Self Audit on Leadership Samples for Students †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Self Audit on Leadership. Answer: Introduction Leadership is a process or the capacity to influence and direct the behavior of others towards the accomplishment of set goals or objectives (Careau et al., 2014). It can also be defined as the access art of having an impact on a person or a group of people so that they can willingly and enthusiastically strive towards the achievement of group goals. A leader figure enables employees to work with confidence and zeal since the leader figure facilitates progress and also provide inspiration for the group to achieve set objectives and organizational goals (Schoemaker, Krupp Howland, 2013). Leadership and management are similar concepts (Mason, Griffin Parker, 2014). Consequently, this is because both of them serve their primary function through influencing and working with people. Also, their ideology is embedded on institutional goal accomplishment (Gurdjian, Halbeisen Lane, 2014). It is, however, to point out that leadership may differ from management in more than one ways. The pri mary difference is that the major function of management in any organization is to provide consistency or order in the organization while that of leadership is customized to produce change and growth in the organization. Some other contrasting differences include: Leadership Leadership is known to provide constructive change through providing vision and also setting up strategies that are conducive to change (Rock, 2014). Provides multi-directional influence relationship Leaders aim to work with followers through the use of emotional involvement; they also inspire and empower their subordinates Management Management aims at creating order and stability, this is done through the use of procedures and rules given to subordinates Responsible for accomplishing activities, structure, master routines and placements Managers use low emotional involvement and limited choices when dealing with subordinates Personally, I have always been intrigued by the competence of leadership since I believe that it is essential to enable order and directed change in our social settings. In summary, the difference between the two concepts is: managers are individuals who do things right while leaders are individuals who do the right things. However, it is common to find the two terms being used interchangeably in various modern organizations (Ladegard Gjerde, 2014). To develop myself as a leader, it is important for me to self-reflect and also conducts a personal analysis in both my professional and personal level (Maldonado Vera, 2014). This will comprehensively help me create appropriate strategies and methodologies towards becoming an effective leader. Consequently, my career goal is to become a leader that not only directs but inspires subordinates to dream and became more. Self-Identity Self-identity and perception are usually a concept that is underrated although it plays a central role in potentiality performance. Consequently, this is because the two have a significant influence on personal goals/aspirations, individual feelings, perceptions, and actions. Self-identity is nurtured from an early age, that is, it develops in early childhood and is manipulated with the maturity levels and the life challenges one experience (Garavan, Watson, Carbery Brien, 2016). Just as the commonly used example of the tamed flees circus, most people themselves to believe that they cannot overcome obstacles that cross their paths. In relation, a majority of people who have so much potential limit themselves from fulfilling the maximum outcome of their potential. Coming from an ordinary family, I can relate to the importance of standing out from an average population. My parents were both discipline agents and my siblings, and I ended up having a stricter upbringing than our friends. Consequently, I can credit the sought of upbringing that we had to the person that I am today. When my father was transferred to Karachi, my family had to relocate to a much bigger city which was characterized by a multicultural nature; this was entirely different from our previous environment. After my enrollment in the new college, I knew I had to find a way to express myself better in the midst of other students; I found the challenge daunting yet exciting. At the college level, I indulged more in presentation and speeches through which my self-confidence was boosted. Despite the challenges that came along with unwelcoming colleagues, I managed to pull through by using the skill of emotional intelligence. Until recently, I came to realize that emotional intell igence is paramount in leadership since it is all about negotiating your way in life so as to achieve a win-win situation. Technically, most individuals lack the skill but only focus on intellectual intelligence. It is important to acknowledge that the two variables are equally important. After completion of College, I joined the University and later enrolled for my MBA in HR at a private University. I became more aware of my leadership skills at this level in life, due to the pressure back home for quality grades, I found myself being the class representative of most units so as to be a step ahead of my colleagues. Most of the units also had multiple presentations so I could take up the responsibility of being the team leader. Building teams helped me with social skills and also helped me become a better presenter and a public speaker. As a team leader, I ensured that our team capitalized on skills, experiences and the personalities of its respective members. Also, my primary task was to offer instruction, guidance, and direction to realize expected results. Some of the potential leadership habits I believe to have access in the course of the interaction with the unit teams include free communication of interests and opinions, quality time spent to improve on skills, appreciation of diversity in strengths among team leaders, enhanced commitment and the push for higher standards always. I got employed approximately one and a half years after I graduated from University. Although I started on a very low wage, I had registered for a side hustle in which I worked as a job trainer and also conducted training need analysis. When I was finally promoted to a Human Resource Manager and the wage was increased. As a manager, I have issued 12 employees who were to work directly for me. Subsequently, this was the stage that I have always considered to be my foundation regarding leadership development. The task was complex, but with each passing day, I developed in one way or another. Although I was competent in team leadership, I realized that I lacked in some other areas of leadership. Some of these areas were: conflict resolution, decision making, and responsive skills when faced with threatening situation, time management, empathetic skills and stress management techniques. From that time onwards, those are the areas that I have continuously worked on so as to improve my gen eral outlook as a leader. In relation, I employed two vital tools, that is, self-reflection and constructive criticism to work on the weaknesses. Project Leadership For the success of any project, effective leadership is critical. Projects primarily depend on team performance and good management (Komives Wagner, 2016). In relation, good management is embedded on clear objectives, a clear direction, and formulated goals. With the ever changing landscape of projects, flexibility is an essential attribute, and the best form of leadership technique for this kind of attribute is a combination of situational and transformational leadership. Some of the components of transformational leaders that can help boost project success include: Intellectual stimulation/ curiosity A transformational leader is always willing to learn about what the job market needs, smart leaders are always willing to learn (Ridza Muda, 2014). Inspirational motivation Such leaders inspire and aspire to change organizations. They are evolutionary and are pro-change Ideologies- centered Transformational leaders believe that subordinates cannot change if they do not believe in the change. They believe in new ideas and advocate for employee involvement in ideology mapping Engage psychologically with team members This is achieved by showing consideration and care for his/her subordinates, acting as role figures and intellectually stimulating employees under them. Also, admitting to mistakes and handling mistakes positively makes such leaders to be regarded as genuine and not management caricatures. Personally, I plan to embed my leadership skills on transformational and situational leadership styles. The skills obtained from the mentioned styles are in addition to traditional management skills such as organizing, planning, directing and staffing in a project. In many of the experiences I have had, project managers use some practical elements which are inter-dependent. The very first element is that they create a vision and communicates the vision clearly to the subjects so as to clearly state to them the objectives and institutional goals. After the communication of the vision, a transformational leader is charged with the responsibility of modeling the vision; this helps the intended subordinates to understand what exactly they are in to achieve. The final step is to build commitment to the vision; this step ensures that each person respectively does their part in the project. Project managers also use transactional reward and punishment approach to enhance productivity. It is also important for a project leader to incorporate the use of coaching and affiliative leadership styles. Leaders are coaches and mentors; a coach is an individual with substantial experience, talent and professional stand willing to nature a minor. In this way, it is possible for subordinates to gain their standing. On the other hand, an affiliative style aims at enhancing harmony so as to build more meaningful and connected teams. The two approaches are both team oriented, and goal focused. In summary, successful project leadership involves effective communication, conflict resolution skills, self-awareness and emotional growth (Jordan, Healey Leahy, 2016). Emotional intelligence helps individuals learn to accept change as part of life, set practices right, examine the control of stressful situations and avoid conflicts through enhancing inter-personal relationships (Leitch, McMullan Harrison, 2013). Mature decision making can also be increased through empathy and greater social awareness. With the knowledge at my disposal, I intend to use the important values learned to address social problems that face many of our organizations and bring about change. My genuine interest in leadership is a concept that has positively impacted the quality of my life. Career Path Currently, I am pursuing my MPM, and my experiences in the field have stabilized my desire to become a leader in any renowned NGO organization. I will use the information and skills obtained from my project to pursue my career further and became more competent in the field. I want to participate in many projects in the field of HR and NGO organizations. Also, I am hoping that I will work for government agencies in making schools and building hospitals, in this regards, my particular interests are to become a successful project manager. Simply put, this fits in well with some of my personal life goals, one of them being an effective servant leader capable of making transformational changes in the society (Bliss, Pecukonis Snyder-Vogel, 2014). One of the basic foundations that I have set to achieve this is the establishment of a small girls school in my hometown that I run. In five years time from now, I intend to have my own NGO in which I can access social network to share and find people with common interests which are bringing positive change to the society. My primary aim, however, remains to be a leader in the entire process of my career path. Skills From my self-audit, I have learned that I have strengths in diverse areas that are sought for by employers. In the same measure, however, I have also come across areas of weakness that may need to be worked on; the weaknesses include communication skills and openness to experience (McCleskey, 2014). However, regarding project management skills, I have strengths in planning, scheduling of resources and time management. I am also tactful, diplomatic, exercise high levels of integrity, posses conceptual skills, and administrative ability (Carter et al., 2016). On the other hand, some of the sought out skills include resiliency, task confidence attitudes and high levels of commitments (Nohria Khurana, 2013). The strategies through which I intend to develop these attributes is outlined in the table below. Leadership Mission My leadership mission is simple, I have set a customized structure which is to be more self-aware, be an honest and a trustworthy leader. As a leader, integrity is also very essential since it enacts behaviors that enhance the development of trust in an organization through positive communication and equal treatment for all (Day et al., 2014). As a result, it is important for me to be part of an organization that has high regards for its employees. Subsequently, this can be reflected through encouraging growth and striking a balance to address the needs of individual employees and the organizations (Hezlett, 2016). My career aim is embedded on the love for my community; this is to lead innovative and exciting projects that will benefit the society as a whole. To achieve this, I will need to work extra hard and approach challenges in life with a healthier approach. Key work relationship Key work relationships in my current role are comprised of my immediate supervisor, the companys CEO and the other employees. There is a positive correlation between positive interpersonal relations and work productivity. My professional relationship with my immediate supervisor is important in my general performance at work. In relation, it is important for me to develop more strategies to enhance the relationship effectively. I seek to improve this relationship through working on a pleasant personality, exercise loyalty and commitment to the job, accept constructive criticism and seek to learn more. I will also strive to create greater rapport with the CEO. Subsequently, this is achievable through effective communication, being diligent in my work, self-discipline, be methodological and exercise self-management. Finally, my relationship with the fellow employees is equally important in enhancing my productivity. Since I have always been a socially competent person, I believe that t he relationship at this level will not be a major challenge in nurturing (DuBrin, 2015). Some of the aspects I will be keen on include: teamwork, problem-solving techniques, having a compassionate and concerned attitude. Other skills include emotional intelligence, maintain a positive attitude so as to be easy to work with, accept positive criticism and finally maintain the golden rule which is forgiven rather than revenge since the relationship at this level is less formal as compared to the other two. Review of strengths and Development needs LEADERSHIP DEVELPOMENT PLAN TOPIC GOAL METHORD TIMEFRAME Read more about leadership skills and how to enhance them Develop effective strategies into efficient leadership an example being Steve Jobs (Apple) (Abraham, 2014) Leadership Study influential and global known elders e.g through TED talks Enhance habits such as integrity and commitment Ongoing Read and try to emulate biographies of influential leaders Self-awareness Develop effective responses through self-awareness and enhanced interpersonal relationships Lay more focus on empathy, active listening and challenging task so as to improve self-performance Ongoing Emotional Intelligence Enhance emotional intelligence Understand my emotions and that of others through personal competence in the face of discomfort Weekly Interpersonal skills Enhance relationship development through strategies such as authentic dialogue Learn effective communication and organizational skills, make things happened rather than watching them happen, develop group peer mentorship Ongoing Personal relations Build constructive and positive relations with colleagues Show concern for peoples personal need and be a comfortable person to work with 3months Mentoring Seek a personal coach and mentor Derive quality skills from the personal experiences of the selected mentor 2 months Politics Learn how to interrelate with politics and maintain authencity Examine the concept of Machiavellian psychothetic behaviors so as to learn additional and positive ways of building alliance 3 months Conflict Develop conflict resolution skills so as to lay focus on a win-win situation for the conflicting parties Define the nature of the organizational conflict and find suitable strategies to avoid them Ongoing Stress Develop stress management techniques Learn to accept change as part of life and the nature work, live a healthy lifestyle Ongoing REVIEW OF STRENGTHS DEVELOPMENT NEEDS STRENGTHS DEVELOPMENT NEEDS I normally exercise high levels of competence in tasks but.. Need to separate the concept of confidence from arrogance CHARACTER I am well versed with the Business environment but .. Need to conduct periodic audits and analysis to determine authencity I feel like I need to be an effective role model but Would like to uphold and maintain professional control EXPERIENCE I have moved from junior to senior management in all my previous jobs but. Still needs to be equipped with leadership and management skills I have diligently worked for a number of big organizations but Still needs to develop relevant experiences in parallel labor force MINDSET I am good at intellectual stimulation but.. Need to focus on the skill more as an individual developing strategy rather than a tool performance I am good with team leadership but Need to focus more on the team than rather than myself as the group leader Always push for the highest possible standards but. Feel the need to focus on strength rather than weakness SKILLS I have considerable organizing skills but Would like to develop a office routine that is productive and reliable I have essential skills in communications but.. Feel the need to adjust communication strategies to suit diverse audience Summary The leadership self-development plan and the preceding self-analysis have been extremely useful in helping me unfold some of the most valued leadership skills, development needs, and expectations. The exercise has not only aided me in formulating a clear vision for myself but also changed my general outlook and perception of leadership (Sutherland, 2013). Also, I have realized that a self-analysis on ones background and experiences can be an ultimate answer to some of the life conflicts we face in life. Subsequently, this is because our experiences shape our personality and attitudes hence influencing how we perceive life (Certo, 2015). In summary, this leadership development plan provides a clear guideline that I can comprehend to enhance my professional performance and also build my confidence as a transformational leader. Also, the development plan has helped to identify the values and qualities that I seek for in any potential employer hence reconciling the importance of life-wor k balance. References Abraham, M. (2014). Five Leadership skills that made Steve Jobs transform Apple. Bliss, D. L., Pecukonis, E., Snyder-Vogel, M. (2014). Principled leadership development model for aspiring social work managers and administrators: Development and application. Human Services Organizations Management, Leadership Governance, 38(1), 5-15. Careau, E., Biba, G., Brander, R., Van Dijk, J. P., Verma, S., Paterson, M., Tassone, M. (2014). Health leadership education programs, best practices, and impact on learners' knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors and system change: a literature review. 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