Case Study
Colombia Inc is a consulting company for Fortune 500s nationwide. Each quarter the team reviews the revenue from the amount of new firms they were able to onboard. This year has looked a little different because of the unexpected Covid-19 pandemic. Three team members; Maria, Larry and Carla have worked together closely at Colombia Inc. for four years now. This year was a tough year for them personally and as a company. The biggest change was their favorite manager left and a new manager, Phil, stepped in. Phil was certain he would get the new manager position because he felt that he was the only one who could adequately lead a team. Phil has no prior management experience and just feels like he is a good leader because he is straightforward and tough. The company culture quickly changed into a hostile environment and competition quickly arose between team members. As the quarter was approaching, Maria, Larry and Carla, all realized they were not on track to meet their goals. Unsure of how the new manager would take the tough reality, the team became anxious and paranoid they would lose their jobs. Phil is unapproachable and continues to boast about his manager status and doesn’t focus on his team’s progress or fostering a good working environment.
1. Describe the sources of power.Which sources of power are used by the team’s manager?
2. What style of leadership is Phil displaying? Explain. Also, what problems do you foresee will happen with the team?
3. Provide specific suggestions for Phil to resolve the problems described in the mini case.