Leadership and the COVID-19 pandemic

Leadership and the COVID-19 pandemic   Define the following four terms (referent power, transformational leadership, negative reinforcement, emotional intelligence). Explain how each term contributes to effective leadership. Provide two examples of each. Referent power is the capability of a leader to nurture the reverence and appreciation of his followers due to the interpersonal connection they have, as the leader displays his favorable behavior and, in return, promotes teamwork and encouragement instead of command and governance (Tang, 2019). Referent power is essential in leadership as it creates a point of reference for followers who aim to be like their leader; thus, creating a collaborative system. For instance, Nev Wilshire is a businessman who is looked up to by his staff because of his unique corporate skills and his attitude towards employees. Likewise, musicians have a fan base that admires to be like them simply because they portray certain characters that are likable to the public. Transformational leadership is a leadership technique that aims at creating leaders from subordinates by making valuable changes in individuals and community systems through inspiration, self-confidence, and performance change (Tang, 2019). Transformational leadership creates an environment whereby a leader inspires their followers to do better through their ideal influence. For instance, Barrack Obama, the first black president of the USA, encouraged his workers to be idealistic and confident without fear; thus, creating an efficient administration throughout his entire tenure of service to the USA. Likewise, Nelson Mandela had a strong passion for ending the apartheid regime in South Africa. His charismatic leadership and good relationship with people made this passion a prevailing ideology, which led to its successive ending, and he made it his mission to protect black people's dignity all over the world. Negative reinforcement, in its general form, is eliminating a consequence to encourage good behavior. In leadership, negative reinforcement entails activities such as holding off salaries or promotions to get employees to behave as expected while at work and improving their performance (Kokemuller, 2016). Ideally, negative reinforcement helps leaders promote good behaviors and best performances at work. For instance, leaders can establish random drug test services at work to keep their employees on their toes when it comes to drug abuse. Likewise, managers may decide to put away working days such as Saturdays to encourage employees to work extra hard to earn their Saturday off. Emotional intelligence is the ability of a leader to have an understanding and vast knowledge about reacting to emotions, stress management, and excellent communication skills and soundly dealing with personal emotions (Gleeson, 2015). Ideally, a leader who can control his emotions and stress is also able to handle such extreme pressures from employees, thus making him a functional problem solver and team leader. For instance, a leader who portrays emotional intelligence can create reasonable regulations and objectives that are accommodative of all the members of society. Likewise, such a leader can relate well with employees and leads with an example while portraying empathy and management at the same time. Select four other terms of your choosing from this class and do the same. Explain how each term contributes to effective leadership. Provide two examples of each. Legitimate power is a kind of power derived from the level of authority and status of an individual in an organization (Tang, 2019). The position a person has in the leadership of an organization determines how much influence one has. In leadership, legitimate power is essential as it creates ranks with which the management can effectively manage different sectors of an organization without entirely relying on a particular individual. For instance, a president holds legitimate power over a government. Likewise, a chief executive officer holds legitimate power over a company. Participative leadership is a kind of leadership style that is based on the power distribution and empowerment of employees (Tang, 2019). It involves indulging employees in the decision-making process of the organization, and a majority vote determines the direction with which the organization takes. In leadership, incorporating followers enables them to feel appreciated, to participate in the creation of a pleasant working environment for themselves, and to create a larger pool of ideas relevant to the issues at hand, thus; enabling managers to make informed decisions. For instance, a manager may decide to get the opinions of his employees regarding some issues that may or may not affect the employees but may affect the organization generally. Likewise, a government may practice participative leadership by involving citizens through votes and referendums. Positive reinforcement involves giving rewards and encouragement to employees after they do well at their jobs (Kokemuller, 2016). Positive support in leadership helps organizations improve the performance of employees as they will all work hard while looking forward to a reward. For instance, giving promotions to employees is a form of positive reinforcement. Likewise, the increment of salaries plays a significant role in improving employee performance; thus, becoming a common form of positive reinforcement. Coercive power is a type of power one exhibits in their ability to handle situations through threats, sanctions, and warnings (Tang, 2019). Ideally, coercive power creates a system where employees do what they are required to avoid the severe consequences that may follow their misbehavior. For instance, a manager threatening to fire an employee is a form of coercive power in play. Likewise, debt collectors use coercive power to make people with debts to pay up. Define process innovation. Describe three process innovations that businesses have taken as a result of the current pandemic.  Process innovation is an upgraded way of handling the day to day business activities. It may involve making specific changes to the management, techniques, and equipment to increase proficiency in time, cost, productivity, and service (Jin, Cedrola & Kim, 2019). From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, most businesses have incurred a significant amount of loss as a result of a business closure. However, all hope is not lost; most companies have taken up process innovation mechanisms with the customers' needs and wants in mind, to ensure they avail their products and services to their customers from wherever they are. These businesses have adopted process innovation techniques such as integrating E-Commerce, implementing safety measures in the business premises, and the work from home strategy. With the lockdowns and social distancing policies all around the world, most people are finding it hard to visit their favorite grocery store, supermarket, bank, or diner. Hence, businesses have opted to use E-Commerce platforms to market and sell their products to their customers and making deliveries to their homes; this has ensured that such companies keep and attract more customers during this time of crisis. For other businesses, they have put in place measures to ensure that their premises are not a spreading place for this virus. With the installation of plexiglass shields, sanitization facilities, thermometers, and social distancing regulations, businesses are ensuring that there are minimal chances of spreading the virus between employees and customers as well. On the other hand, corporate companies have opted to have their employees work from home, to prevent the chances of spreading the virus at work while at the same time effectively serving their clients. Identify three suggestions that Towson University can take to open the campus safely to students. Consider another industry of your choosing. Identify three suggestions that a company can take to open its doors safely to customers. With the onset of the COID-19 pandemic, schools have remained closed, to keep the future generation safe at home. Townson University has remained closed as well following the guidelines that have been set for schools. Townson university should put in place measures such as training students and academic staff on ways to keep safe, providing medical services around the campus, and ensuring proper sanitation is made around the school and individuals as well. Firstly, training students and personnel on the ways to stay safe would go a long way in ensuring that the virus is not spread in the school. Training should include sanitization methods, social distancing, and faster means of attaining medical help in case of any emergency, to ensure that students and personnel are informed on ways to handle themselves during this period. Secondly, providing medical services would create a sense of safety on the staff and students, and it will also come in handy in case of any medical emergencies related to the COVID-19 virus. Thirdly, providing sanitation around the university would ensure that the virus is fought against in a radical way to avoid its spreading. Sanitization facilities and equipment such as sprays, masks, soap, and water should be provided to prevent the spread of the virus among students and staff. With these measures, it is easier to have Towson University open so that students can continue with their studies. Apart from schools being shut down, industries such as food and beverage businesses have remained closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For an industry that earns more profit from its daily operations and visiting customers, the sector has been walloped. However, this industry can come up with ways to ensure they resume business, with options such as delivering take-outs, providing sanitization equipment, and ensuring that they ensure that the precautions set by the World Health Organization are followed. With these measures put in place, the foods and beverages industry will be able to resume business and continue contributing to the economy during this difficult time. Explain the difference between an unstructured interview vs. structured interview  A structured interview is one in which an interviewer asks a specific set of questions that have been premeditated and created before the interview session; these questions are posed to every interviewee in the same order as they had been created (Zojceska, 2020). In contrast, an unstructured interview is a kind of interview whereby the interviewee is asked spontaneous questions; these questions are not prepared before the interview, meaning that each interviewee is asked a different question depending on the flow of the conversation (Zojceska,2020). A structured interview mostly focuses on the fairness of the interview but putting all interviewees through the same test to figure out who is most suitable for the job. In contrast, an unstructured interview is meant to provide a solution between two or more likely candidates or for evaluating a suitable applicant for a position that demands excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Imagine you are a manager interviewing a prospective employee in our current working environment. Create three questions you would ask in an unstructured interview and explain why you would ask each question. Create three questions you would ask in a structured interview and explain why you would ask each question. As a manager of a company participating in an unstructured interview, I would pose questions such as; what is your understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic? - The question is meant to allow the interviewee to gather their thoughts and confidence and to direct his mind towards the particular discussion. Secondly, what role are you playing in preventing the spread of the virus? Such a question is meant to allow the interviewee an opportunity to give their opinion about the issue while at the same time observing the applicant’s communication skills, attitude towards the matter and how they present themselves during the discussion. Thirdly, what is your opinion on the effect of COVID-19 on the economy of the country? The question is meant to evaluate how knowledgeable the applicant is to distinguish them from other applicants. While participating in a structured interview, I would prepare questions such as; what measures have been set to ensure that the virus does not spread? – this question is meant to get their understanding of the particular issue. Secondly, what impact would an industry like the one he is in or applying to be in, play in the fight against Coronavirus? – this question is supposed to evaluate his understanding of the pandemic concerning his career or field of expertise as well as gauge his prowess in the said field of expertise. Thirdly, Finally, identify what are the three most important factors you would consider in hiring someone in this environment and why. When hiring a person, I would consider factors such as experience, personal skills, and management skills. Their experience would help in evaluating the skill set this particular person is bringing into the company, their education and training level, and the overall experience in the field in question. Their skills would play a significant role in determining the kind of relation the applicant would have with other members of the company concerning teamwork. Lastly, their managerial skills would help evaluate their problem-solving skills and their input during a crisis like COVID-19.     Reference Gleeson, B. (2015, June 2). 5 Aspects of Emotional Intelligence Required for Effective Leadership. Retrieved from https://www.inc.com/brent-gleeson/5-aspects-of-emotional-intelligence-required-for-effective-leadership.html Jin, B. E., Cedrola, E., & Kim, N. L. (2019). Process Innovation: Hidden Secret to Success and Efficiency. In Process Innovation in the Global Fashion Industry (pp. 1-23). Palgrave Pivot, New York. Kokemuller, N. (2016, October 26). Management Styles: Positive and Negative Reinforcement. Retrieved from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/management-styles-positive-negative-reinforcement-50594.html Tang, K. N. (2019). Leadership and Change Management. Springer Singapore. Zojceska, A. (2020, April 8). Difference between structured, unstructured, and semi-structured job interviews. Retrieved from https://www.talentlyft.com/en/blog/article/92/difference-between-structured-unstructured-and-semi-structured-job-interviews