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Leadership Workshop to Develop the Organization
Organizational behavior is the study of how individuals and/or groups behave in an organization. It is the
understanding of how to lead an organization. Knowledge of this can be incorporated into a regular internal
leadership workshop to set organizational goals and vision.
The foundation of a business organization is built on the vision of the management. Management should be able to
communicate its values and goals to all of its members in order to succeed. Derived from the management’s vision is
the organizational culture. This includes the formal organization, informal organization and the social
culture.
The culture sets the tone for leadership style, type of communication and the all-important group dynamics within
the organization. Obviously, the organizational culture of a prison is different from the organizational culture of
a school – no matter what the students think. Individual workers get their motivation from the quality of work life
that comes out of the organizational culture.
Organizational Models
There are four basic models of organizational behavior. Most organizations use a mix of all four. An internal
leadership workshop can help management to set the guidelines for when to use each model.
In the autocratic model, management has the power and the employees are obedient. In terms of Maslow’s pyramid of
needs, the employees receive the lowest level or subsistence. This is the model of the prison. Management makes the
decisions and communication does not include the reasoning behind the decisions. A leadership workshop can develop
ways to make employees feel important.
In the custodial model, management is oriented toward money instead of power. The employees are dependant on the
organization instead of on the management and their pyramid reward is security. Here, the management and employees
work together and express care for the organization. A leadership workshop can find ways to show employees the
importance of the organization.
In the supportive model, management supports and rewards the employees. Employees are higher up on the pyramid,
receiving status from their work. Here, the leadership workshop would be geared toward finding ways to motivate the
employees in the right direction. This is a good model for creative businesses.
In the collegial model, management and employees work as a team to accomplish goals set by all. The employees
receive self-actualization. A regular leadership workshop can find ways to incorporate employee suggestions into
the business plan. This model works well in a technology development.
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