Your first morning in your new office, you reflect on what type of manager and leader you hope to be. Which of the following best reflects what you believe about employees and how they can best be led?
a. Employees are more loyal and productive if they feel that their leader is admirable, caring, and ethical.
b. Employees’ behavior can be shaped and motivated, not only by rewarding good behavior but also by penalizing bad behavior.
c. Employees need to be discouraged from bad behavior.
d. They work harder when they know that failure has consequences.

Leadership can be defined as a process which typically involves motivating, encouraging and inspiring employees working under an individual to be innovative and create positive changes that will foster growth and enhance the success of a business firm or company in the future.

A leader can be defined as an individual who is saddled with the responsibility of controlling, managing and maintaining a group of people under him or her. Some types of power expressed by leaders are referent power, legitimate power, coercive power, etc.

Generally, leaders use their powers to get other people to follow them. Some forms of power result from a formalized position in the organization while others are derived from personal characteristics or knowledge.

Basically, when a leader possesses and favors referent power (strong interpersonal relationship skills with subordinates), he or she would have a strong and productive working relationship with his subordinates (employees) because it encourages loyalty.

Hence, employees are more loyal and productive if they feel that their leader is admirable, caring, and ethical.