TEAM READINESS QUESTIONS

Use the following questions to structure your thoughts before each class. Suggest that you be
prepared to discuss your team’s take (can use PP slides with bullet point stories).

SESSION 2: A Case Study of Harriet Green

 Why did the Thomas Cook Group [TCG] pick an outsider from both the company and
industry?
 As an outsider to both the company and industry, what do you think Harriet Green must
have been wondering / worrying about when she took the job?
 Which of Green’s actions do you connect with her objectives?
 How did each of Goleman’s 6 leadership styles manifest itself in Harriet Green’s actions
or approaches? Why can each style be successful? Why can each style fail?
 How do you rate the focus of Green’s team development strategies?

SESSION 2 Supplemental: Thomas Cook on the Brink

 What does the market worry about when there is a change in senior leadership?
 How did the media coverage relate to female leadership? What biases or challenges do
you perceive female leaders must face that their male counterparts might not have to?

SESSION 2 Supplemental: Vignettes

 In the ESMT cases, what do you feel are the key take-aways in each of the first two
vignettes –
o Vignette 1: Which leadership style did the engineer expect from his leaders?
Why do you think they failed to use it?
o Vignette 2: What is Michael’s approach to his leadership role? What would you
recommend for his further development?

SESSION 3: Someone Stop the Radio Star

 Who has had a job where you had very little power? What did that feel like?
 Who had a job with low job security? What did that feel like?
 What happened, what damage did it do and how can it be prevented?
 Why did the “q” employees unite for the Red Sky presentation?
 What risks did they take in doing so?
 What else could they have done?
 How did it go on for so long?
 What would you do?
SESSION 4: Harry and the Learning Team
 What is your general impression of Learning Team (LT) 28: formation process,
expectations, norms?
 Was the secret meeting a good idea?
 What caused Harry’s problem?
 Is Harry the team’s only problem or are there deeper issues? If so, what are they?
 Where does the team’s responsibility for Harry end?
 How large a role should they be playing in helping Harry?
 Dis social styles/personalities play a role in this problem?
 What should the team decide to do?
 Where should the team go from here?
SESSION 5: Coach Hurley at St. Anthony’s High School
 What are the characteristics/traits/attributes of Coach Hurley as a person, athletic
coach?
 Are there differences; what does that also tell you about him?
 How does Coach Hurley relate to/act with his team?
 How would you describe Coach Hurley’s vision; his mission?
 How does a perennial lack of money impact the way Coach Hurley manages his
basketball program?
 How does the ever-present pressures of gang membership impact the way that Coach
Hurley manages?
 Using the Player/Parent Contract in the case, how would you describe – the reason for
getting parents to also sign in, team building objectives, standards and expectations,
team’ core values, requirements for on-court game performance.
SESSION 5: Michelle Obama and Authentic Leadership
 Which elements of authentic leadership do you perceive Michell Obama wished to
portray for herself, Barak and their family?
 What would be the simplest, most straightforward solution, requiring the least resources?
 What would be the most efficient solution, requiring the least resources?
 What might be the best short-term vs long term choices?
 What ‘commonly hoped for’ approaches will not work?

SESSION 6: Rebecca Halstead

 What is it that makes Halstead successful?
 What career and assignment choices did Halstead make?
 Why do you think she made these choices?
 How strategic were these choices?
 How would you specifically describe Halstead’s leadership style?
 What do you think made Halstead distinct/stand out as a leader?
 How would you rate Halstead a s communicator? What are some strategies and tools
she used?
 How has Halstead dealt with difficult situations in her career? Discuss several examples.