Instructions

Read the passage and choose the most appropriate answer for the question that follow.
Passage:

In my research on leadership transitions, I have observed that career advances require all of us to move way beyond our comfort zones. At the same time, however, they trigger a strong countervailing impulse to protect our identities: When we are unsure of ourselves or our ability to perform well or measure up in a new setting, we often retreat to familiar behaviors and styles.

But my research also demonstrates that the moments that most challenge our sense of self are the ones that can teach us the most about leading effectively. By viewing ourselves as works in progress and evolving our professional identities through trial and error, we can develop a personal style that feels right to us and suits our organizations’ changing needs.

That takes courage, because learning, by definition, starts with unnatural and often superficial behaviors that can make us feel calculating instead of genuine and spontaneous. But the only way to avoid being pigeonholed and ultimately become better leaders is to do the things that a rigidly authentic sense of self would keep us from doing.

The word “authentic” traditionally referred to any work of art that is an original, not a copy. When used to describe leadership, of course, it has other meanings—and they can be problematic. For example, the notion of adhering to one “true self” flies in the face of much research on how people evolve with experience, discovering facets of themselves they would never have unearthed through introspection alone. And being utterly transparent—disclosing every single thought and feeling—is both unrealistic and risky.

Question 7

The term "work in progress" in the passage, refers to

Solution

The passage's term "work in progress" refers to the idea that individuals are not fixed in their identities or abilities but can evolve and adapt over time, mainly through new experiences. 

The author emphasizes that by viewing ourselves as works in progress and evolving through trial and error, we can develop a leadership style that fits our sense of self and the needs of our organizations. 

This aligns with the notion that individuals can change as they encounter new experiences, rather than remaining static or adhering to a single "true self."

Hence, D is the correct answer. 


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