. In the last, a self-opinion will
be presented on how leadership styles, which have been recognized in the six
vignettes how those (one or a combination of more than one), can be applied in
my context. It will be my attempt to present a logical point throughout this
assignment and not to deviate from the actual question.
Which leadership style is relevant to each of
the vignettes provided in the case study?
Vignette-1
The leadership style of the first vignette is
Laissez-faire that is due to some of the characteristics associated with this
type of leadership style. This type of leadership is rarely effective because
the leaders do not tend to make decisions in this leadership style and ask the
member to make decisions. Such style is known to less productive as everyone is
counting on others to do the job.
Vignette-2
This vignette has a mixture of two leadership
styles. The first one is the directive, which is also famously known as
autocratic leadership. The second leadership style is participative. Both
styles have certain key points vested in them that create a link with the
second vignette.
Vignette-3
This vignette has some signs of
transformational leadership. The characteristics of the transformational
leadership are that a leader works with his or her team to identify and bring
change with a process of streamlined strategies to meet a goal.
Vignette-4
The leadership style that is being exercised
here is democratic. This is again due to the features that come with democratic
leadership (involvement of other members in the team to get their ideas so they
can feel valued and contribute towards the achievement of major goal) create a
link with the fourth vignette.
Vignette-5
Directive leadership is the one that seems to
be in action here. Helen, who decides on behalf of every human resource manager
that what policy they will adhere to is an autocratic leader.
Vignette-6
There are clear signs of transformational
leadership in Margarita approach to deal with her colleagues, Nicholas and
Eugene.
How did you recognize the leadership style?
Vignette-1
There is a clear indication present in this
short case study which enables us to determine the leadership style as
Laissez-faire. All the top-level manager and local and regional managers do not
respond to the alarming situation in the room and waiting for someone else to
pass the orders. This is one of the few basics of Laissez-faire leadership that
people do not take initiative and do not take charge of the situation and they
wait for others to come forward with something. It is this point, or situation,
in vignette one which enables us to determine the Laissez-faire as the
leadership style being exercised here.
Vignette-2
This vignette describes the working styles
and the personality of Michael who is an analyst. He is very good at this work
and has years of experience in his portfolio. His division of work amongst his
team members, dictation at some stages and participation at almost every stage
enable us to determine that Michael exercises a combination of two leadership
styles. He borrows some aspects of autocratic leadership style such as taking
and maintaining control of everything and being directive. He also borrows the
aspect of actively participating in team assignments from a participative
leadership style. It is important to remember here that, based on people’s
personality, they can exercise a combination of leadership styles and it is not
necessary that they only have one unique leadership style. There are many
examples of successful people readily available in the real world who used a
combination of different leadership styles to encourage and motivate their
teams to achieve desired results.
Vignette-3
The situation described in the third vignette
points towards transformational leadership. How one manager is intervening to
help resolve the ongoing issues between his commercial manager and production
manager in Prague is a sheer example of a transformational leader. He is not
only looking at the possibility of resolving the matter between his two
managers, but he is also recognizing their talents and abilities by using which
company has and will benefit in the future.
Vignette-4
The case study described in this vignette is
a tremendous example of democratic leadership. As a manager in his workplace,
he invites his entire colleague to discuss the matter of supplier
relationships. He encourages his entire colleague to take part in this
discussion actively. Most of the colleagues who attended this meeting felt
really valued and happily participated in the discussion. There were few who did
not join in the beginning but joined later on. The air during the whole session
of discussion was very positive which is why it has all the characteristics of
democratic leadership.
Vignette-5
Helen exercises directive leadership in this
vignette. Due to the very situation that how she establishes the need of young
scientists in the company and how she is completely aware of the situation in
other countries. Most importantly, Helen makes a centralized policy that is
then distributed across other offices to the HR departments for their
respective heads to follow and adhere to. This gives the impression of Helen
being an autocratic leader.
Vignette-6
This vignette outlines the transformational
characteristics of Margarita. She helps her colleague Nicholas to gain a
reputable position in the company and polish his personal skills by giving him
more assignments. Margarita helps him in his struggles and allows him to get to
a point where he gains confidence. Her motivation and time dedication with
Nicholas to transform him to a skillful worker is the sheer example of
transformational leadership. She tries to help Eugene also in the same fashion
but receives no positive response as she did from Nicholas.
Explain how the leadership style is applied
in the vignettes?
Vignette-1
As we mentioned above that this vignette has
Laissez-faire leadership. This style is apparent due to the top-level managers’
and regional managers’ inability to respond to the situation of a fire alarm
timely. None of them took any initiative to deal with the situation actively
and lead others from the front. They all waited quietly for someone to take
action so he or she can be followed.
Vignette-2
Michael possesses a personality that a
combination of two leadership styles. His working style consists of dividing
tasks amongst his team-mates according to their level of skill and expertise.
This can also be referred to as unevenly, and he works hard to control
everything and to have all the tasks pass his eye before they can be finally
submitted to the top bosses. His active participation in all the tasks is how
autocratic and participative leadership is applied to this vignette.
Vignette-3
The transformational leadership is applied to
this vignette on the points of intervening to resolve the issues between two of
his colleagues at the management level. This situation could have been left for
the involved people to resolve but in order to avoid the worst situation a role
of mediator was adopted by the intervening manager who led from the front and took
the responsibility to deal with this situation.
Vignette-4
As it has been mentioned in the above
paragraph that it a democratic leadership which is applied in this vignette.
The manager’s approach to bringing everybody on a forum to discuss the matters
and accept any new ideas they might have to throw is the supreme example of a
democratic leader. His approach to providing this space to his colleagues and
having the ability to listen to everyone calmly was a good gesture.
Vignette-5
This gives the impression of Helen being an
autocratic leader. Her approach to making and devising a policy from a central
position and then to disseminate this to HR heads on various locations was how
she exercised the practices of autocratic leadership. Her expectancy from
everyone to follow her policy is also another key point to determine what has
been determined above.
Vignette-6
Margarita’s great character reflects in her
approach to transform her colleagues in the best possible way. How she
recognizes Nicholas’ talent and provides him every opportunity to improve and
polish his skills, how she dedicates her own time to correct the mistakes he
makes and how she keeps him motivated until he achieves a position is how the
transformational leadership style is applied to this vignette. It is vital to
mention here that Margarita did not help Nicholas on a personal level as she
also tried to help and transform Eugene by offering him more opportunities, but
it was his negative response which did not produce desired results. Margarita
truly is a transformational leader.
How can you apply these leadership styles in
your context?
When someone asks you a question like what is
your leadership style, in my opinion, there is no simple answer to this
question. I have a personality that has multiple layers, not to say negative
personality traits though. A similar incident occurring more than once can
evoke different reactions in me given the time and place of its re-occurrence.
I like the authority over certain things and tasks which are complex in nature
so they can be efficiently done and completed. This does not mean that I am a
‘control freak’ or would like to curb the rights of people surrounding me. This
also does not mean that I am less considerate of their personal skill level and
their potential. I would not like to call or imagine anyone working with me my
subordinate; I would simply refer to them my working colleagues. By being an
autocratic leader simply means here that I will be more in charge of the jobs
by being respectful to others.
Again, dependent on the situation and people
I am dealing with, I can decide to exercise a servant leadership where I would
like to give powers to my colleagues who can decide the trajectory of the task
in hand. I would like to jump in only if I see a problem that would hinder in
either the timely completion of the task or it would affect the overall
efficiency of the job in hand.
My personality does not stop me from taking
opinions from my colleagues as I openly and actively ask for their opinions,
when and where needed. This would help me to establish a strong and positive
viewpoint of or about something after working on a pool of ideas. In this
entire process, I will express my gratitude to those who passed me their ideas.
Whatever the personality style is, one or
combinational, the focus is a foundation of all the success to come your way in
your career. Because it does not matter really which leadership style you go
far and how successful results it has produced for others around the sheer
focus and determination is what makes you a complete leader.
