The Sexton Company is a large, successful manufacturer of auto parts. The compan

Question

The Sexton Company is a large, successful manufacturer of auto parts. The company has had a policy of actively supporting its employees in their self-development efforts. They either paid tuition or gave employees time off to attend seminars. Ms. Schmidt was the office manager, and was known as a 'real autocrat' by her subordinates. She went off to attend a two-week seminar on "Improving Leadership Effectiveness." When she returned she announced that she had learned new methods from the seminar and would make changes. One change she said would be to stop being so strict. Instead she would begin to allow employees to be more flexible in how they performed their duties. (What will be the effects of the new Ms. Schmidt? If she does not change after the announcement, what will be the effects? Do you think she changed her leadership style? Why or why not?

Explanation / Answer

Earlier Ms Schmidt was using an autocratic style of leadership. She, as the office manager, must be having total control over decision making. Her subordinates must have been under constant and close scrutiny under this type of leadership.

The new Ms. Schmidt is willing to be flexible by letting go of her autocratic style of leadership. Her subordinates will have more flexibility in performing their duties. This will have a direct positive effect on their morale. Another positive effect of the new Ms. Schimdt will be that the subordinates will freely contribute more ideas and the level of creativity in terms of problem solving will increase in the Sexton Company.

If Ms. Schimdt does not change and continues to follow her autocratic style of leadership, there will be resentment and low morale present among the subordinates. The Sexton Company will not change and its leadership will potentially stifle the partcipation by the subordinates in the decision making process.

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