LOUNGE TALKCase Scenario presented by Laurel Bartlett, Jamie Smith, and Jason Covarrubias

Background about the Case:

A new principal, Dr. Colleen Werner, has been appointed at Drewerton South High School. She is only the 2nd principal in the school’s 14 year history. Her leadership style is more transfromational.

George Calbo was the School’s first and only other principal. His leadership style was transactional (management style of leadership)

Four high school teachers are discussing their perceptions of the school’s new principal in the teacher’s lounge. 3 of the 4 do not approve of the principal’s leadership

style. Areas of concern: gender, age, and administrative

inexperience

The Problems:

Role conflict- Transactional- believe people are primarily

motivated by self-interests, and accordingly, leaders attempt to control behavior in others by offering rewards or threatening punishments

Transformational- make others more aware of their responsibilities, induce them to transcend self-interests by behaving professionally, and emphasizing higher-order needs, such as self-esteem and self-actualization

These different leadership styles among the two principals have resulted in the following problems within this case:

Problems:

Gossip This apparently was a problem even under

the previous principal. He spent nearly 2 hours a day in the lounge listening to complaints, discussing politics, and seeking the latest gossip.

Disgruntled Staff They don’t like change. There has been a shift

in the type of leadership within the administration. The new principal challenges the teachers to grow professionally. She does not encourage an attitude that allows them to remain stagnant in their career.

Possible Solutions

Ignore the disgruntled staff and gossip that is resulting from their negativity.

Address it directly or indirectly Monitor it Call a meeting- make known vision for

the school

Evaluating the solutions

The principal can indirectly deal with the problem. This would be the first option. She needs to

monitor the results. She could kill them with kindness. Basically, she

could focus on her relationship with the teachers and offer a lot of praise and appreciation.

Another option is to approach the problem directly, but in a way that is not threatening.

If these options do not work, then consider the final option in the following video:

http://goanimate.com/movie/0ZCEH3BlJi3k?utm_source=linkshare