Final answer:
Helena is using a contingent reward leadership style by offering a bonus to employees if they meet sales goals, which is part of the transactional leadership approach.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this scenario, Helena is using the contingent reward style of leadership. Contingent reward is a transactional leadership style where leaders set clear goals and offer rewards or incentives to motivate employees to achieve those goals. By offering a $2,500 bonus to her small group of employees if they meet their sales goals, Helena is using the contingent reward style to motivate and incentivize her employees.
In the given scenario where Helena offers her employees a $2,500 bonus if they meet their sales goals, the style of leadership she is using is b) contingent reward. This style of leadership falls under the transactional leadership category, where the leader sets clear goals and rewards employees for meeting those targets. It creates a clear connection between performance and rewards and is different from laissez-faire or management-by-exception approaches, which either leave employees to their own devices or only intervene when problems occur.