280 Part 3 Group and Organizational Communication
What Type of Leader Are You?Leadership is the ability to direct or influence others toward a productive end. Leader-
ship behaviors can vary from person to situation. Use the following five-point scale to
find out which style(s) of leadership you exhibit: 5 = extremely like me; 4 = somewhat
like me; 3 = neither like nor unlike me; 2 = somewhat unlike me; and 1 = extremely
unlike me.1. I ask a lot of questions to find out what others know.
2. I usually know or find out the facts and delegate work to group members early on.
3. I have high expectations and expect everyone to contribute positively.
4. I watch the emotional reactions of group members to be sure I don’t hurt
anyone’s feelings.
5. I think that my group members should be able to make their own decisions.
6. I ask questions and encourage others to participate so they will contribute their
ideas.
7. I organize the group’s notes and agenda, paying less attention to individuals.
8. I figure everyone should share responsibility for making the group successful.
9. If people aren’t participating, I’ll reach out to find out why.
10. I don’t give a lot of feedback to group members; they should know what they
are doing.
11. When a problem arises in a group, I present it and then sit back and listen to
everyone’s responses.
12. I am comfortable explaining the overall project and then assigning others to
specific tasks.
13. I expect everyone to have high standards for success.
14. I pay attention to personal problems that may affect the working environment.
15. I find that group members will be more successful if I just check in on them
occasionally.
Sum your answers for the question numbers that follow, noting the areas with the
highest score:
_____ (#1, 6, 11) You are a participative leader.
_____ (#2, 7, 12) You are a directive leader.
_____ (#3, 8, 13) You are an achievement-oriented leader.
_____ (#4, 9, 14) You are a supportive leader.
_____ (#5, 10, 15) You are a delegating leader.A mix of high numbers (12–15) indicates a diverse leadership style; as we point out
in this chapter, adapting your leadership style to suit your group’s needs is an essential
leadership skill.what about you?