What are Katherine's shortcomings as a leader and how can she improve? You are a division head
Question:
What are Katherine's shortcomings as a leader and how can she improve?
You are a division head with three direct reports and a personal staff of two (a secretary and an
assistant). Each of the people who reports to you has different developmental leadership needs.
Right now you are considering one of the regional assistant directors who needs some help.
Katherine Jacobs feels that she has been successful in a man's world. Most of her direct reports
are men, and they are indeed a bit more critical of women leaders. She gives terse verbal orders
that she has carefully thought about in advance. She invariably precedes or follows with a written
directive or summary. She keeps personal interactions to a minimum so that the work setting can
be as "professional" as possible. Her influence tactics are position-based strategies with some
rational persuasion in writing. She rarely uses consultation or person-based influence strategies; in
fact, she considers them inappropriate. She remains relatively up to date but you have noticed that
the only new ideas are her own. Generally, she likes to do things "by the book," which is a strength
in terms of consistency but a weakness in terms of fresh ideas. Most of her subordinates respect
her but do not like her. A few have transferred out in order to serve under a different leader. In her
development plans, she has outlined attending a weeklong technical training course and
"tightening up several messy procedural areas" in the office.
Auditing A Practical Approach with Data Analytics
ISBN: 978-1119401742
1st edition
Authors: Raymond N. Johnson, Laura Davis Wiley, Robyn Moroney, Fiona Campbell, Jane Hamilton