1. Michael Parent
Bolman & Deal Questionnaire Assignment
April 20, 2007
The Leadership Orientations questionnaire revealed great similarities and slight
differences between my subject and me.
Regarding our behaviors, we build collaborative relationships amongst our
colleagues. As well, we are both highly participative with staff and faculty members.
Likewise, we both do not “shoot from the hip” regarding important and consequential
decisions. Interestingly, neither of us is skillful at setting clear goals and holding people
accountable to achieve them. We are effective in our ability to build alliances and support
bases when decisions or strategic plans must be made in our organization. However, we
seem to differ greatly in our willingness to listen to others ideas and suggestions; I have a
propensity to be receptive of the thoughts and ideas of my faculty, while the leader I
evaluated seems to listen to subordinates only as a means to gather information that will not
necessarily affect the decisions or actions that they will take.
Examining our Leadership Styles, my strengths tend to be more interpersonal,
listening, building strong alliances, and attention to detail, providing a vision, and being
imaginative about solutions to dilemma and problems. In contrast, my subject’s strengths are
analytical, negotiating, and making good decisions. I may provide the vision, but my subject
is able to provide the political ability to make the vision politically possible.
As effective managers, we score in the top 20%, however I have rated our
effectiveness as leaders in the 4 range. While we both have talent, it is clear to me that we
lack the knowledge of how to set goals and measure their success or failure. The ideas are
rampant yet the follow through is weak.