Affecting Change Paper

Running Head: Affecting Change Paper
Affecting Change Paper
Leadership is best defined as the ability to influence a group to toward the achievement of a vision or set of goals (Robbins & Judge, 2007).   Smith and Falmouth is a mid-size tele-order and mail order company with operations in Canada and the United States (Apollo Group Inc., 2010).   The company is seeking to improve itself and have strong financial showing over the next several years.   In order to achieve the goals of CEO Irene Seagraves, the company has hired a COO, in hopes of streamlining the organization and communication between managers and groups.   The COO has the task of achieving trust and infiltrating the unofficial cliques that have formed in the company.   By gaining the trust of informal leaders, the COO affectively will be able to have more influence within the organization and the ability to guide the company to its desired goals.
Options for Affecting Change

In order for the COO to gain, the trust and influence needed to perform the details of the job description; he or she must first learn the teams and members (Apollo Group Inc., 2010).   The COO will need to research the groups and their interactions before choosing an ally to help as he or she attempts to become and influential leader in the organization.   The COO also must realize that due to the creation of this new position the people he or she is wishing to influence will be shifted down in the chain of command (Apollo Group Inc., 2010).   The COO must be prepared to combat animosity from team members and managers.   One possible weapon in this battle could include accepting a salary based on the performance of the teams for a given time period.
It is important that the COO is stern (Apollo Group Inc., 2010) in the position while not becoming a dictator.   The COO must be able to earn respect and be careful as to not buy compliance from the employees.   The COO may consider performance-based awards for employees, or...