SHRM Exam - Leadership Questions
with 100% Correct Answers
4 skills of effective HR leadership Correct Answer: 1. ability to see opportunities
and problems
2. envision a different future and design a path toward it
3. to rally necessary support within the organization
4. to manage initiatives that create measurable and sustainable benefits
Fayol's functions of management Correct Answer: 1. planning
2. organizing
3. staffing
4. directing
5. controlling
Goleman's 6 leadership approaches Correct Answer: 1. coercive
2. authoritative
3. affiliative
4. democratic
5. pacesetting
6. coaching
,approach & suitability of coercive leadership Correct Answer: approach: leader
imposes a vision/solution & demands the team follow this directive
suitability: effective during crises, ineffective when it can damage employees'
sense of ownership in their work & motivation
approach & suitability of authoritative leadership Correct Answer: approach:
leader proposes a bold vision/solution and invites the team to join
suitability: effective when there is no clear path forward & the team is
encouraged to contribute their own ideas and take risks; ineffective when the
leader lacks real expertise
approach & suitability of affiliative leadership Correct Answer: approach: leader
creates strong relationships with and inside the team, encouraging feedback;
the team is motivated by loyalty
suitability: effective at all times but especially when a leader has a dysfunctional
and dispirited team that needs transforming. Leader must have strong
relationship-building and management skills. Ineffective when used alone (ex.
performance correcting may not be taken because the affiliative leader fears
damaging a relationship)
approach & suitability of democratic leadership Correct Answer: approach:
leader invites followers to collaborate and commits to acting by consensus.
suitability: leader doesn't have a clear vision or anticipates strong resistance to
change; team members must be competent; leader must have strong
communication skills. Ineffective when time is short
approach & suitability of pacesetting leadership Correct Answer: approach:
leader sets a model for high performance standards and challenges followers to
meet these expectations.
, suitability: effective when teams are composed of competent and internally
motivated employees.
Ineffective when expectations and the pace of work become excessive and
employees become tired and discouraged.
approach & suitability of coaching leadership Correct Answer: approach:
leader focuses on developing team members' skills, believing that success
comes from aligning the organization's goals with employees' personal and
professional goals
suitability: leader is highly skilled in strategic management, communication and
motivation and when they can manage their time to include coaching as a
primary activity. Team members must also be receptive to coaching. ineffective
when employees resist changing their performance
4 things effective HR leaders do Correct Answer: 1. develop & coach
2. build positive relationships
3. model their values and fulfill their promises and commitments
4. have functional expertise
4 things ineffective HR leaders do Correct Answer: 1. focus internally rather than
externally, failing to look outside the HR function
2. lack strategic perspective
3. do not anticipate or react well to change
4. resist "stretch" goals and act as a drag on the organization's attempts to
innovate
with 100% Correct Answers
4 skills of effective HR leadership Correct Answer: 1. ability to see opportunities
and problems
2. envision a different future and design a path toward it
3. to rally necessary support within the organization
4. to manage initiatives that create measurable and sustainable benefits
Fayol's functions of management Correct Answer: 1. planning
2. organizing
3. staffing
4. directing
5. controlling
Goleman's 6 leadership approaches Correct Answer: 1. coercive
2. authoritative
3. affiliative
4. democratic
5. pacesetting
6. coaching
,approach & suitability of coercive leadership Correct Answer: approach: leader
imposes a vision/solution & demands the team follow this directive
suitability: effective during crises, ineffective when it can damage employees'
sense of ownership in their work & motivation
approach & suitability of authoritative leadership Correct Answer: approach:
leader proposes a bold vision/solution and invites the team to join
suitability: effective when there is no clear path forward & the team is
encouraged to contribute their own ideas and take risks; ineffective when the
leader lacks real expertise
approach & suitability of affiliative leadership Correct Answer: approach: leader
creates strong relationships with and inside the team, encouraging feedback;
the team is motivated by loyalty
suitability: effective at all times but especially when a leader has a dysfunctional
and dispirited team that needs transforming. Leader must have strong
relationship-building and management skills. Ineffective when used alone (ex.
performance correcting may not be taken because the affiliative leader fears
damaging a relationship)
approach & suitability of democratic leadership Correct Answer: approach:
leader invites followers to collaborate and commits to acting by consensus.
suitability: leader doesn't have a clear vision or anticipates strong resistance to
change; team members must be competent; leader must have strong
communication skills. Ineffective when time is short
approach & suitability of pacesetting leadership Correct Answer: approach:
leader sets a model for high performance standards and challenges followers to
meet these expectations.
, suitability: effective when teams are composed of competent and internally
motivated employees.
Ineffective when expectations and the pace of work become excessive and
employees become tired and discouraged.
approach & suitability of coaching leadership Correct Answer: approach:
leader focuses on developing team members' skills, believing that success
comes from aligning the organization's goals with employees' personal and
professional goals
suitability: leader is highly skilled in strategic management, communication and
motivation and when they can manage their time to include coaching as a
primary activity. Team members must also be receptive to coaching. ineffective
when employees resist changing their performance
4 things effective HR leaders do Correct Answer: 1. develop & coach
2. build positive relationships
3. model their values and fulfill their promises and commitments
4. have functional expertise
4 things ineffective HR leaders do Correct Answer: 1. focus internally rather than
externally, failing to look outside the HR function
2. lack strategic perspective
3. do not anticipate or react well to change
4. resist "stretch" goals and act as a drag on the organization's attempts to
innovate
