HOW SHALL I LEAD CASE STUDY VISION One of the visions of the Prinitha Limited is: Introduction of marketable

products to increase competitive edge of the company through innovative research. The core value of the company is Performance Excellence, People Orientation and being principled. The company values its people, highly principled and ethical in every aspect of its operations. The values are communicated throughout the company by the actions of the CEO and the newly appointed VP R & D who are the top leaders of the company. The CEO Mr. Sunil Rajan selected Ms Ashthumna as the new Vice president of R&D division solely based on the performance of her in the previous position and the integrity she had shown while dealing with people and issues. He gave importance to the companys core value of Performance Excellence rather than any type of gender bias.

The CEO exhibits characteristics of upholding ethical values of the company more than his friendship and long time association by sacking Paneerselvam who involved in unethical practices, favoritism which affects morale of the employees. Asthumna She exhibits the core value of people orientation by reinstating Pandian realizing him as very competent and committed researcher. She took responsibility for his behavior and performance by mentoring him and inspiring him to excel in his responsibilities and performance.

There is a perception that women cannot be able to manage an important and senior position in the company . It is a gender bias against women. There was opposition to appoint Asthumna, a woman, to head the R & D department not withstanding her performances and abilities with her previous assignment. Mr Ganesh, the Head of Product Line in facials believes that a marketing person, who could not be a technical person to understand R & D issues revolving around bio-chemistry, that too a woman cannot lead the R & D department to the benefit of the company.

Personality Traits of Asthumna As the leader of R & D, Asthumna displays many personality Traits of which some are discussed here. Emotional Stability: When Ganesh, Head of Product Line in facials belittle her by saying she cannot understand issues revolving around Bio-chemistry being from Marketing and also as women, she did not lose her mind even though she is superior to him. Instead she was able to control her emotions and went ahead to listen to his proposals. With a cool mind, she was able to understand that his plan needs additional resources and immediately arrange with HR to provide him resources. She did not give importance to his tendered apology, instead advises him to see her as his boss instead of a woman. Openness to experience: Open people are more creative and can be good leaders. She appointed Vincent Raj, the problem maker, as in charge of Hair care division in place of the removed Paneerselvam. She believes that Vincent raj has potential and is loyal to the organization even though he is a trouble maker. She made him realize his potential and his responsibilities and guide him to achieve in his position. Integrity She had displayed great deal of integrity while dealing with people and issues in her previous assignment as Head Marketing. This is one of the factors which made the CEO to appoint her at the senior position as R & D leader as integrity is an essential trait in a R & D department in order to protect the interests of the company. Agreeableness She exhibits good nature, cooperative and trusting while dealing with her subordinates. She expresses her confidence on their capabilities and promotes the idea of freely meeting her to solve any type of problem in the work and welcomed their ideas for betterment. She trusts the abilities of Vincent raj and the innocence of Pandian and gave them enough cooperation and support for them to excel in their areas.

Inspiring Asthumna is able to inspire Vincent raj and Pandian to realize their responsibilities and made use of their competencies and commitments. Good Listener She is able to listen to subordinates like Ganesh, Vincent Raj whenever they are describing about the new proposals or ideas to improve functioning of the department.

Identifying potential She is able to identify the potentials of Vincent Raj and Pandian and made them realize their responsibilities and able to extract the best from them. Persuasive She is able to persuade the CEO to reinstate the formerly sacked Pandian by convincing about his competence and commitment especially when he did the misdeed of calling the CEO at night for complaining.

Challenges faced She is the first woman to occupy such a senior position in the company and there is perception among employees and gender bias. She has very limited exposure to R & D activities She has less experience in handling researchers who are good in reputation and have strong egos. The loyalty faced by her predecessor who was soft on the employees She may get bad name in the department if she tries to bring in the changes in the discipline front. These are the challenges faced by Ashthumna when she is about to take over the leadership of R & D department. However she is ready to face the challenges with determination. She called for a meeting and gives clear direction and instructions regarding what are expected of them with respect to performance and indiscipline or unethical practices. She also instructs that she is to be seen as Boss and not as a woman. She listens to the researchers and gives patient hearing. She also made them to explain in a manner which could be understood by her. She is ready to support whatever proposals which are worthy enough to be converted as product with all necessary supports. She is tough with the people who are doing unethical activities and after necessary review, she made the person removed from the company.

Style of Leadership: Asthmuna exhibits different styles of leadership at different situations

Directing Style When she took over as the head of R & D, there are lot of apprehensions, gender bias against her as a woman as she was the first woman to occupy such a senior position, her limited exposure to R & D related works, relatively limited inexperience in handling researchers etc. She has to assert herself with these type of complex conditions and hence exhibits directive behavior. In the first meeting with the department employees, she sought their cooperation for excellent performance and direct them to bring out with 2 innovations either in product or in the process every two months and definite breakthrough product every quarter. She defines what, how and when to do. Supporting Style She exhibited supporting style with Ganesh, head of product line facials when he came out with a proposal which need additional researchers. She immediately discussed with HR and instructs them to arrange for getting 2 researchers to assist Ganesh in fulfilling his proposals. She did less instructions and more a supporting role. Coaching Style She exhibited this style with Vincent raj who is a problem maker. She made him responsible to his new position. She scheduled weekly meeting with him to direct him, to listen to him and to offer any support. Her listening encourages Vincent raj to offer more insight about the running of the department. She made him to realize his responsibilities and made to present his various ideas which are appreciated by many. This results in good commitment from him and he started delivering 3 new products within short span. Delegating style- Once pandian and Vincent raj establishes themselves, she ensures that the 59 member team of R & D depends on these 2 leaders. She delegates them to solve all work related issues and any advices needed for the employees. This she could achieve after making these gentlemen as highly competent and committed.

Emotionaly Stable Asthumna is emotionally stable. She could score high on Emotional Stability as per the theory of Big Five Factors by remaining emotionally stable, calm, confident and secure when Ganesh belittle her by saying that she could not understand issues related to bio-chemistry and comments about the uncertainity of the department being headed by woman and an inexperienced R & D person. She controlled her anger and able to focus on the proposals being explained by Ganesh and take necessary supporting action. One of important personality trait that a leader needs to possess is emotional stability. By her action of self controlling her emotions and being calm and composed, she could win over her subordinate as Ganesh realized his mistake and apologise to her.

7. Participative leadership Transformational leadership

The exercise on Understanding your Leadership Style gives insight about selfs inherent style of leadership which is being practiced. The different types of Leadership styles are a) b) c) d) Directing Style Coaching Style Supporting style Delegating style

The style is the effect of the behaviors which are the directive and supportive in nature. Depending upon extent of the behaviors, the leadership style varies. When the behavior is more of directing and less of supportive, the style can be classified as Directing Leadership style. When the behavior is more of directing and more of supportive, the resulting style is coaching. The Supporting style exhibits less of directive and more of supportive behavior and the delegating type exhibits less of supporting and directing behavior. It is to be noted that the style of Leadership is based on the situation and the followers. Based on the situation and the type of followers, the style of leadership is to be adapted to be a successful leader. The directive style of leadership is to be adopted to promote competencies among the followers who are unable but willing to do the task. The coaching style is to be adopted with followers who are unable and unwilling. When the followers are able and unwilling, supportive or participative style of leadership is to be used. The delegating style is to be used with followers who are able and willing where the leader does not do much. As it clearly goes that the leadership style depends on the situation, ability and motivational limitations of the followers and the leader has to contribute accordingly. The success depends on identifying the situation and the type of followers and adapt to the different styles of leadership which directly relates to the success of the leader. The said exercise indicates my leadership style as Supportive with a score of 5. The scores for the other styles are Directing 3, Coaching -3 and Delegating 1. The predominant supporting style indicates that self is conscious on fewer instructions and more supporting towards the followers. I will involve people more during the situational crisis.