A common difficulty faced by business managers is when the behaviour of a teammember conflicts with established desirable practice. How does a good leader handle such an issue? One effective angle is to lead by example: instead of waiting for a problem to develop, take a proactive approach in heading it off with reference to clearly laid out guidelines. If a problematic situation does develop, controlling it can be made simpler by invoking existing values from a mission statement which has been set out in advance. A good team will always put the needs of the organisation first. Taking such an approach gives the team a sense of personal involvement whichencourages them to feel part of the organisation's mission, internalising the needs of the group rather than feeling a sense of externally imposed obligation. It provides team members with a greater sense of personal control, the sense that they have contributed individually, and by choice, to the well-being of their organisation. To achieve this, a manager must have a good understanding of the way individual people communicate – a flexible approach is essential, using real-life practical examples relevant to each team-member's particular experience.
In a good team, the needs of the organisation are secondary to the needs of the individual.
Answer: B Explantion:
False – while the passage generally stresses the importance of understanding individual styles (“a manager must have a good understanding of the way individual people communicate”, “... relevant to each team-member's particular experience.”) it states explicitly that “A good team will always put the needs of the organisation first.”
A manager who understands how people communicate is able to take a flexible approach in dealing with problems.
Answer: C
Explantion:
Cannot say – while the passage encourages both effective communication and a flexible approach (“a manager must have a good understanding of the way individual people communicate”, “a flexible approach is essential”) it does not explicitly state that individual communication leads to a flexible approach.
Leading by example is an effective approach in dealing with problematic behaviour from employees.
Answer: A
True – this statement is correct, as the passage says: “when the behaviour of a team-member conflicts with established desirable practice... one effective angle is to lead by example...”
In a new study of 3,000 employed men in the 19-70 age range over a period of 10 years, researchers found that those working for inconsiderate bosses were more likely to suffer from stress and stress-related illness than those working for more considerate and enlightened bosses. Previous research had shown that employees with inconsiderate bosses suffered from high blood pressure, which is known to increase the risk of heart disease. In this latest survey the researchers asked employees to assess the competence of their bosses as leaders. They found that those who had categorised their boss as incompetent were 25% more at risk of serious heart disease and that this level of risk increased the longer they continued to work for the same boss. The statistics took into account external factors such as social class, educational background, lifestyle and any existing illness. The researchers recommended that should their findings be confirmed, managers should be given training to help them improve their working relationships
Managers should be given training to help them improve their working relationships.
Cannot say - The passage states that recommendations from the study are subject to confirmation. Even then, these would be just a recommendation from one viewpoint? the passage does not tell us explicitly that managers should or should not be given training.
This latest study is the first to suggest a link between the behaviour of bosses and the blood pressure of their employees.
Answer: B
False - The second sentence tells us that “Previous research had shown that employees with inconsiderate bosses suffered from high blood pressure”.
