Management 13th Edition by John Schermerhorn,Daniel Bachrach

Exercise 1

LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF
Lacking in confidence, procrastination becomes easy. Too many of us have difficulty deciding, and we have difficulty acting.
Self-Confidence Builds Better Decisions
D oes confidence put a spring into your step and a smile on your face It's a powerful force, something to be nurtured and protected. Managers need the self-confidence not only to make decisions but to take the actions required to implement them. Once decisions are made, managers are expected to rally people to utilize resources and take effective action. This is how problems actually get solved and opportunities get explored. But lacking in confidence, procrastination becomes easy. Too many of us have difficulty deciding, and we have difficulty acting.
How would you proceed with the situation in the box-option A, or B, or C
Jeff McCracken was the team leader who actually had to deal with this situation. He acted deliberately, with confidence, and in a collaborative fashion. After extensive consultations with the team, he decided to salvage the old track. The team worked 24 hours a day and finished in less than a week. McCracken called it a "colossal job" and said the satisfaction came from "working with people from all parts of the company and getting the job done without anyone getting hurt."
Self-confidence doesn't have to mean acting alone, but it does mean being willing to act. Management consultant Ram Charan calls self-confidence a willingness to "listen to your own voice" and "speak your mind and act decisively." It is, he says, an "emotional fortitude" that counteracts "emotional insecurities."
Decision Time
Situation: A massive hurricane has damaged a railroad bridge over a large lake. The bridge is critical for relief efforts to aid a devastated city. You are leading a repair team of 100. Two alternatives are on the table: Rebuild using new tracks, or rebuild with old track salvaged from the lake.
Question: How do you proceed
A. Decide to rebuild with new tracks; move quickly to implement.
B. Decide to rebuild with old tracks; move quickly to implement.
C. Consult with team; make decision; move quickly to implement.
GET TO KNOW YOURSELF BETTER
Opportunities to improve your self-confidence are everywhere, but you have to act in order to take advantage of them. What about your involvement in student organizations, recreational groups, intramural sports teams, and community activities Do a self-check: Make a list of things you are already doing that offer ways to build your self-confidence. What are you gaining from these experiences Make another list that describes what you could do to gain more experience and add more self-confidence to your skills portfolio between now and graduation. Becoming an officer in a club where you are a member Starting a new student organization Organizing a community service project for you and your friends Becoming a tutor for a class where you did well Volunteering at a local food bank or homeless shelter