Module 3: Critical Thinking/Application Prompts
Instructions
Each week, you will be presented with a series of critical thinking prompts and application prompts.
Please copy/paste the prompts into an offline document (Word, for example) and compose your responses offline (be sure to save your work). Then click on the “Submit Assignment” button above, copy/paste your work into the text box (
please be sure to include the prompts prior to your responses), and click “Submit Assignment” at the bottom of the page.
Each question is generally worthy of,
at a minimum, at least 250 words (2-3 well-written paragraphs) in response for the open-ended types of prompts. Be sure to connect with (and informally
cite in-text) the applicable readings/videos from the module’s learning materials.
A note on in-text citing and connecting with the learning materials:
As a graduate student, it’s
very important that you offer perspectives and arguments that are grounded in the literature –
NOT simply personal opinion or anecdotal evidence. I don’t want a works-cited page, but I do want you to clearly cite your sources in-text for the various connections you’ll be making between the learning materials and your application thereof. For example, one might write,
“While I marveled at the uncanny ability of the psychic to tap into my true personality, the Barnum Effect
(Aronson, 2022, p. 117) could have well explained my feelings…”
Be sure to use these informal in-text cites to make your arguments and to support your perspectives.
These are all open-ended prompts/questions, each deserving of a well thought out response. Again, that generally means two to three well-constructed paragraphs (about 250 words on average) per prompt.
The following exercise includes the following four prompts:
Critical Thinking/Application Prompt 1:
After becoming familiar with the Emotional Intelligence Domains and Associated Competencies in Chapter Three of
Primal Leadership (see p. 39 and especially “Appendix B” for a quick summary), identify your weakest leadership competency areas — share what they are — and then share what you can do to improve/strengthen those areas.
Critical Thinking/Application Prompt 2:
After becoming familiar with the Leadership Repertoire/Six Leadership Styles (see
Primal Leadership p. 55 for list and, of course, Chapters 4 and 5), decide on which leadership style(s) you seem to gravitate to the most. Explain why you think that is.
Then share both positive and negative outcomes that have resulted as a consequence of you taking that leadership approach at a certain point in your life/in a certain circumstance. Describe a situation in which you took that leadership approach and what happened as a result of doing so. You can refer to a situation that took place in any kind of organization: corporate, governmental, educational, community, or family.
Critical Thinking/Application Prompt 3:
Daniel Goleman’s writings are filled with narratives/stories that are designed to illustrate the point(s) he is attempting to make. For this prompt, take the time to write a narrative/share a story that describes your own encounter with one of the two “dissonant” leadership styles (pacesetting or commanding) – see Chapter Five of
Primal Leadership. That is, have you encountered a pacesetting or commanding leader in action? What happened? What did you learn?
OR if you have never encountered a dissonant leadership style, but only those that foster resonance (Chapter Four), then take the time to write a narrative/share a story that describes your own encounter with one of these leadership styles. That is, have you encountered a visionary, coaching, affiliative, or democratic leader in action? What happened? What did you learn?
Critical Thinking/Application Prompt 4:
What is the relationship between EI and AI (Artificial Intelligence)? Where do they intersect? What do you know about AI? Have you meditated enough on its impact on you, your culture, the systems you work in – your society, job (including your role as a leader), environment? Share. Are emotionally intelligent human beings immune to the negative impacts/consequences of the presence of AI? Yes? No? Explain.
