Leadership Assessment Leadership Styles 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which leadership theory proposes that leaders emerge because they occupy a central position in social networks rather than because of personal traits?
- Trait theory
- Social network theory of leadership (Correct answer)
- Path-Goal theory
- Great Man theory
Correct answer: Social network theory of leadership
Social network theory argues that leadership influence arises from structural network positions — particularly high centrality — rather than individual attributes.
Question 2: A manager notices that a usually high-performing employee has become disengaged and adjusts her approach to provide more emotional support. Which situational leadership level best describes this employee?
- D1 – Low competence, high commitment
- D2 – Some competence, low commitment
- D3 – High competence, variable commitment (Correct answer)
- D4 – High competence, high commitment
Correct answer: D3 – High competence, variable commitment
D3 describes a follower who is skilled but lacks consistent motivation or confidence, requiring supportive rather than directive behavior from the leader.
Question 3: Which of the following is a key criticism of charismatic leadership?
- It relies too heavily on formal rules and procedures
- It can lead followers to become over-dependent on the leader or follow unethical directives (Correct answer)
- It produces low levels of organizational commitment
- It is only effective in stable, low-stress environments
Correct answer: It can lead followers to become over-dependent on the leader or follow unethical directives
Charismatic leadership's dark side includes the risk of blind follower obedience and the potential for leaders to exploit influence for personal or unethical ends.
Question 4: A leader sets a personal standard of excellence and expects team members to match it, often stepping in to handle tasks themselves. Goleman calls this which leadership style?
- Coaching
- Pacesetting (Correct answer)
- Visionary
- Affiliative
Correct answer: Pacesetting
The pacesetting style establishes a high-performance bar modeled by the leader, which can energize top performers but overwhelm others.
Question 5: Which leadership approach is MOST likely to be effective during a merger where employees are anxious about the future direction of the company?
- Coercive leadership
- Visionary (authoritative) leadership (Correct answer)
- Laissez-faire leadership
- Pacesetting leadership
Correct answer: Visionary (authoritative) leadership
Goleman's visionary style is most effective when a new direction is needed, as it provides a clear, inspiring future state that reduces ambiguity and anxiety.
Question 6: Which concept describes the process by which a transactional leader clarifies role and task requirements so followers know what to do to receive a reward?
- Management by exception
- Contingent reward (Correct answer)
- Individualized consideration
- Laissez-faire exchange
Correct answer: Contingent reward
Contingent reward is the transactional mechanism where the leader clearly links specific performance behaviors to specific rewards.
Question 7: A leader deliberately avoids making decisions, delays responses, and abdicates responsibility. According to Bass's Full-Range Leadership Model, this is called:
- Management by exception (passive)
- Contingent reward leadership
- Laissez-faire leadership (Correct answer)
- Management by exception (active)
Correct answer: Laissez-faire leadership
Laissez-faire leadership, the least active and effective style in Bass's model, involves avoiding leadership responsibilities and decision-making altogether.
Leadership Assessment Leadership Styles 5
Which leadership theory proposes that leaders emerge because they occupy a central position in social networks rather than because of personal traits?