Reflection On Leadership

Throughout this course, our textbook readings, the posting to threaded discussions, my responses to a classmate’s post, and reading various classmates’ responses helped further digest, comprehend, and synthesize the leadership content within Daft’s “The Leadership Experience” textbook. Our weekly lectures with various classmates’ interpretations and responses during the open discussion forums about the textbook themes brought a variety of unique viewpoints to the specific leadership topics. This reflection paper was an extension of this learning, and provided a deep introspection about leadership concepts; how did I, how am I, and how can I apply this knowledge in my workplace. This writing exercise uncovered new meaning and insights while both challenging and supporting certain personal views and ideas about leadership.

During this class we took many assessments and I learned a lot about myself and what kind of leader I want to be. On your leadership potential I learned my behaviors are the same as leader, these are people who are opened minded, share ideas and values with the company and open to change in the organization. For another assessment t rate your optimism test I found out I am someone who is optimistic and I agree with the statement that people want to follow a leader that is optimistic, rather than someone who is pessimistic. Another assessment I took was called the 5 saboteurs test. There was a scoring grid and what each category means like BP-(be perfect), HU-(hurry up), PO- (please others), TH-(try harder), and BS-(be strong) I found out the my highest score is PO-(please others) and some characteristics include being happy when other others are happy, cares about other people’s needs, can have a hard time saying no, doesn’t like to annoy other people in the work place. Body language and verbal language include facial expressions and saying sure I can do that for you. For another assessment I scored a six which means I right in the middle between high and low resistance to change. I agree with this statement because I think for certain situations my resistance to change will be high or low. After taking all these assessments. I learned that as a leader why it is important to learn about yourself. These assessments can help you improve as a leader figure out your weak spots

When asked about her inspiration for teaching, she replied, there is a purpose greater than you. In Conversations on Servant-Leadership, that higher power is described as to honor ourselves, our ancestors, and God, the Creator (Ferch, Spears, McFarland, Carey, p. 180, 2015). Fame and fortune are a byproduct, but doing things because they are really important is the greater good. She related a passage by Michael Fullan, on becoming a change agent, “The best indicator of a positive change agent is how many people are able to carry on when they leave.” By empowering people to make decisions, things can continue to run after you are no longer there. Accomplishments are made by getting in and doing the work rather than mandating or dictating- a leader walks in a lot of shoes. Dr. Martin Luther King did his own protesting; he motivated and inspired people rather than being concerned about outward appearances.

Moreover, while taking the Leadership Foundations Class, there were many lessons that provided me with tools to be an efficient leader. However, when my teacher exposed the class to servant leadership, I immediately took interest in it. At this moment, I finally directed my leadership to embody the qualities of a servant leader. Some of which include: acting with humility, encouraging the new generation of young leaders, valuing diverse opinions, and serving others before

Throughout the semester we have had many conversations relating to diversity, time management, conflict management, as well as community service. Interestingly enough, we have not had an explicit conversation regarding the qualities of a leader, or what the title even means, since the beginning of the course when we wrote our leadership statements. At the beginning of this course, I described leadership as intuition, awareness, humility, courage, setting an example, and the willingness to be a team player. Through the conversations we have had, I now know this is not all it takes.

“It is unequivocally clear that leaders are not like other people” (Kirkpatrick and Locke, 1991, as cited in Northouse, P. G., 2016, p.22). I have always thought that I was not like other people; I see the world through a different lens. This difference, which sets me apart from my peers, has sometimes restrained my progress; however, after studying my differences and seeing them as strengths, I can now focus on these strengths that make me a unique, passionate, progressive leader. In reflecting on my leadership skills, I will analyze the results of the leadership questionnaires, as presented in Peter Northouse’s book, Leadership:Theory and practice (7th ed.), connect those result strengths with the

As a Student Council and Honor Society advisor, Mrs. Fredrickson has taught many students the lessons of leadership by educating us about how to be effective leaders and demonstrating these skills wherever she was. Her impact on students is telltale whenever you meet anyone who has met Mrs. Fredrickson; their eyes will instantly light up at the

Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks: CA: Sage Publications.

Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE

Whenever think about leaders, we usually consider responsibility and leadership as their most salient characteristics. In the speech of drew dudley, He talks about a story when a girl who he does not even know thanks him for changing her life. He believes the leadership is not only leading a group of people but an everyday act that improve each other’s life and he wants people to realize how big impact to others they can make.

During the past ten weeks, I have strengthened my concept of what constitutes effective leadership. Importantly, it is a leadership style that maximises the contributions of followers to achieve the desired outcomes for the organisation they represent. As Nanjundeswaraswamy & Swamy (2014, p.57) explains, effective leaders need to balance the drive to achieve a task with managing relationships. Therefore, it is essential for good leadership to not only focus on the task but develop, motivate and empower team members to strive for the achievement of task goals.

Before we start, let us distinguish between the role of Leadership and Management first, Leadership’s main function is to produce movement and adaptive change through processes, such as establishing direction through visioning, aligning people, motivating, and inspiring whilst Management's main function is to give commands and consistency through processes, such as planning, budgeting, organizing, staffing, and problem solving (Kotter, 1990).

As an educational leader, I have encountered several new and existing school policies. I never thought deeply about the various processes and the stakeholders involved in policy formulation and implementation. This semester I am engaged in the course Managing Educational Policy as School Leaders (EDLM 6005). This is Semester III, 2016/2017. My course coordinator is Dr. Timar Stephenson. Dr Stephenson was my course coordinator once before and was very helpful whenever I needed clarification or when I had a difficulty. I am thrilled to embrace the new ideas and learning opportunities embedded in this course since it teaches issues which I experience at work. Dr Stephenson, during his introduction reminded his entire class that success in this course would only be realized through hard work, dedication, and commitment. Therefore, it is imperative that I have the right attitude as I navigate this course. The course involves seven weeks of intense work. I am pleased to have a wonderful group facilitator by the name of Rhonda Joseph who has already given us a BBC to explain the requirements of the course and our first two modules.

Due to my passive nature, I’ve always avoided leadership roles. With that being said I still aspire to be someone who can be looked to as a leader. In order to reach that goal I observe and try to mimic the actions of people that inspire me. There have been many people I’ve taken orders from, but I have “followed” few. Those are the ones I consider to be true leaders, and have tried to be like myself.