1. Based on the skills approach, how would you assess Dr.  Wood's leadership and his relationship to the members of The Elder Care Project team? Will the project be successful?
2. Does Dr. Wood have the skills necessary to be an effective leader of this research team?
3. The skills model describes three important competencies for leaders: problem-solving skills, social judgment skills, and knowledge. If you were to coach Dr. Wood using this model, what competencies would you address with him? What changes would you suggest that he make in his leadership?
Dr. Adam Wood is the principal investigator on a research grant to study health education for older populations (The Elder Care Project). Eleven colleagues work under Dr. Wood. Dr. Wood has a great deal of knowledge and experience with research projects and is a competent researcher. This project, however, is taking longer than expected and lacks focus and direction. Dr. Wood often becomes frustrated because he is doing much of the work and feels his colleagues are not doing enough. He rarely praises or supports the colleagues, who are also frustrated by the scope of the project and Dr. Wood's lack of human and social judgment skills.
This case study portrays a leader with significant task skill. It is clear the leader lacks problem-solving, human, and conceptual skills. Thus, the case provides a nice format to discuss the reality of leadership: Many leaders indeed rise to the top because they have high levels of expertise but lack social judgment and conceptual skills. Students should be able to identify these deficiencies and understand how they impact a team and work product.