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Strategic analysis essay
The relationship between leadership styles
Strategic analysis essay
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Professional Challenge Project
Overview
Many view leadership as an action or an event versus a method of interacting and engaging others on a daily basis. My personal leadership style as an outward demonstration of the values that I hold most dear. Being that my personal leadership style is a melding of the values of Spirituality, Family, Leadership, Learning, Trust, Responsibility and Accountability, leadership for me is who I am. I want to use who I am to develop and inspire others, establish long-lasting relationships, and be recognized, trusted and respected for my planning and decision making. My mission in life and in work is to make a difference in the lives of others by living, leading, caring and sharing. I will use every learning and experience in my Capella journey to build on the leadership skills I currently possess.
The case study and readings in this class have painted a clear picture of the various ways one can be a leader, the catalyst that has inspired the least likely to lead to action and the many different capacities in which one is a leader. From the parent whose child is the victim of abuse to the CEO of a major corporation, leadership can spring forth and blaze trails never imagined by others. I learned that on my journey to executive leadership, I can begin leading in my current capacity as an analyst. I do not need to wait to be given the “thumbs up” to lead, as I can be a leader in many ways everyday. Leadership is not about magnificent speaking or major endeavors, “it is about coping with change” (Kotter, p.31, 2003). We all are subject to situation dealing with change daily, it is all about how we cope with it and how others interpret and accept our coping skills.
My learnings in this class have...
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...r and as a leader of the future. As stated by Peter Senge in his article Communities of Leaders and Learners, future leaders will come from diverse teams and individuals responsible for creating the organizations future (P. 30, 1997). By virtue of these two action plans, I am creating my own future as well as potentially the future of SYSCO Corporation.
References
Drucker, P.F. (1999). Managing oneself. Harvard Business Review,
77(2).64.
Kotter,J.P. (1999). John P. Kotter on what leaders really do.
Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
Kouzes, J.M., & Posner, B.Z. (2002). The leadership challenge (3rd ed.).
New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Senge, P.M. (1997). Looking ahead: Implications of the present.
Harvard Business Review, 75 (5), 18-32.
Swinburne, P. (2001). How to use feedback to improve performance. People
Management, 7 (11), 46.
The topic of leadership has been explored and written about by thousands of authors who are considerably more qualified than I am to write about the subject. However, I’ve always maintained that developing, evolving and articulating one’s own leadership philosophy is an essential part of a professional’s growth. Through academics and experience, I’ve concluded that leadership is a “soft” skill, more art than science, and that leadership principles can be universally applied. As a topic of discussion, leadership can be ambiguous and seldom does everyone agree on a single definition. Organizations and the people they consist of crave leadership, even if not overtly. Undeniably, strong leadership is essential to achieving
Leadership at times can be a complex topic to delve into and may appear to be a simple and graspable concept for a certain few. Leadership skills are not simply acquired through position, seniority, pay scale, or the amount of titles an individual holds but is a characteristic acquired or is an innate trait for the fortunate few who possess it. Leadership can be misconstrued with management; a manager “manages” the daily operations of a company’s work while a leader envisions, influences, and empowers the individuals around them.
The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner (2007) is the result of twenty years of research on the factors that influence and create great leadership. Through studies and stories from leaders with various backgrounds throughout the world, the practices and characteristics that create great leadership are delineated. Leadership is viewed not as a group of inherent characteristics, but as learned behavior that anyone can achieve. The goal of Kouzes and Posner’s book is to inspire and educate leaders through transformational leadership. As such, leadership is about mobilizing others to become and do extraordinary things.
Denise Rousseau took a descriptive approach in explaining psychological contract while David Guest was more analytical about the term “psychological contract”. David gave a more detailed and in depth analysis of psychological contract. Also he was able to expand in more details Rousseau’s analysis of psychological contract.
Seemingly, there is much confusion surrounding the use of the concept leadership, especially when defining how the different types of leadership have influenced HRM. Preedy (1993:143) views leadership as the initiation of new structures or procedures for accomplishing an organization’s goals and objectives. If maintenance of goals and objectives is more important here, then this aspect can be favorably compared to the definition of management provided by Westhuizen, V. (1991:39). He defines management as the "accomplishment of desired objectives by establishing an environment favorable to performance by people operating in desired groups. Leadership can be defined as the ability to persuade others willingly to behave differently. Leadership
The leadership is a privilege and it is such a privilege and an honor which will carry the tremendous responsibility which will inspire others to direct them to accomplish goals and vision of the organization. Leadership is about influencing the people, by producing direction, purpose and motivating in order to accomplish the mission, vision and improving the organization. The leadership philosophy is evolved based on the experiences, both positive and negative, in most of the initiatives and activities that we undertake. It is also one among the collaboration and teamwork within which the team members can utilize each other’s strengths to counter the weaknesses of the individuals. By observing, introspecting and experimenting we can developed a leadership paradigm which is inclusive, collaborative and proactive. We can develop the ability to recognize which will approach in order to reach the productive conclusion. The great leaders know their limitations and are capable at utilize their strengths and also the strengths of others to compensate.
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2012). The leadership challenge: How to make extraordinary
Leadership can be shown through any person in any type of situation. In a classroom discussion, on the playing field, or in public a sign of a leader is evident. A person is born a leader. Certain humans know what to do when the time calls for it. Many people in positions can be entitled a leader such as basketball players. Even a famous movie star can be given this title. These people are not true leaders. True leaders are the belaboring teachers and the intellectual speakers. These are the people who show that leadership is an action, not a position.
As a person who is for the most part uncomfortable with change, it is important that I find ways be a leader in a world that is ever changing. In order to be the best and most prepared leader as possible, it is necessary to be aware of one’s core identity and the values, talents, and strengths that are included in this. Consistent with the indications of Vaill’s term, “permanent white water”, the tendency of the world to change is unavoidable and “continual”. We as leaders must find ways to adapt and acclimate ourselves to these situations. Through the discovery of my core values, talents, leadership style, I will be able to develop an action plan to transform my talents into strengths and use leadership techniques to best accommodate my ambitions.
Although there are many outstanding, albeit necessary qualities of a good leader, it is the leader’s beliefs in which greatness is given its first breath, fostered by action, and spread throughout the institution. A great leader believes in encouraging, not destroying; in setting the precedence instead of yielding to prominence ; in collaboration, not division; in giving, not taking; and in having high standards and volunteering to be the first of many to be held to them. A great leader does not take advantage of the people being lead, but instead, creates an advantage for the people by giving them the opportunities to lead. Only when people take ownership of an institution will passion be cultivated, action be taken, and greatness be achieved.
Leaders will no matter what have an influence on our world. They have missions, dreams and ambition, and with these things they are bound to go far. For leaders, what makes these dreams come true is having strong qualities such as leadership practices, values and strengths. If developed and learned how to use correctly, these are what take leaders to the next level and accomplish great things. In the following paper I will talk about leadership in our ever-changing world, explore my leadership practices, values and strengths as well as elaborate on the goals I have made to challenge myself as a leader.
Organizations have leaders who are effective and ineffective. Many of us want to be leaders but, do we have what it takes to be effective or are we going to be ineffective. Leaders are people who build their organization and employees up. Ineffective leaders are those who only care about getting a check. This paper will discuss effective and ineffective leaders. The effective and ineffective leaders I have had the pleasure to work with.
In order to be a good manager or leader you must have good communication skills. Communication is everything when trying to accomplish many things; including teaching and guiding people within the workplace. In order to lead and build a progressing team of employees or successful group a manager or leader must be able to listen to their trainees needs, pay attention to what they excel in and what they may need improvement in. Building a game plan of how to help them succeed in areas that need improvement is a step in being a good and active leader.
Many people associate leadership with a specific job title or form of power within an organization. However, through personal experience, I have concluded that leadership can come in many forms and position as well as from multiple sources of roles and job titles both with and without power. Based on the definition of leadership, anyone can be considered a leader as long as they have the ability to influence people to achieve a particular result or goal which benefits the organization or group as a whole. Individuals with a secure sense of self and understanding, acceptance of diversity within an organization tend to be the strongest leaders that not only make others want to follow, but they also encourage other leaders to gravitate to their
Leaders of the future will be faced with many challenges. As the world changes, we must adapt the ways in which we face these challenges, and in turn grow as leaders. A leader is not merely someone which commands a group or organization. A good leader exhibits the ability to take an average team of individuals and achieve greatness. Leadership is not supervision or leading. It is the ability to inspire or influence others towards the end goal. As Barendsen and Gardner stated (2006), “the best leaders are individuals who, in their work, exhibit three distinct meanings of good: (1) an excellent technical and professional quality and competence, (2) an ethical orientation, and (3) a completely engaged sense of fulfillment and meaningfulness” (p. 266). Good leaders must utilize all of these traits in order to meet the challenges of the future. A few emerging challenges that future