Looking at leadership styles/approaches through the use of a case study.

An experienced facilitator can work wonders with this exercise, enabling students to talk about leadership styles. For example, I had one group who said they didn't like the "transformational leader", but when we explored this further, they realised it wasn't what she was suggesting that they didn't like, it was more that the situation she was trying to help someone else resolve had been badly managed and could have done with a transformational approach from the start.

This exercise promotes good discussion amongst the groups, and it's really important to allow time for this to happen before you bring students back together for their views and debrief. I handed out the "Learning Points handout" but students didn't fill this in as they had already been asked to record their group views during their discussion (it seemed like duplicate work). However, the handout would be useful if you wanted students to take more time to reflect on their own styles and spend a few quiet minutes making their own notes.

I didn't go through every discussion question with the group, as suggested on the trainer's notes - partly because I was timebound, but partly because I thought there were too many questions. I found it useful to focus on a couple of key questions about each leader and then to encourage students to reflect and comment on their own styles. The exercise more than ably makes the point that an "adaptive" leadership style is best. It can be done comfortably within 60 minutes.

The case study was short enough for students to digest.

I love this case study and have used it many times with all different levels of managers. I tend to send them away into break out rooms in teams to create flip chart presentations on their views on the three different styles (pro’s & con’s) and what Nicola should do (their plan of action) for half an hour in total. The teams then present all the styles pros and cons back to the group and we all discuss KLPs. After that they each present their plans of action for Nicola and we discuss as a group. I’ve found it quicker this way and easier to manage and they all seem to find this a realistic and useful discussion about adaptive leadership. It also allows them to gently nickname each other a bit of a “Steve” or a “Jenny” and have a laugh while recognising their differing strengths and weaknesses.

This module is EXCELLENT! I used it as part of a leadership skills course, but subsequently have also included in a Supervisory Skills course because it helps to explain so much about how we manage and how others see us.

The case study has been brilliantly written so that each of the characters have very different qualities and can easily be identified!

Using the module has led to vast amounts of conversation and learning and has really enhanced the course. I would advise changing the structure slightly, so that you cover each character in full, in turn. So layout at the moment goes through identifying each style, then identifying the advantages and disadvantages of each style. I have covered both elements under each character so that the conversation flows more. I have also had to allow slightly more time (having cut down the original recommendation) and have now gone back to the timings it states! The character names themselves have now become “catchphrases” throughout the company and its not unusual to hear, “oooo, now who's being a Steve”!