Chapter 12 – Leadership Communication in an Organizational Context
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Chapter 12 – Leadership Communication in an Organizational Context
Teaching Notes
In this chapter, students will learn to do the following:
• Understand the history and classical approaches to organizations.
• Appreciate the human relations approach and role of organizational
communication.
Application 12.1: Understanding Organizational Structures
and Dynamics
This application again calls on student to reflect on their experiences. The responses will
differ considerably across the class and should lead to active class discussion. If
Application 12.2: A Case Study – Providing Feedback
This application calls on the students to practice creating a strategy and then delivering
feedback to their direct reports.
Teaching Approach with Possible Student Responses to the Application
The instructor should break the students into groups and ask them to read the case and
answer the questions at the end. The following provides some possible answers to the
questions:
• What are some of the issues you should resolve before talking to Susan and Hari?
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say in response. Finally, the manager should have in mind a proposed plan for
dealing with the tardiness.
• Should you meet only with both of them individually, with each member of the
group individually, or with everyone at the same time?
The manager would probably want to meet with each group member separately at
first. Perhaps he or she could send an e-mail to all members of the group asking
each one to meet with him or her to discuss the group’s performance and propose
the following as agenda topics for these individual meetings.
By meeting with each person in the entire group, you do not appear to be isolating
Susan and Hari and you appear to be holding a regular yearly performance
review, which may be the usual procedure for your company. By meeting with
• How should you conduct the session (consider using the GROW model)?
Using the GROW model, the manager might say the following in the feedback
session:
Goals – We are here today to talk about achieving two objectives (1) uncover ways
to work more efficiently and effectively as a group and (2) determine what each of
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Options – Given some of the issues we have just discussed, what do you see as
some possible ways to address these issues? These are some of the options I hear
Wrap-up – Before we commit to these actions, do you anticipate any problems? Is
• How can you ensure the outcome will be what is best for you and for them?
To ensure the outcome will be what is best for the manager and for the group, the
manager will need to make sure specific actions are outlined, understood, and
After the groups have answered these questions, instructors should discuss the answers or,
if time allows, ask for one of the groups to come forward and role-play the feedback
session.
Application 12.3: The Elevator Speech
This application works well as an in-class exercise. The instructor may want to assign
students instead of having them select their own partners since that will save time.
Having the students deliver their spiels in groups of four works well as well. This group
approach allows for more feedback.
Chapter 12 – Leadership Communication in an Organizational Context
Evaluation of Elevator Speech
Speaker ______________________Evaluator ___________________
Criteria
1
2
3
4
5
Comments
Ethos/confidence
Energy
Stance/Movement
Gestures
Eye contact
Structure
Clarity
Substance
Application 12.4: Networking, Social Media, and You
This application will help students get started or refine their approaches to networking. It
asks for more planning and strategic thinking than many students will have done in the
past and thus, should be discussed in class to use peer pressure to get the more reluctant
students on board.