Judgement Test Question 16 – The senior team has stopped challenging its chief executive
Read the scenario and rate every action independently. Several actions can receive the same rating.
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Scenario
You join an executive team where meetings appear calm and decisions are reached quickly. In private, several directors tell you they disagree with important proposals but no longer challenge the chief executive because previous questions were met with visible irritation. Risks are now discussed in bilateral conversations after decisions have been made. The chief executive says the team has become more disciplined and believes lengthy debate used to slow delivery. You need to support effective leadership without creating a public confrontation or reinforcing a culture of silence.
Rate the actions
For each action, choose Counterproductive, Ineffective, Fairly Effective or Effective.
Action A
Openly contradict the chief executive at the next meeting to demonstrate that senior leaders should be willing to challenge.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action B
Continue discussing concerns privately until the chief executive becomes more comfortable with the team.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action C
Raise the pattern privately with the chief executive using clear examples and propose meeting practices that invite challenge before decisions are closed.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action D
Ask directors to send concerns anonymously so you can summarise them for the chief executive before each meeting.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Click to reveal the answer
- Action A: Counterproductive
- Action B: Ineffective
- Action C: Effective
- Action D: Fairly Effective
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