Case Study
Meet Joe The Programmer
Joe is a 27 year old web programmer. He is very bright, knows his skills are in high demand and wants to progress faster in his career. He has an okay relationship with his boss but has some serious relationships issues with a few of his colleagues. He had a recent blow-up with a senior manager in another office and does not know what to do about it. He’d prefer not to discuss the matter with his boss and is uncertain about how to solve the problem…
Meet Sally the Account Executive
Sally is 35 years old and was just hired as senior account executive. She is very career motivated and wants to make an immediate positive first impression. Sally’s boss works in another office and some of her colleagues seem a little skeptical of her role. She’s just getting to know her co-workers and she’d like to be asked more for her advice. She has some big ideas that she’d like to share, but she’s not sure how to go about it. Her boss, who she really likes is not available much because he is so busy with client work…
Case Study 1 (answering the 4 questions)
Kathy the IT Manager
What’s your current challenge?
I just got feedback that I’m not being as effective as I could be managing my direct reports. I’m very surprised by this feedback because I thought I was very good at managing. I can be tough, but I need to be. I’ve been asked by our HR Director to write up a development plan, but I’m not convinced yet that I should change. I want to be successful and sometimes I don’t think people around me recognize all of my hard work. People need to suck it up around here and realize that all work does not have to be fun…
What’s the real underlying issue?
I’m worried that my reputation will be hurt by this. I don’t think other managers have to deal with the same staff issues that I do…
What’s the Ideal Outcome?
Score higher on next year’s 360 leadership assessment…
What steps have you already taken?
I’ve had a couple of discussions with HR and also with my boss, but I’m still a little puzzled as to what needs to change…
Case Study 2 (answering the 4 questions)
Bill - Recent College Grad and Entrepreneur
What’s your current challenge?
I’m pissed at my partner who is starting a new social networking website with me. I’m back at Harvard finishing my degree and he has moved to Palo Alto to keep developing the site. The site is called The Facebook and I’ve invested all of the upfront money (so far around $30k), and he is starting to not involve me in various initiatives having to do with the company. I’m thinking of closing the bank account to teach him a lesson…
What’s the real underlying issue?
I’m worried he might move in another direction with different partners and then I’d be out…
What’s the Ideal Outcome?
My partner would start to realize how much I have invested in the company and would appreciate me more…
What steps have you already taken?
I’ve gone out to Palo Alto a couple of times and everything seems fine but somehow different…
