Question

Analyze the case bellow and then answer the following questions:
Layla is the branch manager of one of the banks in Bahrain. She has been with the bank for over 8 years. Layla worked as a teller when she first joined the bank back in 2011. She is currently working towards her master degree in business administration (MBA). Layla directly manages a team of 10 branch employees and 2 supervisors. Layla’s leadership style is usually to empower her staff by allowing her team members to make most operational decisions on their own. In addition, she discusses main issues with her staff and encourages her team to put forward ideas and develop plans independently. This leadership approach is known to increase team motivation which in turn encourages creativity. At her staff meetings, Layla always states that: "You may make mistakes, these mistakes can be used as a learning experience".
However, if for example, a major bank account issue arises, Layla usually takes control to ensure a prompt and coordinated process. She believes that such business critical situations should be handled by experienced and confident professionals. Layla currently does not have such professionals among her team members. Although her staff have gained some confidence through empowerment, they still need to enhance their advanced managerial skills. Therefore, during such cases, in addition to being supportive, Layla adapts her leadership approach by adding a directive style.

1. Describe Layla's dominant leadership style in terms of Transactional / Transformational. Give supporting evidence from the case to justify your answer.

2. Which type does Layla add to her leadership approach when a major bank account issue arises? Task or People? Give supporting evidence from the case to justify your answer.

3. According to Herzberg 2 factor motivation model, explain which of the 2 factors (Hygiene
or Motivators) is Layla applying the most. Clarify why you think so by referring to evidence from the case above.

4. According to Hersey Blanchard Situational leadership model, which of the four leadership types (Directing, Coaching, Supporting, Delegating) does Layla adopt when business critical situations arise in the bank? Explain why you think so by giving evidence from the above case.

Answer 1

1)   Layla's dominant leadership styleis described in terms of Transactional / Transformational which is the relationship between the leader , Layla and her coworkers and employees . Transactional leadership is basically focus on the importance of supervision of leader that how she guide , organisational and the group results and their performance. Layla focus her ideas and her style and then focus on the tasks or events and then get the rewards and punishment as a result and keep motivate the followers . As Layla always states that: "You may make mistakes, these mistakes can be used as a learning experience". it shows the transactional leadership .

In term of transformational , the Layla's leadership is just able to create her own vision , after getting all advices and ideas , and inspire the workers being a leader , to do beyond their expectations . She discusses main issues with her staff and encourages her team to put forward ideas and develop plans independently. This leadership approach is known to increase team motivation which in turn encourages creativity and this approch shows the transformationa.

2)  Layla add people to her leadership approach when a major bank account issue arises as she believed that there are always such conditions in which th experencied and confident professionals are needed . She ensure that irrespective of that she doesn't have any kind of professionals in her team but she also believe that her tean members learn alot by time and she also favours the cordinated process of doing work and appreciate the people.

3) The 2 factors (Hygieneor Motivators) of  Herzberg 2 factor motivation model iare those which are applied by Layla . The presence of motivation make the employees to work harder and make them more consious about their work and to do their best at their work . The Hygiene is not the factor that directly affect the job as it is not the direct part of it but it always affect it by its surrounding . If the hygiene is maintained the atmosphere is also workohilc and make the employees to work hard and in case if the hygiene is not properly , the workers are not focused on the their work . In the above case the leader increase team motivation which in turn encourages creativity of employes and the proper hygiene and good atmosphere favors the proper .

4) According to the Hersey Blanchard situational leadership model, The Directing leadership is the leadership that  Layla does adopt when business critical situations arise in the bank . The directing leadership is the high degree of leadership which focus on the task at its higher degree and the employees get least attention . Leader will dictate the task and guidliness to the employes and hope that they will do it perfectly . In the above case , she usually take the control in her hand and guid and cordinate the process with surity of perfection and improvent in that parrticular crises and looking foward for the experenced professionals . In this condition of crises ,  in addition to being supportive, Layla adapts her leadership approach by adding a directive style.