Evaluating Leadership Styles

by | Mar 30, 2024 | healthcare

 

Respond to one of the following using the lessons and vocabulary found in the readings.

You were recently appointed as a new manager.  You face several issues in your new position. Please address one of the following:

The previous manager used a transactional leadership approach, which has been relatively ineffective. Evaluate one leadership style and describe which you would take.
An experienced executive assistant discovered that she made the same amount of money as a newly hired janitor.  Consider the role the human resources department plays in driving organization performance.  What HR strategies would you employ to address this?
To keep people motivated in a tough economic environment, the company has shifted from annual to semiannual bonuses.  Do you think offering semiannual bonuses is a good way to motivate the kind of behaviors organizations need to survive the economic downturn?  What might be some potential problems associated with this approach?  What other strategies would you use?

Be sure to provide 1 or 2 cited references with your responses

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

Evaluating Leadership Styles

In the realm of leadership, various styles can be adopted to effectively manage a team and drive organizational success. One prominent leadership style that stands out from the traditional transactional approach is transformational leadership. This style focuses on inspiring and motivating followers to achieve their full potential through charisma, vision, and empowerment. As a new manager, transitioning from a transactional to a transformational leadership approach can significantly impact the organizational culture and performance.

Transactional leadership, characterized by a focus on tasks, rewards, and punishments, may have proven ineffective under the previous manager’s tenure. In contrast, transformational leadership emphasizes building strong relationships, fostering trust, and encouraging innovation among team members. By adopting a transformational leadership style, a manager can create a more engaging work environment that promotes collaboration, creativity, and individual growth.

One key aspect of transformational leadership is the leader’s ability to articulate a compelling vision that inspires and motivates employees to work towards common goals. By setting a clear direction and communicating a shared vision, a transformational leader can align the team’s efforts and drive performance. Moreover, transformational leaders exhibit empathy, active listening, and mentorship to support their team members in overcoming challenges and developing their skills.

Incorporating transformational leadership practices can lead to several benefits for the organization, including increased employee engagement, higher productivity, and improved job satisfaction. Research by Avolio et al. (2009) suggests that transformational leadership positively impacts organizational outcomes by fostering a sense of purpose and commitment among employees.

In conclusion, transitioning from a transactional to a transformational leadership approach can be a strategic move for a new manager seeking to enhance team performance and drive organizational success. By embracing the principles of inspiration, empowerment, and vision, a transformational leader can create a more dynamic and motivated workforce capable of navigating challenges and achieving excellence.

Reference:
Avolio, B. J., Walumbwa, F. O., & Weber, T. J. (2009). Leadership: Current theories, research, and future directions. Annual Review of Psychology, 60, 421-449.

 

 

 

 

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