Asprou uses style three coaching (Blanchard et al. , 1986) to tell the colleagues their targets for the day, uses support to help the colleagues carry out their targets and coaches them to reach the targets (Blanchard, 1986). Asprou manages operational changes, such as a shortage of staff by asking his zero hour contracted colleague to cover, if he is unavailable, he asks other members of the Team if they want overtime.
If the colleagues cannot cover the shift, Asprou will cover it himself. Style three of the four basic leadership styles (Blanchard, 1986) is used by Asprou for covering shifts when a colleague has left for example.He is supporting as he asks the colleagues for their available hours and the shares the responsibility of working the shifts with them. Asprou then uses style four to delegate (Blanchard, 1986) the shifts to the available colleagues. This style of management can also be referred to as consultative (LearnManagement2, date unknown); this style of management is a combination of democratic and autocratic management. Asprou will ask all his colleagues what extra shifts they are available for if another colleague has called in sick or a colleague has left, but ultimately he will decide who works what shifts.
Also with adapting his management style to suit the needs of the individual using the Disc Analysis (see Appendix 1, time 11. 31), Asprou uses consultative management as he will decisively make the final judgement on how to manage each individual (LearnManagement2, date unknown). Having a zero hour contracted colleague on the Team provides Asprou with flexibility of covering shifts. However, relying on the zero hour colleague and other members of the Team to cover shift shortages puts strain on Asprou’s job, as if he has to cover one of the shifts himself, then he could be working from six in the morning till half past eleven at night.A solution to Asprou possibly working extra hours as his other colleagues are not available, would be to employ more zero hour contracted colleagues.
By having more colleagues on the Team, Asprou will have more flexibility to cover shifts. Managing operational changes effectively is crucial in business to make it successful (Barata, 2004). With asking the colleagues for their available hours if another colleague has left is not as appropriate, as some colleagues may not know what hours they are available on a weekly basis.Again, by having more zero hour contracted colleagues on Team, Asprou will be able to effectively cover the required hours. To employ more colleagues, Asprou could use Frederick Taylor’s Principles of Scientific Management (NetMBA, 2007).
Asprou would employ colleagues that specify in certain subjects, such as Aerobics, Body Pump, Water Aerobics, and Spin etc. By doing this, Asprou will not only be capable to cover the gym floor shifts, he will also have colleagues available to cover any exercise classes needed as he will have qualified colleagues on his Team.