Assessment 1: Reflective Report Assignment Sample

Introduction - Kolb’s Reflective Cycle in Leadership & Team Development

Reflective writing is delineated as the critical evaluation of an experience and the ways in which this influence the personal and professional development. It helps in analysing about own strengths and weaknesses through which future action plan can be made (Botelho, 2021). Engaging in reflective writing enable students in terms of getting assistance that lead to empower the learning process and assure effective outcomes. The present report will be based on undertaking self-reflection that will be based on learning and development aspects within the module. The module has provided me varied opportunities through which I have become able to enhance my Emotional intelligence [EI] abilities. The learning will be reflected while using Kolb’s reflective model. Afterwards, on the basis of evaluation, SMART development plan will be made.

Relationship With Self

During this module, I have got numerous opportunities in the context of improving relationship with myself. I got to know about self-awareness which is a crucial aspect in strengthening the personal and professional development. There was a group task that was assigned to me and my team members, I was leading the team. In this task, I have analysed my strengths which are concerned with- decision making and time management, the task was completed in the given time frame and this led to increase my confidence. Furthermore, I had conflict with one of my team member however; I handled the situation in effective manner. After the conflict, I realised that, it is important to have control on emotions otherwise, this lead to create major issues which impacts self-confidence while performing the task. This shows that I have controlled my emotions and this assisted me in relation to handling the situation. I can say that, my emotional intelligence capabilities are being enhanced during this module.

Relationship With Others

One of the major components of EI is that, it is important to maintain relationship with other people as it places direct impact on the self-confidence (Lubbadeh, 2020). I have used my learning in order to enhance the relationship with other so, I can become able to gain higher confidence. In business and management, I have learned that, while improving relationship with consumers, it is important to enhance relationship with them and therefore, the foremost aspect is to understand the requirements of customers. Similarly, I have applied this learning in group project and I have analysed the needs and requirements of team members and on the basis of this further actions are being taken. In this manner, effectual interaction with them has been developed and I have become able to gain understanding in this context. Emphasising on the aspects which are being used by me in order to enhance the interaction with other team members; I have used communication and problem solving skill.

Communication skill is comprised with listening and speaking abilities and therefore. This needs to be used in order to implement effective communication. I have been given an opportunity of becoming leader and it was essential to implement coordination with team members. At initial stage, the members were hesitating in sharing their doubts, thereupon I made one to one interaction with each member and this lead to create effective support for them. I listened to their queries and accordingly actions have been taken. In this manner, I became able to solve their doubts and effective relationship is being implemented with them. Another skill that has been used by me is problem-solving skill; this led to support me in solving the problems of the team members. Available alternatives are being evaluated and the best one is selected for solving the problem. In this manner, I have become able to solve the issues of team members and this lead to create support in terms of developing effective interaction with everyone.

Kolb’s Reflective Cycle

This reflective model is based on experimental learning; this model is concerned with three main concepts such as reviewing analysing and evaluating. I will use this model in order to reflect learning’s which gained during module (Kolb’s reflective model, 2023). In-depth analysis will be done through which areas of development can be witnessed and plan will be made accordingly.

Concrete Experience

This is the first stage of model under which the experience needs to be described; there is varied experience that helped me to learn something new during the module. However, the best experience was associated with the group task that was given to me as this led to enhance relationship with self and others as well. I have been given a group task under which we were four members and I was leading the team. It has been learned by me that; team management is one of the most vital element that needs to be focused out in significant manner as this can lead to create negative impact on the final outcomes. I used to think that, team management is an easy task, however, the reality is different and I got to know, team management comes up with multiple responsibilities. Each team member has different needs and requirements which should be evaluated by team leader. Hence, referring this task is being allocated to team members with an aim to ensure timely completion. At initial stage, according to my preference I have divided the tasks between the team members and this led to create major issues. One of the team members was not able to conduct research and he was good in writing however, I gave researching task to him. This led to result in impacting the outcomes and further I had conflict with that team member. Here, I got to know that, it is essential to understand the issues and requirement of the team members and on the basis of this further decision are needed to be taken.

My confidence level has been decreased due to the conflict with team member, I had multiple thoughts in my mind such as- “I cannot become a good leader”. However, the next day when I made direct communication with the team member then, I got to know about his preferences and this supported me in enhancing my EI abilities as well. Afterwards, on the basis of the preferences of team members I have given task to them and this time no one was hesitating and they were contributing in task while making effective coordination.

Here, I can say that, I have used my learning that was gained through leadership theories. The participative leadership theory states that, open communication with team members is essential regarding the development of effectual interaction with them and for motivation as well. Thus, I have used this learning and this led to solve the conflict.

Reflective Observation

Moving towards the second stage of model is comprised with undertaking reflective observation of experience. While analysing the whole situation I got to know about certain parameters which are important to understand as this lead to create in-depth understanding of the ways that needs to be followed. Due to lack of leadership skill I was not able to lead my team at initial stage and this result into creating major issues. There could have been possibility that, conflict does not occurred if I would have focused on analysing the needs and requirements of the team members. Lack of coordination and interaction with team members lead to create the major challenges and due to this I was not able to gain insights that helps in becoming an effective leader. Because of lack of critical analysis skill, I have not taken appropriate decision and as per own preference tasks allocations have been done. While leading the team, first and foremost aspect is to analyse the requirements of team members so, accordingly task could be allocated to them (Goleman, 2021). In this manner, focus can be developed on the desires of team members and accordingly task can be completed. At starting, I was not aware about these aspects and therefore, I have experienced many hurdles.

Shedding light on the concepts which are relevant to my experience is concerned with adopting leadership theories and focusing on emotional intelligence capabilities. There are different types of leadership theories such as- participative, authentic, transactional and so on. I have learnt that participative is one of the best leadership styles which need to be followed as this allows the participation of team members and promotes open communication. When I had conflict with team members afterwards, I have used participative leadership theory and direct communication with the team members has been made and this lead to create effectual coordination in the team. Hence, from this experience I can say that, it is important to provide platform to members so they can put their opinions and thoughts. This results into boosting their morals and initiate effective communication with them. When I tried to initiate direct interaction with the team members then, this helped me to understand them and their queries. I have solved their doubts and this led to enhance the trust between us.

In the context of emotional intelligence, I have learned that, this is linked with managing own emotions so, relationship with self and others can be enhanced. EI is the most effective concept when it comes to leading team (Prada et al, 2022). Within practicing mindfulness I have become able to manage my own emotions and this assisted me in handling my emotions while interacting with team member. Communication skill enabled me to enhance my relationship with team members as I have listened to their opinions and queries and accordingly I have solved it. In this manner I was able to initiate effectual interaction with the team members. This observation has cleared many doubts in my mind and accordingly I will implement plan for future.

Abstract Conceptualization

The team management model given by Tuckman has been learned by me during the module, the similarity between principles and reality is high and I have evaluated this on the basis of my experience (Tuchman’s team management model, 2023). Tuckman’s team management theory comprised with five stages and which are- forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning. I have gained an understanding that; team develops when there is shared leadership and collaborative approach. Emphasising on my experience, I can say that, concepts of tuckman’s model works in real life as well (Abdullahi, Anarfo and Anyigba, H., 2020). Collaboration and leadership plays most important role when it comes to develop effective team and it also helps in creating effective support for team members. Leadership qualities plays most essential role in enhancing the team abilities and when I have adopted appropriate leadership theory then, this lead to provide me effectual support and effective interaction between the team members have been initiated and therefore, I can say that, learning made during module supported me in developing appropriate team coordination. I have learned that, main aspects are related to creating the unity and therefore, it is important to develop specific focus on this area. The unity development has been done by opening up the opportunity for team members so they can communicate in effective manner (Al-Kurdi et al, 2020). The team development is linked with the leadership aspect and this has been experienced by me.

I have gained detailed understanding related to emotional intelligence and this is essential to manage the team. When a person is not able to handle emotions then, this impacts personal and professional life of an individual in drastic manner. Therefore, it is important to develop significant focus on this context so, emotions could be managed in effectual manner. When I started practicing EI and mindfulness then, this led to assist me in terms of creating interaction with other people and therefore, I can say that, it has supported me in effective manner while handling the team. Emotional intelligence helps individuals in terms of developing positive mind-set and this lead to make effective influence on the people with whom an individual work. Same thing has been experienced by me while leading the team (Baba Makhdoomi and Siddiq, 2021). When I have started focusing on EI management then, this lead to initiate positive attitude through which I became able to create positive environment in the team. Thus, it can be depicted that, learning during module supported me in context of understanding the team members and when I have implied this learning then, I got positive results.

The above description is clearly highlighting about the ways in which I have used my learning in order to demonstrate the knowledge which led to develop effective outcomes. Furthermore, this supported me in terms of developing myself from personal and professional parameters. Thereupon, I will use this learning in future as well so, I can become able to implement effective environment for the team members while leading the team. Also, I will use EI strategies for maintaining and handling my emotions so, I can develop relationship with others in effective manner.

Active Experiment

I have used my module learning in order improve the issues and managing the team, however, from my experience I can say that, it is not easy to undertake the practical implementation. It is important to undertake appropriate analysis technique that lead to support in taking appropriate actions. At starting when I have applied my learning at that time I have not got the results, I was trying to implying the leadership theory however, I worked upon it in order to establish an effectual environment so that team members can show their trust towards me. If, I could have used this theory from starting then, the outcomes would be different. I implemented it after the conflict and due to which I was not able to initiate trust between me and team members. After a specific period of time implemented trust with the team members. However, it was not easy for me but patience and practice enabled me to gain effective results. In future as well, I will use my learning so, I can become able to understand the issues and requirements of the team members so, accordingly task can be allocated to them. Engaging with members is important as this helps in analysing the major attributes which might impacts the team efficacy (Tang, 2020). Therefore, I will apply core focus in undertaking engagement with the team members so, I can become able to create appropriate support for them.

In future, I will transfer my learning and practical implication will be done, when I will be given task at my workplace related to leading the team. At that time, meeting would be taken and requirements and preferences of the team members will be analysed. This helps in making the plans so, task allocation can be done and appropriate outcomes could be gain that is highly important for the team members. In this manner, I would become able to develop effective coordination with the team members and effective support can be developed for them so, they feel positive. Apart from this I will take, motivational strategies steps so that members can feel motivated. Moreover, motivation is determined as vital element that helps in creating support for the team members so, they can perform their job role with enhanced productivity and therefore, appropriate focus will be implied on this area. Thus, it can be depicted that this helps me in terms of creating effective environment at the workplace so employees can perform their task in an effectual manner.

The above aforementioned description is highlighting the ways in which I will be using my learning in terms of developing effectual insights. By this, I would become able to gain in-depth understanding about the subject matters accordingly I will provide effective outcomes at the workplace. The reflection enabled me to identify own strengths and areas of development and thereupon, I will implement focus on improving my weaknesses while using my strengths. I am going to make a SMART development plan which assists me in context of improving some of the areas where I am lacking and enable me to grab opportunities in future.

Smart Development Plan

Conclusion

Conclusively; this could be said that, module has assured me numerous opportunities in terms of growing and therefore, I have become able to develop personal and professional insights that are important for future. Furthermore, explanation in context of relationship with self and others has been highlighted that depicts that, EI abilities have been enhanced during the module and task. In order to perform the reflection, Kolb’s reflective model has been used and all the major components are being explained and accordingly SMART development plan has implemented that lead to support in future. Hence, I can say that, I have developed effectual apprehension regarding the ways through which skills can be enhanced.

References

Books and Journals

• Abdullahi, A.Z., Anarfo, E.B. and Anyigba, H., 2020. The impact of leadership style on organizational citizenship behavior: does leaders' emotional intelligence play a moderating role?. Journal of Management Development. 39(9/10). Pp.963-987.
• Al-Kurdi, O.F., El-Haddadeh, R. and Eldabi, T., 2020. The role of organisational climate in managing knowledge sharing among academics in higher education. International Journal of Information Management. 50. pp.217-227.
• Baba, M.M., Makhdoomi, U.M. and Siddiqi, M.A., 2021. Emotional intelligence and transformational leadership among academic leaders in institutions of higher learning. Global Business Review. 22(4). Pp.1070-1096.
• Botelho, N., 2021. Reflection in motion: An embodied approach to reflection on practice. Reflective Practice. 22(2). Pp.147-158.
• Goleman, D., 2021. Leadership: The power of emotional intelligence. More than Sound LLC.
• Lubbadeh, T., 2020. Emotional intelligence and leadership–the dark and bright sides. Modern Management Review, XXV. 27. pp.39-50.
• Prada, E.D., Mareque, M. and Pino-Juste, M., 2022. Teamwork skills in higher education: is university training contributing to their mastery. 35.
• Tang, K.N., 2020. The importance of soft skills acquisition by teachers in higher education institutions. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences. 41(1). Pp.22-27.

Online

• Kolb’s reflective model, 2023. Online. Available through: < https://www.nicole-brown.co.uk/reflective-model-according-to-kolb/ >
• Tuchman’s team management model, 2023. Online. Available through: < https://www.wcupa.edu/coral/tuckmanStagesGroupDelvelopment.aspx >