LIFE STYLES INVENTORY EXERCISE: A PERSONAL REFLECTION
PREPARED BY

GM591:LEADERSHIP AND ORGONIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

Professor Lopez

May 13, 2012

INTRODUCTION
In today’s world it is essential for managers to have critical leadership skills in order to reach their full potential. The Life Style Inventory survey has allowed me to reflect on my own way of thinking and how it influences my behavior. The circumplex shows me that my primary style of thinking is the Convention style. This style incorporates managers being routine, strictly adhering to rules, procedures and difficulty taking small risks. The backup style of thinking is the approval style. In the approval style managers are “overly concerned with being popular and well liked”. I feel that the survey is accurate in the way it describes my management style.
PERSONAL THINKING STYLES
As a manager in retail sales I definitely see myself practicing both conventional and approval style of leadership. For instance my route to work every day is conventional in the sense that it is the same road every time even though I have the option to take an alternate route. I prefer to take the same road everyday and arrive on time. As the manager I’m required to perform certain tasks at specific times during my shift as described by the company rules. At peak times, the situation may call to abandon protocol but I always tend to stick to the procedures. I agree with the LSI survey because by following the rules, I perceive myself to be responsible and not question my obedience to authority. The approval style of managing applies more to everyday life as well as work. When delegating tasks, I tend to take on the heavy work load and give the employees the “light work”. I try to do things and assign tasks a certain way because I’m overly concerned about other people’s opinion and I like to feel accepted by