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Northouse, Leadership 8e
SAGE Publications, 2019
Case 2.2: A Remarkable Turnaround
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Carol Baines took over her husband’s office supply store and grew it from a $200,000
business to one with sales over $3.1 million. She spent time learning the business and
demonstrated persistence, intelligence, sociability, and determination. Based on the
information in the case study, Carol seems well liked, compassionate, and considerate. She
appears to have high levels of emotional intelligence and seems to be an extraverted, open,
and conscientious leader who is somewhat agreeable with low levels of neuroticism.
The case study allows for discussion and analysis not only of Carol’s key leadership traits but
also of emotional intelligence and the Big Five Personality Factors (Table 2.3).
Learning objectives:
• Students should be able to evaluate key traits vital to the success of a new leader.
• Students should apply the Big Five Personality Factors to a leader.
• Students should be able to debate/discuss emotional intelligence as applied to a
leader.
Answers to questions in the text:
1. How would you describe Carol’s leadership traits?
Carol is resilient, persistent, intelligent, sociable, and determined. She seems well
2. How big a part did Carol’s traits play in the expansion of the company?
One cannot say with certainty how large a role her traits played in the expansion of
3. Would Carol be a leader in other business contexts?
Northouse, Leadership 8e
SAGE Publications, 2019
It seems as though Carol would be a leader in other business contexts. She was
Potential teaching approaches:
This case study is conducive to group discussions and exercises.
Below is a way to structure a class based on the trait approach and Case Study 2.3:
• First, break the class into small groups and ask the groups to develop a list of the top
5 (or 10) major traits they believe are important for a strong leader. Students should
prepare this list without referring to the book, based on their experiences.
• Large-group discussion of the top 5 (or 10) lists, followed by a lecture on the trait
approach.
• Students then read Case 2.2 and list five key reasons why Carol Barnes is a leader
(again, in small groups). Students should discuss her traits in these groups and touch
upon the Big Five Personality Factors (Table 2.3) as applied to Carol as well.
• Professor then discusses the questions from the case study with the entire class.
Large-group discussion should center on traits of the leader, Big Five Personality
Factors (Table 2.3), and emotional intelligence.
• Finally, the professor may choose to conduct in-class exercises listed below.
Exercises for this case study:
1) Carol has decided to become a leadership trainer. In small groups, discuss what sort
of training program she could offer to help others lead successfully. Students should
2) Role-play: One student is “Carol” and the others are her sons. Carol and her sons
should talk about leadership. Carol should explain how to best lead the company.
Northouse, Leadership 8e
SAGE Publications, 2019
3) Have students reflect and create a list of emotional intelligence (EI) leadership traits
