How does leadership in self-managed teams work? How is it ...

[notis]

How does leadership in self-managed teams work? How is it different from leadership in other contexts?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Refer to Table 16.2. The initial organizational barrier to change seems to be:
 
  A) work group inertia.
  B) shifts in the balance of power.
  C) economic insecurity.
  D) structural inertia.

[Christopher]

Answer to Question 1

When most people think of leaders, they think of individuals who make strategic decisions on behalf of followers, who then are responsible for carrying them these decisions. However, leading teams is very different from leading individuals in the traditional (directive) or even participative manner. The special nature of teams makes the leader's job very different.

Due to the move to self-managed teams, in this context, team leaders may be called on to provide special resources to groups that are empowered to implement their own missions in their own ways. Some guidelines: Instead of directing people, team leaders build trust and inspire teamwork, rather than taking all the credit. Rather than focusing simply on training individuals, team leaders concentrate on expanding team capabilities. Instead of managing one-on-one, team leaders create a team identity. Traditional leaders worked at preventing conflict between individuals, but team leaders make the most of team differences. Unlike traditional leaders who simply react to change, team leaders should foresee and influence change.

Answer to Question 2

D