Discussion and Respond. 3 - Dissertation Example

Responses to Discussion 3 Harness Discretionary Effort I agree with the contentions of Fred Smith, the CEO of Federal Express, where leaders play the crucial role of moving people towards the accomplishment of organizational goals. One of the responsibilities of a leader, or a manager, is to motivate employees to achieve well defined goals. Through application of appropriate leadership theories that encompass motivation and satisfaction, employees need to be steered and guided through the direction that these leaders aim to attain.

The reason behind this is that both leaders and employees have different personalities and styles and their satisfaction and performance are influenced by different factors that need to be assessed by leaders. Effective leaders, through theoretical and practical skills determine these factors and design strategies that would ensure that goals are attained. Monkey Story (Company Norms) The story is a good analogy of how corporate norms are justified or rationalized. However, eventually, it presumes that, just like monkeys, employees manifest a blind adherence to company norms without questioning the underlying rationale for the behavior.

I beg to disagree. People are rational beings. Eventually, new comers question why they are being told to do things the way they should do. Normally, organizations orient new employees by making them acquaint themselves with company policies and the organization’s code of discipline so that their work behavior is justified by the rules and regulations explicitly stated in the company policies and code of discipline. These are critical to ensure order, discipline and appropriate observance of work ethics and moral conduct expected of employees in a professional endeavor.

US Navy Stand-Off Story, Communication It is a funny but effective story that exemplifies arrogance in communication definitely turns people off. As one knows, by definition, arrogance is “the offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride” (Dictionary.com, 2011, p. par. 1). The characteristics of it being offensive and overbearing aim to manifest superiority of the sender of the messages without any regard to the recipients. By focusing only on the position, personal importance or image, messages are sent without analyzing the repercussive destructive effects of the messages relayed; even sometimes, like what is relayed in the story, to one’s personal disadvantage.

Works Cited Dictionary.com. (2011). Arrogance. Retrieved July 18, 2011, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/arrogance