Synopsis:
Marshall Gordon, who works for a large chair manufacturing corporation, has unique insight and design
skills that enable him to design the best chairs on the market. However, his coworkers do not enjoy
working with him. In fact, they will often leave the company to avoid him. Now, two top designers have
demanded that management do something about Marshall or they will resign.
Questions:
If you were a top leader, how would you respond to the ultimatum? Be specific. Explain why.
What is Marshall missing with respect to his leadership abilities? How do you explain his poor leadership
behavior?
If you were Marshall’s manager, how might you increase Marshall’s awareness of the negative impact he is having on his team? How would you guide him toward better team leadership, sharing his knowledge
with others, and mentoring his team members?
Sample Solution