Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Chapter 7: Creating a Vision
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. As defined in the text, visions are about changing which of the following?
a. the leader’s values
b. the organization’s values
c. the follower’s values
d. all of these
2. Which of the following is NOT one of the five main characteristics of a vision, as
defined in the text?
a. values
b. challenge
c. inspiration
d. change
3. Visions are like a guiding philosophy that provides people with ______.
a. purpose and methods to achieve
b. meaning and purpose
c. meaning and a plan
d. a plan and a purpose
4. “Begin with the end in mind” means ______.
a. a leader’s actions are governed by their understanding of their goals, values, and
mission in life
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
b. leaders need to focus on the final outcome more than the process to get there
c. if you visualize it, it will happen
d. a leader’s focus should always be about winning
5. What leadership theories, as mentioned in the text, have vision as a key component?
a. transformational and servant leadership
b. servant leadership and path goal theory
c. transformational and charismatic leadership
d. charismatic and servant leadership
6. An idea of the future that requires an act of faith refers to what characteristic of a
vision?
a. a challenge
b. a change
c. a picture
d. a map
7. As a rule, a vision is of a situation where people are working productively to achieve
______.
a. an uncommon goal
b. a common goal
c. an ideal circumstance
d. a dream
8. If a leader is to have a significant impact on those they lead, their vision needs to be
______ and ______.
a. attainable and inspiring
b. attainable and inclusive
c. attractive and inclusive
d. attractive and inspiring
e. none of these
9. Moving an organization or system to something more positive in the future refers to
which characteristic of a vision?
a. a challenge
b. a picture
c. a change
d. a map
10. Visions are grounded in ______.
a. an ideal
b. values
c. reality
d. mutual understanding
11. Rosalie Giffoniello’s decision to quit her job in the United States to work with the
poor in India shows how a ______ can influence one’s leadership journey.
a. change
b. challenge
c. commitment to service
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
d. deeply-held set of values
12. Although Coach Jones’ football teams did not always win, students wanted to play
for him because he ______.
a. was about winning at any cost
b. saw the potential in each student individually
c. let the players do whatever they wanted
d. got the students tutors help them with their homework
13. Visions provide a guiding philosophy for people which gives them ______.
a. meaning and purpose
b. a plan and understanding
c. direction and understanding
d. purpose and a plan
14. The value of a vision is that is allows others to see ______.
a. the potential of what could be
b. how the organization is an interrelated system
c. the meaningfulness of their work
d. the pathway to success
15. Effective leaders want their followers to see the larger purpose of things, which
enables the followers to see ______.
a. the value of their contributions to the organization
b. the value of their contributions to something beyond their own interests
c. the value of their contributions to the organization and the value of their contributions
to something beyond their own interests
d. none of these
16. Having a path to follow so followers know when they are on track and when they
have slipped off course refers to which characteristics of a vision?
a. a challenge
b. a map
c. a change
d. values
17. Inspiring people to move beyond the status quo to do something for others is an
example of this characteristic of a vision.
a. values
b. service
c. challenge
d. change
18. President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural addressed asked the people to “ask not
what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” This is an
example of ______.
a. an invitation to change
b. a map for the future
c. a challenge
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
d. a call to action
19. Research shows that people will accept change only if it is ______.
a. something they already believe in and want to do
b. not too hard to make the change
c. something their friends and family will approve of
d. not too different from the current state
20. Which of the following is NOT a step in articulating a vision?
a. adapt the vision to the audience
b. highlight the values of the vision
c. use words and symbols that are motivating
d. None of these, they are all steps in articulating a vision
21. Your company was recently sold. The buyers, your new bosses, have new ideas on
how everything in the company should be run. They have selected you to articulate their
vision to the staff. As you prepare to address the staff as a whole, you make sure to
include why these new changes are worth pursuing as a company. This is an example
of ______.
a. highlighting values
b. choosing the right language
c. using inclusive language
d. none of these
22. The football coaching staff at the University of Michigan used the book Into Thin Air
to help the players ______.
a. articulate their roles as members of the team
b. learn magic tricks
c. prepare to climb tall mountains
d. motivate and inspire their players
23. Linking people to the vision process through the use of inclusive language is an
example of ______.
a. handling conflict
b. articulating a vision
c. implementing a vision
d. problem solving
24. Leaders use inclusive language when talking about visions because they ______.
a. want everyone to feel valued
b. want to build community around a common goal
c. want everyone to contribute to the goal
d. all of these
25. To be effective parts of a vision, words and symbols need to be ______.
a. memorable, uplifting, simple, and inspiring
b. affirming, uplifting, inspiring, and motivating
c. memorable, inspiring, come directly from the boss, and easy to understand
d. affirming, simple, memorable, and motivating
26. If a leader wants their vision to be embraced and their goals achieved, a leader
needs to ______.
a. adapt the vision to the audience
b. focus on the intrinsic value of the vision
c. only use uplifting words and symbols
d. all of these
27. Successfully implementing a vision requires a great deal of ______ and ______.
a. money; power
b. time; effort
c. people; money
d. effort; money
28. Modeling the attitudes, values, and behaviors set for in the vision is an example of
how a leader should ______.
a. articulate the vision
b. challenge the process
c. implement the vision
d. encourage the heart
29. Angela recently revealed a new vision for her organization. At first everyone was on
board, but over time it was gotten progressively harder for the members to follow
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
through on their commitments. Yet, Angela knows this is the right move for her
organization so she continues to act out her vision. By doing this, Angela is trying to
______.
a. build credibility with her followers
b. save face from admitting she was wrong
c. show her followers that she is more important than her followers
d. build an inclusive organization
30. Setting challenging goals to motivate your team is an example of ______.
a. authoritarian leadership
b. managing people
c. implementing a vision
d. creating a vision
31. Sharing work and empowering members at various levels within an organization is
an essential way to ______.
a. handle conflict
b. implement a vision
c. manage people
d. build community within your organization
32. Your manager provides you with quarterly reports detailing your department’s
progress towards meeting the new organizational goals. Over the last year your
department has been making sustained progress and your manager stops by to tell you
to keep doing what you have been doing since it appears to be working. Your manager
is aware that ______.
a. implementing a vision takes time
b. empowering your employees helps build commitment to goals
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
c. leaders do not work in a vacuum
d. all of these
33. The story of Terry Fox is an example of ______.
a. how a vision coming to fruition requires more than just the leader
b. a poorly executed vision
c. leaders must leave the organization for their vision to take hold
d. none of these
34. Articulating a vision requires leaders to ______.
a. adapt their vision to the audience
b. highlight the intrinsic value of their vision
c. choose the right language that is also inclusive
d. all of these
35. A(n) ______ is a mental model of a(n) ______ future state.
a. idea; visualized
b. plan; perfect
c. vision; ideal
d. value; chaotic
36. What is not a way for leaders to implement a vision?
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
a. be living models of ideals and values
b. set high-performance expectations
c. act out the vision themselves
d. none of these, all are ways to implement a vision
37. Articulating a vision includes all of the following except ______.
a. using motivating and uplifting language
b. establishing reinforcement standards
c. using inclusive language
d. highlighting the intrinsic value of the vision
38. Mother Teresa linked her vision of serving the poor and disenfranchised with her
followers’ beliefs of ______.
a. egocentrism
b. hubris
c. self-sacrifice
d. wealth
39. A vision’s ability to point the way to a new way of doing things better refers to a
______.
a. change
b. map
c. picture
d. challenge
40. According to the text, when articulating a vision, leaders should be careful of what?
a. describing too large of a change
b. describing too small of a change
c. being too confident in the change
d. being too vague, not giving enough details
41. When the University of Michigan football team used the book Into Thin Air, how was
Mt. Everest used?
a. as a goal
b. as a symbol
c. as a team trip
d. as a challenge
42. It is key for a leader to do which of the following when implementing a vision?
a. delegate responsibility to others
b. set easily attainable goals
c. “talk the talk”
d. set challenging goals
43. A leader can implement the vision by ______.
a. doing it all by themselves
b. demanding change overnight
c. empowering others
d. all of these
44. A vision’s ability to provide a path to follow refers to what characteristic?
a. a challenge
b. a symbol
c. a change
d. a map
45. In what phase of a vision being deployed does a leader’s real test of abilities occur?
a. creating a vision
b. explaining the vision
c. articulating the vision
d. implementing the vision
46. Vision’s inclusion of ideas, beliefs, and modes of action that people find worthwhile
refers to what characteristic?
a. a challenge
b. values
c. a picture
d. a map
47. Taking the best features of a prior system and strengthening them in pursuit of a
new goal refers to which characteristic?
a. a change
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
b. a challenge
c. a map
d. none of these
48. It is common for a leader to experience resistance when articulating a vision
because ______ is/are a necessary part of a vision.
a. values
b. challenge
c. change
d. none of these
49. The first step in articulating a vision is to ______.
a. create the vision
b. know how you will achieve the vision
c. make sure the vision is full of inclusive language
d. adapt the vision to match the audience
50. In an effort to bring team cohesion and articulate a vision, leaders often use ______.
a. a symbol
b. a story
c. team-building exercises
d. their followers
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
True/False
1. A leader’s vision is always fully developed.
2. A vision’s map-like characteristic is only good at pointing out long-term goals.
3. Advocating for change can lead to charges of “stirring the pot.”
4. People only become inspired or committed to a task or organization when they know
they can get something out of it for themselves.
5. It is more important for a leader to have a vision for the organization than to articulate
it.
6. A symbol of an organization’s vision only needs to be shown once for the members of
the organization to catch the vision.
7. The real test of a leader’s abilities happens as they lead their organization through
the implementation of their vision.
8. The most important concept when implementing a vision is that the leader must be
able to get all of their followers to agree with them from the beginning.
9. For the leader’s vision to be successful, the leader must implement their vision alone.
10. Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope is an example of a poorly implemented vision.
1. Why is it important for leaders to include symbols as they articulate their vision?
2. Briefly describe the characteristics of a vision. Explain how you could use them to
develop a workable vision for a cause you believe in.
3. What is the role of followers in sharing and implementing the leader’s vision? Briefly
describe a time when you as a follower had to help share and implement a leader’s
vision.
4. In your opinion, it is more difficult to articulate a vision or implement one? Why?
5. From your own experience, describe an incidence when a leader had a strong vision
but failed to implement it. What could the leader have done to better implement their
vision?
6. Why is it important that the level of challenge included in a vision be neither too much
nor too little? What specific steps could the leader take to ensure the level of challenge
is appropriate to their audience?
7. When implementing a vision, why is it necessary for leaders to encourage and
empower their followers?
8. Using examples from your own leadership experience, what is the most difficult part
of articulating a vision? Why?
9. Why is it important for a leader to model to others the attitudes, values, and behaviors
set forth in the vision; to be a living example of the ideals articulated in the vision?
10. In your opinion, can you truly be a leader if you do not have a vision for the future?
Why or why not?