Northouse, Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Discussion Questions
Chapter 13: Overcoming Obstacles
1. As a leader, how can you clarify goals for your subordinates?
2. Have you ever been in a situation where the directions were unclear? How did you and
your group members react? What was the result?
3. What should a leader do to get people excited about work when they are not motivated?
4. What are the three components of Expectancy Theory? Do you think this accurately
describes how people are motivated? Why or why not?
6. Which of the leadership styles – directive, supportive, achievement-oriented, or
participative – is most challenging for you to enact? Why?
7. How easy is it for you to switch leadership styles, depending on a follower’s motivation
level?
8. How can a leader assess what a follower’s motivation level is and what style of
leadership he or she would respond best to?
9. What should leaders do when the obstacles faced by group members are of a personal
nature and not directly related to the group efforts? Is there a preferred leadership style in
these situations? Explain.
10. What would you advise leaders to do who are facing their own obstacles?
11. Give an example of how two or more of the obstacles described in chapter 13 might
12. Who is responsible for motivating workers? How much responsibility does the leader or
organization have, and how much does the individual worker have?