During this lesson, we discussed six different ways that values affect leaders. Looking back over the past two years as a manager, I’ve seen two General Managers run our building with dramatically contrasting values steering their decisions. Through the six different ways values affect leaders, I would like to compare the two general managers and see how their values affected their decisions.
Mr. Efficiency values efficiency and performance and comes off as a stern, micromanaging dictator while Mr. Morale, values employee morale and comes off as friendly, but not a pushover.
To compare these two general managers we will look at a situation where an employee makes a mistake and as a result their till register contains a large variance.
“Values affect leaders’ perceptions of situations and the problems at hand.” (PSU WC 14: Ethics and Leadership, 2013)
At this point both Mr. Morale and Mr. Efficiency would perceive this situation as an issue with accuracy. The difference however would lie in the problem that led to the accuracy error. Mr. Efficiency would perceive it as a problem with the employees training. Mr. Morale would view it as an honest mistake.
“Values affect the solutions generated and the decisions reached about problems.” (PSU WC 14: Ethics and Leadership, 2013)
Mr. Efficiency would solve the problem by administers a corrective action to document the mistake and administer the training needed to correct the problem from happening again. Mr. Morale would talk to the employee, if necessary deliver a corrective action and then joke around with them about the issue to relieve any stress they might have gained because of the mistake.
“Values play an important role in interpersonal relationships” (PSU WC 14: Ethics and Leadership, 2013)
As a result of their actions, Mr. Efficiency is viewed as a dictator who documents every mistake and micromanages the teams work behavior while Mr. Morale is viewed as cool, but also a push over because no one ever gets in real trouble.
“Values influence leaders’ perceptions of individual and organizational successes.” (PSU WC 14: Ethics and Leadership, 2013)
Mr. Efficiency views success as surpassing goals and showing constant growth. Mr. Morale views success as meeting standards and creating a happy work environment.
“Values provide a basis for leaders to differentiate between right and wrong.” (PSU WC 14: Ethics and Leadership, 2013)
Both view this mistake as wrong however, Mr. Efficiency views a reoccurring issue a failure on both the manager’s and the team’s side while Mr. Morale views a reoccurring issue as the result of the team’s characteristics.
“Values affect the extent to which leaders accept or reject organizational pressures and goals.” (PSU WC 14: Ethics and Leadership, 2013)
Mr. Morale is pressured by corporate to administer more corrective actions for mistakes to document issues, but does not because he feels it demeans the team and can result in someone getting fired for repeated mistakes in something minor. Mr. Efficiency is pressured to administer more rewards for his team when they don’t make mistakes, but does not believe they deserve rewards for doing what they are employed to do.
Between these two, both have their faults and both have their strengths as a result of their values. Although both team morale and efficiency are important, both should hold equal value and not overpower the other. As seen in this case, when one does the manager comes off as a heartless dictator or a friendly pushover.
References
Pennsylvania State University. Ethics and Leadership [Website]. Retrieved from Lecture Notes Online Web site: https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/fa13/psych485/002/content/14_lesson/01_page.html
