Leadership In Action Assignment Sample

Leadership In Action

Introduction of Leadership In Action Assignment Sample

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A leader who generally applies his or her personal skills to develop and influence an entire team can enhance its effectiveness and productivity. In the organization, a contemporary leader plays a vital role in inspiring team members so that they contribute to business development and achieve collective goals. A traditional leader contributes to the business growth of an organization with personality traits like willingness, decision-making and problem-solving abilities. The current study will be evaluating various contemporary management and leadership styles and the experiences gained from them. Gibbs' reflective model has been used to determine the vitality of professional learning and the strategies that can be incorporated to further improve leadership and management styles.

Leadership and contemporary management style

Leadership is one of the important manage-mental functions that lead the organization and its resources to improve their efficiency and effectiveness to achieve the mission of the organization. Effective managements and leaders can motivate, guide, and provide the organization with “clarity of purpose” to determine and set its mission. Proper management and leadership styles can help the company to achieve success both at the national and international levels and enter new market segments[1]. In my opinion, leadership has a direct effect and cause on the relationship between the company and its business profits. I believe that contemporary leaders mainly determine culture, effective team works, enhance the value of a business, motivate the team members, and even change the tolerance. As per records, it has been found that leadership skills like creativity usually develop a team by 15%, decision-making ability helps in team productivity by 5% and creating cooperation between team members enhances performance by 25%. [2]Leaders also help to shape the strategies of the organization by incorporating effectiveness and employee engagement. While working in a group on various management projects I got to know that an effective leader boosts the morale of the entire team, and motivates team members to work efficiently to deliver resourceful work[3]. Leaders also implement clear values and visions that benefit the project teams with encouragement, and the effective team works. I also think that a leader provides relevant resources and ensures active communication and collaboration with the project team.

Leadership effectiveness

(Source: Alatawi, 2017)

In my opinion, management style can change the workplace culture of every organization by incorporating peace, a discrimination-free environment, employee engagement, and enhance business profitability and productivity.

Blake-Mouton’s Managerial Grid theory

(Source: Sobratee et al. 2018)

According to “Blake-Mouton’s Managerial Grid” theory, it can be stated that a leader can motivate and encourage their team members to increase team efficiency and productivity which can also provide the company with value and business profit. An effective style of management can also help a team to achieve its goals and mission as it empowers the members and create a high job or work satisfaction[4]. Incorporating an effective manage-mental style can enhance workers' performance, and morale, by 48% providing the company with growth opportunities at the international level[5]. I have realized that the best manage-mental styles that can be implemented to manage a project team are remaining loyal to preferences, incorporating flexible working hours, and effective communication amongst the team members. The Human Relations theory of management can be referred to as improving management and leadership skills. The guidelines of this theory can easily eliminate discrimination, and conflicts, and enhance teamwork and morale.

Gibbs Reflective module and professional learning

Reflection on experience

One of the key aspects of professional and personal development is a reflection that the leaders must undertake to keep a pace with the constant change in practice nature to maintain value and increase team effectiveness. The current study highlights the five major stages of Gibbs’ Reflective cycle, such as feelings, analysis, description, evaluation, action plan, and conclusion[6]. I have got to know that this reflective cycle works as a framework for determining the experience gained by a professional from past activities. In order to become an efficient leader, a professional must learn from his or her past mistakes after evaluating their experiences. While working in a team I have faced various challenges due to improper collaboration and communication with other members. I believe that every team needs to have effective communication among team members to deliver the best results.

 Gibbs’ Reflective cycle

(Source: Alatawi, 2017)

The leader with his managerial skills was trying to handle every challenging situation, but sometimes misunderstood concepts due to effective communication. As per the description, of the stage of Gibbs’ Reflective model, it can be stated that after evaluating this situation the leader should take the necessary steps to successfully complete the project[7]. In the next stage, feelings state that leaders with their managerial style and skills must incorporate effective communication in a team to enhance performance and workers' engagement. I believe that the evaluation stage is vital to understanding the conflict issues among the team members and it also helps to generate new thoughts and ideas after evaluating the situations.

The analysis stage helped me to analyze the situation and the experience that I have gained during my work in a project team. This st5age has also helped me to acquire a clear concept of what challenges a team may face if it does not have effective communication and collaboration among the team members. It also allows the professionals to learn from their mistakes and gradually develop as a leader who can efficiently support, coach, direct, and delegate their team embers increasing the effectiveness of the team. In the conclusion stage, the professionals can summarize the knowledge and ideas that they have gained from their experience or current works[8]. In my opinion, to become an efficient professional or leader I need to be more creative, think logically, and must improve my decision-making and problem-solving abilities. Their managerial skills are much different from others as they have more patience and remain loyal to the team. An efficient leader also thinks about team members’ well-being and always tries to build a strong bond by motivating and encouraging them. Action plan stage, highlight my thought on improving my decision-making and problem-solving abilities within 3 consecutive months to become more successful in handling tough situations than others. I have also thought of improving my communication skills by socializing more and joining an English learning class can also help to enhance my vocabulary within 6 months. In order to work within a leading organization and growth as a leader, one must have the potential to handle challenging situations with patience and remain dedicated and committed to their job.

Learning process

Effective professional learning processes are often characterized by “powerful communication and collaboration” and are determined as the systematic learning process. In order to improve leadership and managerial styles, the professional must learn various leadership and manage-mental skills that can help in the betterment of teamwork by enhancing productivity, morale, and values. In my opinion, five theories need to be followed in professional learning processes such as humanism, behaviorism, connectionism, cognitive, and constructivism[9]. Other learning theories also help an individual to improve his or her managerial skills and grow as a leader such as social, experiential, and transformative learning theories.

I believe that I can grow and develop as an efficient professional if I remain involved in continuous learning and training in manage-mental studies and attend internships in several professional and leading companies. Working in projects teams can also help me to gain various team managements ideas and will enhance my data-analysis skills. Job performance and potential of a professional can also be improved if they involve themselves in frequent training programmers and online manage-mental courses[10]. Learning efficiency can also be enhanced by researching thoroughly the topic before going into the project works. An individual can also grow as a leader by getting them involved in “skill-based” training which will help them to become more creative in their work. Training business management can also improve logical and critical thinking abilities. I believe that if I can acquire effective professional and managerial skills I will be provided with more work responsibilities or duties than others, which can increase my experience level and will make me ready for the future.

 Phases of Professional learning and development

(Source: Sobratee et al. 2018)

There are several effective stages that a professional can follow to grow and develop as a leader. Those stages are building a proper base of knowledge and ideas, observing learning models and they're relating them to real-life situations, and reflective self-practice with the learning models.

Professionals need to gain various experiences and learn from their past mistakes, to grow as successful businessmen in the upcoming days[11]. Other stages also highlight that after evaluating the situations, and identifying the issues and challenges faced, it is important for a professional to change their manage-mental style or strategies. I think that apart from these criteria I can develop as an efficient professional by communicating, socializing, and collaborating more while working in a team on a project. Communicating witty my team members helps to gain new ideas and knowledge, and also allows me to share my opinions, strategies, creative ideas, and thoughts with others.  Collaboration and efficient communication can also raise the value and image of an individual and teach them how to talk logically in public to avoid neglect.

Strategies for improving management styles through self-reflection

Various strategies can be followed to improve the leadership and managerial styles such as building trust within the team. [12]Decision-making and problem-solving abilities are the two most important skills a leader or a manager must have to lead a team and enhance its performance.

strategies to improve Leadership style

(Source: Alatawi, 2017)

In my opinion, in order to improve managerial skills every individual must strengthen their decision-making and data analysis skills. An effective leader or manager should know how to analyze a complex issue that arises in business and implement relevant plans or strategies to dissolve that problem. I also have thought of cultivating self-awareness programs if I get an opportunity to lead a project team. Self-awareness is essential for a leader or manager as it helps to get a clarification of self-ability and potentiality[13]. This is also considered the core tent of emotional intelligence that can be incorporated as a strategy for improving management style. Emotional intelligence needs honest evaluation and introspection of professionals’ weaknesses and strengths. Another strategy that can also help to develop a management style is building trusting relationships among the team members. I have observed that better communication and collaboration among the team members can improve bonds and allow them to understand each other falling and emotional well-being. A good understanding among the team members can eliminate conflict, misunderstanding and discrimination.

Strong communication and collaboration are determined as the hallmark of an efficient leadership or managerial style. I believe that leading a team is not an easy task and it is much necessary to tackle several complex businesses issues by ensuring that the project team has the required tools, resources, and information for becoming successful in the project. I have witnessed that in a challenging situation like “navigational change in the project”, team members share their vision and ideas that benefited the entire team from “impending transition”. Continuous updates from the manager or the leader or a project team can help the project work to end before the deadline and deliver a better outcome[14]. I think that leaders must give feedback to their team members after the completion of the project as it can help them to understand their weakness and strengths and to enhance the performance in the upcoming days. Through performance assessment I can also identify my weaknesses and strengths that can help me to learn from my mistakes and improve my manage-mental skills. I have noticed that while conducting project individuals often come into stress and cannot handle the workload. As a solution, to reduce the work pressure, I think stress-management must be done where each member must ask about their experience and proportion they think need to be improved. Every member in a project must take care of each other’s emotional wellness, support and encourages themselves in work.

Learning insight: Analysis

Leadership is mentioned as the capability of a group of individuals to impact and guide the followers or other organisational members. Leadership within an organisation helps to encourage confidence and trust in distinct group members. Learning leadership helps in teaching the skills that are required to lead efficiently where an individual can enhance morale and ensure efficient interaction with others[15]. Through leadership, a person can set the goals and implement vision and values for the betterment of the organisation. I have found the module quite interesting where multiple facts about leadership are critically demonstrated. I do not possess adequate knowledge of leadership skills and competencies which I think I need to improve for enhancing my professional efficiency. Effective leaders have the capability to interact well, encourage the team, delegate and handle the liabilities of the team and possess the flexibility to mitigate issues in the ever-transforming workplace.

In the module training, different styles are represented and in-depth analysis has been provided. I have found many of the styles and their application of theories in real life is quite interesting. Some leadership styles that are discussed in the module are autocratic, authoritative, democratic, coaching, affiliative and laissez-faire. Among all the taught leadership styles, I find the "authoritative leadership style" to be quite interesting where authoritative leaders take the most of the time to illustrate their comprehension to the others. The authoritative leadership style permits the choice and autonomy on how to accomplish the goals unlike the autocratic styles of leadership.[16] At the time of learning, a team was formed to provide a presentation on a certain topic and I have acknowledged that a leader is required to lead the team. In the team, different members have distinct opinions which have created a clash and delay in the work process. In this context, authoritative leaders can be more effective as the leaders utilising this style of leadership generally tends to be more confident.

It is demonstrated that the leader following this style of leadership maps the path and sets a certain amount of expectations while energising and engaging the followers along the path. I have acknowledged from the facts of discussion from the module that the "authoritative leadership style" is also termed visionary leadership where the leaders assist the people to see where the organisation is rising and what is going to occur when the followers reach a certain point. I tend to represent the best example of my personal life in the debate as the leaders of the authoritative leadership style are highly efficient in uncertain and changing times.

Representing one instance of the "Authoritative leadership style" of my past experience in the classroom where I belong to a team in which I have to play the role of Ramayana character and the character was interesting. Authoritative leaders do not provide the team with instructions only and the leaders following this style tend to set themselves in certain scenarios and work accordingly.[17] The problem lies with me in that I am unaware of the character to enact better on the stage. The leader, who is one of the teachers of my school, does not just provide me with the instruction but helps me to enact and adopt throughout the scenario with the approach of "come with me". Many benefits of using authoritative leadership in the leadership style have occurred in the debate at module training. I realised that an "authoritative leader" helps to motivate the team, and enhance the cultural components and designs of the work.

One of the major advantages of authoritative leadership demonstrated by the module teacher is that this style of leadership is essential for forming strong connections and inspiring the facts of collaboration. Encouraging the team members helps the team to represent more creativity which further leads to innovation. [18]However, the independence of the team members often becomes pricey to the authoritative leaders as they come under pressure from the organisation hierarchy which can be a major disadvantage. The authoritative leadership may be the reason for the "instability feeling" by disrupting the status quo.[19] Apart from this issue, I have found that this leadership style may not be suitable for a culture to those organisations that are still following conventional hierarchy culture. This debate and comparison of the different styles of leadership have helped me to focus on my weakness and strength.

I have understood the theories along with the styles of leadership which have provided me with more in-depth knowledge regarding the context. I have observed that I lack many skills while comprehending the styles of leadership. The weaknesses that I obtained are that I do not have adequate knowledge of Problem-solving skill, critical thinking skill, management skill and time management skill. However, I possess strength in my communication skills. Different theories are mentioned in the module training in which “Transformational leadership theory and situational leadership theory” has been quite impressive to me. Transformational leadership theory is mentioned as the approach where the leaders do their job with the followers or teams beyond their immediate “self-interest” to recognise the required transformation. [20]My module leader has helped me and provided me with the guidance to go through the different leadership theories that are mentioned before.

A transformational leader makes the vision in guiding the transformation through execution, and inspiration and influences the transfiguration in tandem with the committed group members. I have understood from this theory that a transformational leader could create the organisation more successful by valuing the associates. Different factors to transformational leadership are “idealised influence”, “Inspirational motivation”, “individual consideration” and “intellectual stimulation”.[21] I have comprehended those efficient transformational leadership consequences in performance that exceeds the expectation of the organisation. I have also realised that every element of transformational leadership is positively associated with organisational and individual performance. Transformational leaders possess the important qualities which are powerful models with high moral values. I have obtained from this theory that this approach performs as a transforming agent within the organisation by setting an instance of the manner to implement and initiate the transformation.

Transformational leadership is defined as the capability to obtain people who want to transform, develop and be led. Other than transformational leadership theory, situational leadership is reflected as the best leadership theory as it works based on the circumstances. This leadership approach demonstrates that no individual style of leadership is the best. Situational leadership approaches rely on the leadership type and strategies that are most suitable for the task. [22]In situational leadership theory, the maturity level of the leader is more in comparison to other leaders who are following distinct leadership types and styles. The maturity level in leadership is the calculation of the ability of an individual to show the willingness to finish the task[23]. In my past experience, I have experienced certain issues with the leader where I find that an individual can make decisions based on the situation. Hence, in the module training, I have critically developed the facts of situational leadership and understand the facts.

Situational leadership represents flexibility and a comfortable environment for employees and maximises the consciousness of the leader. I have realised that the situational approach of leadership helps the team to do their jobs collaboratively through module learning. However, certain disadvantages are also reflected which states that this theory of leadership focuses on more immediate requirements in comparison to the long-term requirements. The situational approach of leadership is forced to stick to corporate dependency as no such process or structure is followed. [24]Another disadvantage lies with the situational approach is that it provides inadequate information to the leaders and is quite challenging in describing maturity.

The facts about leadership are quite interesting and I have understood and explored several theories and styles throughout the module learning. I have acknowledged my strength and weakness through the learning insight which has provided me with the opportunity to develop my skills and competencies. I have understood that comprehending appropriate staples of leadership and application of theory in real life based on skills and competencies can assist in motivating the team, and boost the elements of culture within an organisation and structure of the work. In an organisation, motivation is extremely important for every individual to work properly and effectively for the accomplishment of the organisation's objectives and goals[25]. Leadership in action within an organisation can help effective leaders to form the bridges between action and knowledge and they perform rapidly whenever it is necessary.

SMART Recommendation

Conclusion

The study has critically focused on reflective writing based on the learning module on “Leadership in action". Reflective writing is referred to as the analytical practice in which the author defines the imaginary or real scene, interaction or event. In this study, the contemporary styles of leadership are analysed with a thorough illustration which provides immense information. In demonstrating the reflection, "Gibbs reflective cycle" has been used to provide the reflection on the knowledge gained in particularised context. A learning insight on understanding the matter has been provided where the interesting facts obtained from the learning module are critically stated. The weaknesses and strengths are identified based on the learning in the module. Aftermath, SMART recommendations are provided in the study based on the obtained strengths and weaknesses.

References

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Sánchez, M., & Wang, D. Carrying the ball: A portrait of leadership in urban rooftop agriculture. Journal of Living Architecture. Retrieved from : https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michael-Sanchez-28/publication/342789534_Carrying_the_ball_A_portrait_of_leadership_in_urban_rooftop_agriculture/links/60009510299bf14088946093/Carrying-the-ball-A-portrait-of-leadership-in-urban-rooftop-agriculture.pdf

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Websites

Cpdonline, 2022. About Different leadership styles. Retrieved from: https://cpdonline.co.uk/knowledge-base/business/different-leadership-styles/ [Retrieved on: 18th April, 2022]