Question 1

Sophia, an American, met her new boss from the U.K. for the first time and said, "Hello, Simon. Welcome to the team! How long have you been in the States? They must have offered you a lot of money for you to move all the way here, huh?" Which of the major mistakes to avoid at work did Sophia make?

Accepted Answer

Sophia overlooked cultural differences by making assumptions about Simon's reasons for moving, which could be considered insensitive or inappropriate in a professional setting.

Question 2

Gavin likes to talk to his coworkers about his political views. Many coworkers are troubled by his talk. What advice should be given to Gavin?

Accepted Answer

Discussing political views excessively in the workplace can lead to discomfort among coworkers, so it's advisable to avoid oversharing personal opinions on such topics.

Question 3

Good communicators can flourish in the workplace. Social scientists have labeled this skill _______, the capacity to behave appropriately and effectively negotiate complex social relationships and environments.

Accepted Answer

Social intelligence is the capacity to know oneself and to know others, which is essential for understanding and managing complex social relationships and environments, making it the correct term for the skill described.

Question 4

After Will had been in his new job for a year, he believed he was completely in control of everything he had to do and was praised by his bosses. When he started taking things for granted, and focusing only on "the big picture," as he put it, because the small details were not really worth his time, he got into problems with his manager. He sent her an angry email, telling her exactly what he thought of her. As a result, he was fired. Which two pieces of advice should Will have heeded?

Accepted Answer

Will should have avoided doing less than his best by paying attention to details and should not have lost his cool by sending an angry email to his manager.

Question 5

When you have everyone on your team agree on clear guidelines for high-quality work, and provide feedback at each step, you are implementing which guideline to guarantee that all team-members are doing their fair share of the work?

Accepted Answer

Focusing on quality involves setting clear standards for what constitutes high-quality work and ensuring that these standards are met through continuous feedback and agreement among team members. This approach ensures that everyone is contributing effectively and maintaining the desired level of quality in their work.

Question 6

DeAnna is the supervisor for the engineering team at her company. A task comes down from her leadership to allocate funding by noon that day. She decides that she doesn't have time to discuss this with the team, so she allocates the money where she sees fit. What management approach does this best exemplify?

Accepted Answer

DeAnna's approach is an example of the authority-obedience management style, where the focus is on efficiency and results, often at the expense of team input or considerations. This style is characterized by decision-making from the top down without consulting the team.

Question 7

The principle of _______ holds that a leader's style should change with the circumstances.

Accepted Answer

Situational leadership theory suggests that no single leadership style is best. Instead, it depends on the situation at hand and various factors, including the task, the team's capabilities, and other environmental conditions. This principle advocates for adapting leadership style to the circumstances to be most effective.

Question 8

More than 2,000 years ago, Aristotle proclaimed, "From the hour of their birth some are marked out for subjugation, and others for command." This is a radical expression of _______, sometimes labeled as the "great man" or "great woman" approach.

Accepted Answer

Aristotle's statement reflects the essence of trait theories of leadership, which suggest that certain individuals are born with characteristics or traits that predispose them to be leaders. This perspective aligns with the "great man" or "great woman" approach, which posits that leadership is inherent and not something that can be developed.

Question 9

Adrienne is part of the senior management team at a company in which-since her appointment-both morale and client-satisfaction have dramatically improved. Among her driving principles are the ideas that people work better when they are both motivated and empowered to reach their goals, that each team member must contribute fully, and that when she has to make a key decision, everyone knows why she is making it. She is a useful example of how _______ works.

Accepted Answer

Adrienne's approach, focusing on motivation, empowerment, full contribution from team members, and transparency in decision-making, aligns with transformational leadership. This style involves inspiring and motivating employees to exceed their own expectations and capabilities, often leading to improved performance and satisfaction.

Question 10

Gustav works with a difficult boss. His boss is a micromanager, so he often invites her input because he realizes there is little he can do to change her behavior. He often gratuitously complains about her behavior to his coworkers. Even though she is often negative, Gustav remains positive in the way he communicates towards her. What is the best way that he could respond to his difficult boss more appropriately?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Gustav works with a difficult boss. His...

Question 11

Gustav works with a difficult boss. His boss is a micromanager, so he often invites her input because he realizes there is little he can do to change her behavior. He often gratuitously complains about her behavior to his coworkers. Even though she is often negative, Gustav remains positive in the way he communicates towards her. Which part of this description shows Gustav maintaining a professional demeanor?

Accepted Answer

Gustav maintains a professional demeanor by staying positive in his communication with his boss despite her negativity.

Question 12

Gustav works with a difficult boss. His boss is a micromanager, so he often invites her input because he realizes there is little he can do to change her behavior. He often gratuitously complains about her behavior to his coworkers. Even though she is often negative, Gustav remains positive in the way he communicates towards her. Which part of this description shows that Gustav has learned to adjust his expectations?

Accepted Answer

Gustav's realization that there is little he can do to change his boss's behavior indicates that he has adjusted his expectations to accommodate the reality of his work situation.

Question 13

If you eventually realize that you need to discontinue working for a particular company, and are aware that it is important to do so without making a bad impression, what elements should your resignation letter include?

Accepted Answer

A resignation letter should maintain professionalism and positivity. Including a diplomatic explanation for leaving and expressing gratitude for the experience gained helps ensure a positive departure without burning bridges.

Question 14

This type of power comes from the perception of value of what team members know or can do.

Accepted Answer

Expert power is derived from possessing knowledge or skills that others value, respect, and need. This makes others more likely to follow or be influenced by the person with this expertise.

Question 15

This type of power is in operation when others are influenced by the granting or promise of desirable consequences.

Accepted Answer

Reward power is in operation when someone influences others by controlling the allocation of rewards valued by them, such as promotions, pay increases, or desirable assignments.

Question 16

This type of power comes from the respect, liking, and trust others have for a member.

Accepted Answer

Referent power is derived from the respect, liking, and trust that others have for a member, making them influential based on their personal relationships and reputation.

Question 17

This type of power arises from the threat or actual imposition of unpleasant consequences.

Accepted Answer

Coercive power is based on the ability to deliver threats or punishment to others, making them comply to avoid negative consequences.

Question 18

Eduardo is great at developing relationships with new people. This comes in handy at his job because the people he builds relationships with often bring business to their company. This is an example of _______ power.

Accepted Answer

Eduardo's ability to develop relationships that bring business to the company is an example of connection power. Connection power is based on the individual's relationships and network, which can be leveraged to achieve goals or gain influence.

Question 19

Chandra knows that if she makes a mistake on the supply budget again, her boss will likely fire her. This is an example of _______ power.

Accepted Answer

Coercive power is based on the ability to deliver threats or punishment. In this scenario, Chandra's boss has the power to fire her, which is a form of punishment for making a mistake, thus exemplifying coercive power.

Question 20

Vivian listens to her co-workers and also presents her own ideas clearly and effectively. As a result, she is admired and liked by members of her team, who are always willing to go along with her proposals. This is an example of _______ power.

Accepted Answer

Referent power is based on the admiration, respect, and affection that others have for an individual, which is exemplified by Vivian's situation where her team members admire and like her, making them willing to support her proposals.

Quiz 11: Communicating in the Workplace