BUS 5211: Managing in the Global Economy, University of the People
Unit 6 Written Assignment
- What actions by Jack suggest his self-esteem may be negatively impacted by his diagnosis?
- What positive direction might Jack explore to help with the acceptance of his diagnosis? How can he motivate his team to get involved in the process?
- Identify the potential causes in Jack disturbance of self-concept.
- How can the behaviors related to self-disclosure and time play a role in helping Jack to accept and live with his diagnosis? What role does communication play in Jack’s overall acceptance? As a leader, how can Jack engage his team in this new healthy lifestyle while respecting his privacy?
Grade: 87.9/90 (734 words)
Case description
Jack is working in a major hospital as a leader. He was eager to meet goals with his colleagues. Also, Jack strives to stay healthy by making efforts such as eating healthy, exercising regularly, and playing basketball team. However, the recent year, he failed to stay fit because of busy work. He was diagnosed with high cholesterol and needed medication to control his cholesterol and lipids for lifelong treatment. Jack was shocked by these explanations from the doctor. Although he wants to make an effort to exercise more and eat a better diet without neglecting his team, he can't find the methods yet. Based on the information above, I will answer four questions.
What actions by Jack suggest his self-esteem may be negatively impacted by his diagnosis?
His angry attitude shows his self-esteem is negatively impacted. He didn't believe the doctor's diagnosis and tore the prescriptions into pieces and threw them in the trash. His cognitive dissonance affects him negatively.
What positive direction might Jack explore to help with the acceptance of his diagnosis? How can he motivate his team to get involved in the process?
For Jack, there are three things to minimize the impact of the dissonance. First, he must have the courage to acknowledge the possibility that his beliefs and the diagnosis may not be the same. Second, he should find their dissonance by asking himself the following questions: What dissonance is present in his beliefs and behaviors? What gaps are created because of the dissonance? How is this dissonance stopping him from truly understanding the situation? (Cultural intelligence for leaders, 2012) Finally, Jack should work with his teammates to obtain their involvement. He will change his workstyle due to his health condition. Then he has the responsibility to help their colleagues transform their working styles.
Also, here are three questions that impact the teammates in a positive way: 1. What is changing? 2. What will be different because of the change? and 3. Who's going to lose what? To understand the difference, define what will change because of Jack's changes. Finally, employees must let go of their original mindset to make a successful cultural shift. In doing so, it is helpful to ask himself the following questions:
- What beliefs and values might I have to let go of?
- Why is it hard to abandon your beliefs and values?
- How well have these values and beliefs served you?
- What are the barriers they create for your future? (Cultural intelligence for leaders, 2012)
Identify the potential causes in Jack disturbance of self-concept.
The concept of Cognitive dissonance can explain his anger and confusion. Cognitive dissonance is a state of discomfort that occurs by experiencing one's beliefs, ideas, or attitudes that are contradicted by evidence. It is the most uncomfortable for people when people do something inconsistent with their view of themselves. (Cultural intelligence for leaders, 2012)
As described in the case description, Jack had high self-esteem, backed by the title of leader and the experience of taking good care of his health. However, a doctor's diagnosis showed that he was in poor health. The gap between his self-concept and objective diagnosis caused cognitive dissonance.
How can the behaviors related to self-disclosure and time play a role in helping Jack to accept and live with his diagnosis? What role does communication play in Jack's overall acceptance? As a leader, how can Jack engage his team in this new healthy lifestyle while respecting his privacy?
Time will allow Jack to ask himself the above questions and help him resolve cognitive dissonance. Self-disclosure has a positive impact on both Jack and his team. Psychologists proved that self-disclosure helps to build intimate relationships. Revealing Jack's motives, intentions, goals, values, and emotions can increase liking and feelings of intimacy and generate greater cooperation and teamwork as well. (Offermann and Rosh, 2012)
At first, Jack should resolve the cognitive dissonance that is happening to him and explain to followers the new way he and his team work in the current situation. If Jack receives opposition related to changing behaviors, storytelling helps to obtain staff involvement through a shared vision, goal, or objective. (Cultural intelligence for leaders, 2012) For Jack, his poor health may be a fact that he does not want to admit as a failure to take care of himself. However, sharing his experience and accepting his poor health positively changed him and his team.
References
Cultural intelligence for leaders (2012, December 29). Lardbucket. Retrieved from
https://2012books.lardbucket.org/pdfs/cultural-intelligence-for-leaders.pdf
Offermann, L. and Rosh, L. (2012, June 13). Building Trust Through Skillful Self-Disclosure. Harvard Business
Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2012/06/instantaneous-intimacy-skillfu
