COM320 Final

What are transformational leaders? Characteristics?

↳ Focus on empowering individual workers and helping the organization adapt to changes in both internal and external environments

↳ Characteristics: Welcome the challenge, Courage, Clear vision, Driven by values, Motivated to learn, Welcome uncertainty/ambiguity, Believe in workers

What are the 5 follower types?

Alienated: Independent, Negative, Disengaged, Checked out emotionally
Conformist: Dependent, Uncritical, People pleaser
Passive: Dependent, Uncritical, Wants to be told what to do
Star: Independent, Engaged, Will speak up
Pragmatic: Flexibile, adaptive, Go with what works

What is the romance leadership perspective?

• Relationship between leaders and followers is a constructed one

• Leadership emerges out of a form of social contagion (reputation of a particular person spreads amongst organization members)

What are the 5 styles in Thomas-Kilmann’s Conflict Style Model

• Competition (Competitive, Focus on own goals)

• Avoidance (Conflict is ignored or delayed)

• Accommodation (One person gives in)

• Compromise (Partial satisfaction of goals for both sides)

• Collaboration (Both sides work towards a solution benefiting everyone)

What are the meanings of Authroitarinism, Dogmatism, Machiavellianism, Locus of Control?

• Authoritarianism (Rely on structure and rules)

• Dogmatism (Rigid in belief systems)

• Machiavellianism (Willing to lie)

• Locus of Control (Outcomes controlled by forces beyond their control)

What are some skills in reducing conflict? What are some tactics in conflict reduction?

• Skills in reducing conflict

↳ Avoid emotional presentations, Deal with one issue at a time, Do not insist on your own way, Be clear and direct, Openly admit error, Have a coping outlook, Make “I” statements (Cultural Rules may override this), Develop a positive communication climate

Tactics for Conflict Reduction
↳ Identifying numerous managable issues and suggesting approaching “smaller” concerns, Describing behaviors and outcomes to be avoided during the conflict, Exhibiting concern for both facts and feelings, Offering compromises from original positions

What are the socialization process stages?

↳ Anticipatory Socialization → Learning about work, Particular occupation and organization, Gathering info (including interview process before hire)
↳ Encounter → New employee must work to make sense of the new organizational structure, Orientation and formal/informal mentoring are helpful, Gathering info (asking questions, observing)
↳ Metamorphosis → As accepted member of the organization
↳ Challenge: when a person transfers from one job to another within an organization

What is the superior-subordinate relationship?

• Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX)

↳ Relationship quality between superiors and subordinates is determined by the quality of their communication exchanges
↳ Supervisors distribute resources differently among subordinates based on the quality of the relationships they develop with their subordinates

What are some Relational Maintenance Strategies?

↳ Personal Tactics: Frequent small talk, informal discussion

↳ Contractual Tactics: Subordinate’s willingness to conform or exceed expectations and conventions

↳ Regulative Tactics: Maintaining appropriate impressions

↳ Direct Tactics: Expressing opinions directly

What is the Positive and Negative Face Model of Politeness?

• Negative Face: A person’s want to be unimpeded by others, the desire to be free to act as s/he chooses and not be imposed upon

• Positive Face: A person’s want to be appreciated and approved of by selected others, in terms of personality, desires, behavior, values

What are the 5 strategies to handle Face-threatening acts?

1. Bald On-Record: Direct, Clear, No softening

2. Positive Politeness: Friendly, Inclusive, Relationship-focused
3. Negative Politeness: Respectful, Non-pushy

4. Off-record performance: Indirect, Hinting, Imply
5. Non-performance: Avoidance, Saying nothing

Gossip vs. Rumor in a workplace?

Gossip is information about issues/events that interest a small group or individuals.
Rumor is information that spreads beyond a small group (whole organization) and is not confirmed.

Functions of gossip and rumor?

• Better understand their social environment

• Utilization of information to the individual’s benefit

• Entertainment value

[Extra Credit Question] Define organizational communication and explain the field’s core areas or distinguishing features

• Organizational communication is sending and receiving messages among interrelated individuals within a particular environment or setting to achieve individual and common goals

Core Areas

1. Power & Structure

2. Culture & Environment

3. Conflict

4. Relationships & Socialization

5. Leadership & Followership

6. Communication Systems & Processes

Types of Gossip/Rumor?

• Pipe Dream or Wish Fulfillment - A rumor people want to be true

• Anxiety Rumor - Created from fear or stress

• Anticipatory Rumor - Trying to predict future events

• Aggresive Rumor - Meant to harm reputation