MBA 670: Organizational Behavior and Leadership
Final Exam - May 5th, 2014
Alanfal Kutbi
1. What are the most important leadership skills and how are they learned?
Leaders are those who have the ability to inspire others toward a common goal. There are many leadership skills that leaders can learn to lead effectively. These include the ability to serve as a role model and set an example for the followers, having confidence and knowing ones strength and weaknesses, ability to listen to others and communicate ideas effectively, be committed to others and help delegate and motivate them. Each of the skills are discussed in more detail next as well as why are they important and how they are learned.
First, one of the most important skills that leaders can learn is to lead by setting an example and serve as a role model for others. That is because it is an effective way to show others how to properly conduct a business. One way to lead by setting the example is by imagining oneself as part of a group, helping in where needed and making sure that the work is clearly understood by the team. To set an example, a leader may already have a specific set of traits in which believes to makes a good leader and how to best lead others; thus follow that example and evaluate oneself when dealing with others or he/she could follow an example of a successful influential figure and lead others following that example.
Second, another important leadership skill that leaders can learn is confidence. A leader has to plan ahead, have confidence and knowledge in what he/she is doing in order for others to trust and follow. Although there may be times where there might be uncertainties and things do not usually go as planned, leaders has to be well com...
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... leader can do to create successful organization change. Usually, when people are asked to perform differently, they need support and feedback to know whether they are on the right track. It could also give them motivation to work better and encourage others to follow. Leaders’ feedback and attitude toward how to deal with others after a change can determine if team members continue to strive for improvement; thus, successful organization change.
To conclude, for leaders to create organization change, it requires some important factors. First, clearly define the business objectives the change would deliver. Then, understand the organization culture and its capabilities. At the end, see how the change will impact others, state clear reasons why change is needed, follow up and monitor others. These can enable leaders to take the necessary steps for successful change.
Leadership can be defined as the ability of a superior to influence the behavior of a minor or group and persuade them to follow a particular course of action. A leader sets a course of action and ensures that everyone follows the action. Leading can apply to leading oneself, other individuals, groups, organizations and societies. The nature of how leading is done depends on the framework of the situation, one's point of view, and on the nature and needs of those involved. While leadership is learned, the skills and knowledge processed by the leader are influenced by their traits, such as beliefs, values, ethics, and most importantly character.
Many definitions exist on what leadership is. Despite the many differences in definitions, they all describe the leader as someone who influences others. Leaders transform individuals around them allowing them to work to their full potential. In order for a leader to be successful they must be knowledgeable, self- confident, and effective communicators. These characteristics will create a positive workplace environment that results in an increase in productivity. Leadership is not defined by titles or salary. Leaders must acquire their skills and continue to improve on them through learning. Good leaders provide a vision and help motivate others to make that vision happen. The leader must be effective and successful in creating a strong institution.
Change is a double-edged sword (Fullan, 2001). Change is a word that might inspire or put fear into people. Leadership is challenging when it comes to dealing with change and how individuals react within the organization to the change. Marzano, McNulty, and Waters (2005) discuss two orders of change in their book School Leadership that Works; first and second. Fullan (2001) also adds to the discussion in his book Leading in a Culture of Change, with regard to understanding change. In Change Leadership, Keagan and Wagner (2006) discuss many factors of change and the systematic approach to change. Change affects people in different ways. Leaders need to be able to respond to the individuals throughout the change process.
Leaders should lead by example. What a leader does and how they do it, serves as an example for others to follow. A leader’s behavior and actions are an important and effective way to influence the behavior of the people the lead. Leaders must treat other with dignity and respect. Leaders take responsibility for their actions, maintain their integrity by doing the right things and develop personable and commutative vision for their organizations. Leaders instill a sense of discipline; enforce organizational standards of the organization and do not turn a blind eye or overlook problems.
With most leaders, leadership cannot be taught, but learned through experience and ingenuity. Learning from mistakes is one of the greatest ways to obtain knowledge as an individual is able to develop the wisdom to make good decisions and choices for the organization. While making the wrong decisions leads an individual to obtain experience from his failures. He is able to use this experience to make good decisions because he is conscious of his mistake and know what to do in order to not make it happen again. Experience is one of the best tools to become a leader as the wisdom obtained from it serves as a guide to making good decisions. Secondly, a leader’s personality can determine his leadership style and his willingness to be a leader. With a high degree of certain personality traits, a leader is able to be formed as a high degree in these traits allow him to be able to handle a number of factors. To become an effective leader an individual must be able to adapt from his mistakes and inspirational to execute ideal decisions that can move an organization forward.
In order for a leader to be a leader he/she must begin with the assumption that you are the one who matters most. As a leader you have to possess that level of confidence in yourself that you are capable of leading yourself “before you can lead others”. And when you develop this belief then you are better able of affirmative influence “on others”.
A solid theoretical foundation is required to lead and manage change. For efficient and effective change to take place it must be intentional. Leadership set the tone and the direction of an organization allowing it or hindering it to change and adapt. Leader can use tactics and skills to create an organic change environment with the right change models and interventions when the organization is most ready for change.
To be a leader you need to be able to inspire others, get people motivated, and set an example to other people. A leader needs to do all of these because if one of these aspects fails people don’t look at the leader...
One very important aspect of a great leader is to lead by example. Any person in a position to guide others cannot ask the team to do one thing and act in the complete opposite way. This is a sure way to show that the leader has a need to show power and quickly loose respect from those who should be learning from him or her. Being a role model is importan...
To perform well as a leader, the leader must identify individual strengths, weaknesses, and potential; acquire knowledge of leadership, power, influence, and authority to get the right things done at the right time.
Leadership is about organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal (Prieto, 2012). Written below examples of effective communication, team working, delegation, management, planning and organisational skills I have utilized in my placement area:
Throughout my life I have encountered the chance to experience position of being a leader. Being part of groups in university for class presentations, being the organizing secretary of my campus fellowship, being a youth leader in my church and the church admin, also being part of a family. Leaders are charismatic, inspirational and trust worthy. I have gained some important qualities of being a good leader through these experiences. Most of the valuable leadership’s characteristics that I obtained and strengthened are: learn to become a better leader every day, how to be a team player, to be a better listener, to be an effective communicator, to have more patience, not afraid of constructive criticism, to be outspoken, and to be a problem solver. Even though I have gained a lot, I still have more things to learn to become a better leader such as being more assertive, being more disciplined, becoming a better public speaker, and learn how to be realistic and not too optimistic. You are a leader if someone else choses to follow you.
In order to be a good leader, one must have self-confidence, communication skills, charisma and integrity. These are the fundamental skills that make a good leader. Self-confidence is the attitude that one possesses in which one is not afraid to make decisions based on their ideas. Communication skills allow a leader to convey his or her ideas or thoughts carefully. Charisma is what makes a leader appealing to the public, and integrity is what allows the public to trust and have faith in the leader. Without these skills, a leader would just be mediocre, and not great.
Leadership skills: Is capable of thinking strategically. Can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately. Puts the team before the individual’s welfare. Coaches and develops employees. Is confident with his/her decision making and vision. Leads by
"A leader is an individual (or, rarely, a set of individuals) who significantly affects the thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors of a significant number of individuals” (Gardner, Howard 2012). An essential part of a leader lies in their ability to motivate and influence people to follow their lead. Leaders are both men and women who have the ability to influence others in a community, control situations, connect with others and persuade others to follow them or the goals they define. To be a good leader one must set a good example and make correct decisions for difficult choices. I myself am implementing leadership skills into my every day life. Leadership skills are all around us. They can be applied to any situation where one may be required to take the lead. This can be