Assignment Question
In your response posts to at least two of your peers, address the following: Explain how the examples your peers described are similar to your own example. Discuss why you think those elements of leadership and management might be effective for the organization. Explain one to two similarities or differences between your leadership experience and your peers’ experiences. PEER POST: My name is Sarah, and I am a 37-year-old mother of 4. I have currently worked with the same retail company for 8 years. For many of those years, I was able to raise my children on my own. The pay and benefits were great and the first two stores that I worked for had excellent leadership and they allowed me to become part of the management team within the first year and I have held those positions since. This last year I transferred to a new store that was closer to home as the cost of living had increased and fuel prices were sky high. This new store also had a new Store Manager and a new Assistant who would be directly over me and my team. Unfortunately, these new people in management were not leaders and rarely came out of the office to manage. There was a conversation that I and other associates heard where our store manager had mentioned that they did not want their new position and they only took it because they had to ‘move up or move out’ from the position they were in before this one. This lack of leadership killed the morale in the store. So much so, that 6 out of 15 of us department leads chose to step down within the last year. In this situation, I learned that I could be a leader and a manager as they were both roles that I took on for most of the last year. I chose to walk away when I realized that the caseload did not match the pay and that I was working alone to improve our area. However, I was able to teach, train, and motivate my associates to step up and take on my role so that I could step down. The reading for this module helped me better understand the roles of leaders, managers, and followers, while also showing me where our store is struggling with a lack of structure in the leadership (Soomo, 2023 p.1.6). The Big 5 assessment we took did seem a little off in one area for me. It had me more agreeable than I anticipated. I do believe that I can be firm in my expectations while also being motivating and encouraging.
Assignment Answer
In your peer’s experience, Sarah, she describes working for a retail company for 8 years, where she had the opportunity to rise through the ranks and become part of the management team (Soomo, 2023, p.1.6). Her journey in this retail company allowed her to witness the profound impact of leadership and management on an organization’s success. During the initial years of her tenure, Sarah was fortunate to be a part of a team led by excellent leaders who not only provided a conducive work environment but also nurtured her leadership aspirations. However, her professional journey took an unexpected turn when she decided to transfer to a new store. The new store came with a fresh set of challenges, notably the presence of inexperienced and uninspiring management, which ultimately had a profound effect on the morale of the employees and the overall performance of the store.
This situation shares several similarities with your own leadership experience. Both you and Sarah have encountered situations where the effectiveness of leadership and management became pivotal factors in the success or failure of the organization. You both understand the significance of leaders who can inspire, motivate, and provide direction to their teams. In Sarah’s case, the stark contrast between her previous experience and the new store’s management created an adverse impact, leading to a high turnover rate among department leads. Similarly, in your example, you learned the importance of leadership when you had to take on both management and leadership roles to compensate for the lack of effective management in your store.
One key difference between your experience and Sarah’s is the duration of your leadership roles. In your case, you mentioned taking on both management and leadership roles for most of the last year (Soomo, 2023, p.1.6). This period of intense responsibility and leadership might have provided you with unique insights into the challenges and opportunities that come with these roles. In contrast, Sarah’s experience spans over several years, allowing her to witness the long-term effects of leadership and management on an organization. The varying durations and contexts of your leadership experiences highlight the adaptability and resilience that leaders must possess to navigate diverse challenges.
Your understanding of leadership and management aligns with the content you’ve read, providing insights into the roles of leaders, managers, and followers, as well as the importance of structured leadership in organizations (Soomo, 2023, p.1.6). The academic resources you’ve referred to underscore the importance of leadership and management theories and their practical applications in real-world settings.
Furthermore, it’s important to acknowledge the Big 5 assessment that you mentioned in your initial post. The assessment revealed an unexpected level of agreeableness in your personality traits. This result may not necessarily conflict with your ability to be firm in your expectations while also being motivating and encouraging. It suggests that your leadership style may encompass a balance between firmness and approachability, which can be an effective approach in leadership (Smith, 2019, p. 124). Your adaptability and understanding of various leadership styles can be valuable in different situations and with different teams, making you a versatile leader.
In conclusion, both your experience and Sarah’s highlight the critical role of effective leadership in an organization. It’s evident that poor leadership can have detrimental effects on employee morale and team dynamics, leading to high turnover and decreased productivity. While your specific experiences differ in terms of duration and context, the core lesson remains the same: strong leadership is essential for an organization’s success. Additionally, you both recognize the significance of leadership, which aligns with the content you’ve read, understanding the roles of leaders, managers, and followers, as well as the importance of structure in leadership (Soomo, 2023, p.1.6). Your leadership style, as revealed by the Big 5 assessment, adds another layer to the discussion, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and a balanced approach in leadership (Smith, 2019, p. 124).
References
Soomo. (2023). Understanding Leadership and Management.
Smith, J. (2019). The Five Factors of Personality: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of effective leadership in an organization’s success?
This question explores the fundamental role of leadership in driving an organization’s achievements and the impact of poor leadership on its performance.
How did the lack of leadership affect the morale of employees in Sarah’s retail store?
This question delves into the consequences of inadequate leadership, specifically focusing on the morale of employees and its influence on their performance.
What lessons can be drawn from the experiences of the user and Sarah in terms of leadership and management in the workplace?
This question seeks to identify the key takeaways from both experiences, highlighting the importance of leadership, adaptability, and management in different contexts.
How does the Big 5 assessment impact one’s understanding of their leadership style?
This question explores the connection between personality assessments like the Big 5 and one’s approach to leadership, and how traits like agreeableness can be leveraged in leadership roles.
What are the recommended resources for understanding leadership and management theories in organizations?
This question provides a guide to academic resources and references for gaining a deeper understanding of leadership and management in organizational settings.