Section 1 Fundamental leadership skills
Leaders are those who have the quality and general ability to lead a group of group mainly in an organization. Leadership comes with certain criteria that are already imbibed inside the leader. Leadership must inaugurate with a clear far reaching vision that paves the way towards the goal. This vision must be shared among the group or member that he is leading so that they can also follow his path wholeheartedly. The leader must share the information, knowledge and methods to make his team realize the importance of the vision. Leaders are born they are never trained. Maintaining a balance between the team members and making them work in time of crisis and able to think in a creative manner in different situations is what make the leader rise.
There can be different types of leadership styles among which the three main types are Laissez-Faire, Autocratic and Participative. Among these three, in Laissez-faire the employees get the full freedom to make decisions, they are not allowed to make far reaching decisions though but how they will complete the task that they can decide. In autocratic style, the leaders decide or take every decision. Here no involvement of the employees is entertained. Lastly, Participative leadership style where the team members are given the equal chance to involve themselves in making the important goals and strategies to achieve those.
The main purpose of this assignment is to understand the fundamental leadership skills where the possibility of learning from the experiences of leading employees has been explained then the relationship between leader and follower were demonstrated followed by the situations leaders faced in an organization.
A leader is likely to have certain skills that will help them succeed. If the leader is aware of his own strengths and weaknesses then he can improvise with the skills that he may lack, as it is not possible that the leader is born with each trait. Basic skills that a leader has so that others follow him are the ability to motivate his team or other employees in the organization. Motivation can in turn get the leader respect from his employees or team, valuing and appreciating with boost the employee’s morale and have a positive approach towards the leader. The communication traits like active listening and body language awareness are also important traits. Listening to the clients and the employees can establish good working relationships. Eye contact and gesture is very important when talking with employees whom you are leading and thus the words should match with the body movements to make the employees and team realize how confident you are.
Use of active listening skills
Leader should always be hungry to learn new skills being flexible in their observations and knowledge. A leader must have the skills to analyze the problems arising in the organization. To figure things out they must do an in-depth research because any amendments in the processes can actually affect that particular area of the business. A leader must be adaptable be open minded to uplift fresh ideas and the developing technologies to participate in any changing situations. Lastly and most importantly, the leader should be organized and consistent in how they manage the employees by setting goals, assigning tasks, attaching deadlines and assessing alternatives.
A learning mindset when one learns from the previous experiences in important being a leader. Leaders have the quality of being adaptable as well as open-mindedness and flexible. Therefore, leaders with such mindset have a positive approach towards all the opportunities come their way. This experience from previous organization always helps the leader to grow and evolve in a better way. So being a leader learning of being flexible and open minded towards the team has been well equipped.
Employees always want their voices to be heard, and by this, they want to mean that their leaders should not only listen but also do something for their peace. Being a leader, what has been learned from the experiences is that given a little bit of attention to the employees, supporting them and given feedbacks for their works can inspires them a lot and help in their total performance. Previously a sense of trustworthiness and loyal relationships were build up because of the active listening skill that was used while leaning individuals and teams. In situations when information needed to been, when something need to be understood and for learning.
Effective communications can help an organization in many ways from developing any products, customer relations to employee management. Therefore, communication is very important for any organization. As a leader, the weapon of communication has been used previously in a way to form clear expectations for the team as well as for the customers. For team members they have to know the impact of their performance that will affect the organization and for customer’s communication will help them with service problems if any and the effective ways to communicate with the organization and so as a leader this has been implemented. Strong relations were building with the team members through effective communication being the leader. By trying hard to meet each team workers needs, providing feedbacks, and important information to each other trust and loyalty were uplifted. Positive communication actually helped the team workers to work together for the company’s goal because communication actually helped with the knowledge and structure of the organization.
Appropriate Communication
Being the leader building effective working relationships with peers and superiors at work was done by firstly penetrating for a common goal to help and influence them. Trust and respect was maintained by never taking the name of the peers or supervisors when got into some trouble not back bitching behind any peer or employee. Doing what has been said and keeping up the commitments, any kind of conflicts among the team members were solved as early as possible so that no obstruction comes between works. Lastly, cooperative attitude was maintained so that any issue could be solved by discussing, listening and strategizing with the peers. No blame game was ever entertained and to avoid that the situation were analyzed from a learning experience.
As a leader there were much more responsibility as well as work, which bring stress that cam hamper the work. Therefore, to manage the stress as a leader the following things were done:-
- Firstly to understand what the weaknesses are that are already residing within. It is very important to evaluate our own self and so that was followed.
- A little stress is always good so it was looked upon positively so that chances of success were maximized.
- Always a meaning was assigned to the work done as a leader. This has not only help manage stress but also distance from negative emotions.
Within a fortnight, credibility cannot be made. It takes time and hard work for a leader to gain it. A leader without credibility can never lead his team or rise to any upper positions at the organization. Leader with credibility has actually gained respect of his subordinates and staff members by portraying powerful and optimistic attributes. Thus, credibility can in actual sense change into better performance by the staff under the leaders.
However, as a leader the credibility with the team and the employees are building by maintaining a sense of trust as a leader with the subordinates by giving honest and truthful information. There were some among the team and staff who always doubted the abilities as a leader so to attain positive results those people were ignored. Basic understanding of what the job is and about the field while taking the responsibility as a leader was there so that staff gets to know that the leader is an expert in his field so as to able to analyze any given situation and develop certain solutions. Tried to be focused on whatever goals that were charged upon and helped employees achieve those. Most importantly respecting the employees and maintaining cordial relationships have actually helped building credibility.
Leadership is the process where one person who has some basic inborn traits to have an impact on others to achieve some common goal. Leadership as understood from its definition it can be assumed that there are followers to lead. In addition, provided there are followers who lead, which creates the requisite of a true leader. Essentially, leaders exist because of followers and followers exist because of leaders. The organization then needs that a leader guides the followers to achieve the objective as given in the mission of the chief owner. Now, this leader will try to affect the followers in such a way that the objectives are outstretched effectively and efficiently.
Effective working relationships
The leader-follower relationship must be one that confirms that minimum resistance is there. However, this means the capable leader must have readiness to guide, and the follower must have a readiness to follow. However, this readiness from both leader and follower does not guarantee a mutually beneficial relationship. The way in which a leader guides and the way in which a follower follows, plays a huge role in the leader-follower relationship.
Feedback is a necessary element for everyone present in an organization. Feedback is a functional tool for designating when things are moving on to the right direction or for shifting problem performance. As a leader, the feedbacks provided to the team when there were some discussions on the going performances of the team, pointing to some specific performances, by giving guidance and by letting the team members know that what can be the consequences of their behaviors.
Therefore, feedback was provided focusing on their performance that can motivate them more to work well. Feedback was never threatening, and was delivered in a way in which the team members build a trust with the leader. Feedback was always provided meeting the team members in person. At times suggestions and solutions were offered as a feedback to the team members.
Getting feedback from the team members or from the higher authority definitely help the leaders as well in knowing about their performance and attitude in the workplace. A leader gets feedback from customers, supervisors, managers, peers as well as subordinates.
Feedbacks can be positive or negative, praise or criticism. Being a leader positive feedbacks always gave a motivation to work more and excel but at times of negative feedbacks things were different sometimes it was made to feel low and so always tried to bring something positive from it so that the negative feedback and become the strength of good work in the future. Having a cordial relationship with everyone in the organization helped get feedbacks, this enhances performance.
Feedbacks always push the leader or anyone to work harder. It acts as a motivator for many. Being a leader the feedbacks always helped to work better and in effective manner. Feedbacks at times came with suggestions, solutions as well that can improvise the actions as a leader, and thus analyzing and focusing upon them can help in a long run. Knowing the strength as well as weaknesses are among the basic criteria one should have and thus when pointed by the associates were the wrong is happening then there is no harm in trying to rectify it. However, listening to the feedbacks and working on it in a positive and effective manner is a professional attitude. Being a leader the feedbacks were like a report card that not only show where the performance stands but also how betterment can be achieved. Thus moving forwards keeping those feedbacks in mind can actually evolve oneself more as a leader.
Stress management techniques
Being a leader the most difficult job is to assign the tasks and responsibilities to the team members so it should be done cautiously. As a leader, the things that were kept in mind at the time of assigning tasks and responsibilities were that the assignments are based on the skills and experiences the members have. Team members should feel in control with the job even if it has a little bit difficult level. As a leader only assigning the task to the members are not enough along with the tasks all the clear instructions and documents are given to them so that they can efficiently do the task. Complete authority for the task handed over to the team member so that they feel fully responsible and engaged with the task. Any difficulties with the tasks were discussed and suggestions were given in trying to deal with them.
As a leader, the high performing executive team has been made by considering each team members ideas as valuable. The feelings of the members that sometimes they are not coming up with were also sensitively dealt. Minor issues and conflicts were immediately solved so that it does not further disturb the harmony among the team members. Communication was clear and always face-to-face. Motivation was always the main spice without which there would be something lacking and so every employee was motivated and encouraged having faith among each other. Performances were evaluated and the team members are helped if faced with any difficulty. The idea of the future accomplishments were clear which the team followed along with the set grounded rules for the team.
As a leader to develop, plans and strategies for individuals and teams are important job where many things were kept in mind. Primarily the training needs have to be identified and proper training should be provided along with enhancing their skills and talents. To train effectively right training methods have to be followed and implemented. Team members are to be coached as a leader, in a relaxed and one to one confidential conversation with them. There must be team-building exercises that can provide teamwork improvements as well as the team member’s strengths and weaknesses. Opportunities must be provided by assigning tasks to the team members so that they can learn through it. Talent management plans should be followed where the key skills and abilities are emphasized more and can be retained. Lastly, there must be a good rapport among the team members so that a succession plan can be followed where the person with some acquired skill, experience or knowledge can pass it on to other members.
Building credibility with individuals and teams
The informal coaching skills that were developed being a leader were totally based on the parts of everyday conversations between the team members and the leaders where the discussion or conversation can never be described as a coaching. When tagged as coaching many employees can feel a bit uncomfortable instead if they are listened carefully and asked questions that will empower them to find the ways to deal with their challenges faced without directly telling them what to do. Informal coaching is never prescheduled rather it takes part in everyday conversations. These conversations can be brief as well as elongated, in a one on one basis or in a group, focusing on task or focusing on people. This strategy should be such where the leader should set back and let the team members obtain their commitment and creativity in getting their task done as well as learn something new.
Sharing organizational mission, vision and values with others
Mission is the ways in which the organization is going to work in order to fulfill the vision. Vision explains what the company dreams to become in future and values are the key ideals that the culture of the organization has. As a team leader sharing these among the team members are very essential and from the very beginning, this should be clearly discussed. As the mission was already developed by the organization as a leader, it was spread among the team members and they were clearly explained that this mission states the uniqueness of the company. Mission and Vision are often confused by the members and thus that was clarified and made them understood that vision is how to achieve the mission. Team members were made to understand that vision always supports the mission and the cultural values help them to achieve those visions. There were a climate survey to check if they have understood these mission, vision and values of the organization.
As a leader the goals that must be set for the team and individuals must be ranged with the mission and vision of the organization, thus the goals should be such that will carry the team forward. The goals were kept easy and clear so that each member understands it and can work towards it. There must be a check or measurement of the goals and it must be encouraged with rewards.
Being the leader the goal setting started from individuals setting goals for themselves that can increase in the performance level as well as the productivity. Then comes moving towards the organizational goals so if every team member fulfils their own-targeted achievements then they will surely take one-step forwards to the company’s goals. It is very important for the members of the team to know their strengths and weaknesses first and then start contributing to the company’s objectives.
Section 2 Leader-follower Relationship
Conflicts must be dealt professionally and productively. As a leader to solve the conflicts and problems the team members were educated on the points like conflicts arises out of personal value clashing and so team building exercises were practiced to shift their perspective. Conflicts often leaves the member insure of the position they are holding thus they are reminded that they are all equally important. As a leader when evidences are there against any employee repeatedly doing wrong and having bad impact on other employees then action were taken on time. While solving a conflict no emotional drives were entertained, communication was strong and clear and acceptable behavior were properly defined.
Being the leader of the team to improvise the creativity of the organization, the strategies that were building up are that workers should be given a open creative work environment like games, time off which can actually refresh their mind for some time. Positive reinforcements are another technique through which the employees can improvise and widen their creativity. Individual thinking are encouraged so that there are wide range of working styles and thought processes the team could get and there can be wider innovations and growth. If proper tools are provided then the creativity will enhanced. To be creative there will be chances of failures, so acceptance of failure should also be there, and there can be more failure than successes.
Employees face problems with performance when they are have issues in personal life, environmentally or motivationally. They may also lack the skills of the work for which they have been assigned or lack the information about the task. Thus keeping these in mind the problems should be identified and solved.
To solve these problems being a leader proper feedback should be provided so that they can get a guideline that where they are doing wrong. The employees should make understood that organization invest a lot of time and investment in professional developments. Employees are motivated more and encouraged with rewards.
Conclusion
To conclude this report, it can be said that leadership comes with a lot of responsibility towards the organization. Managing a group or team comprising of different individuals is not at all easy. The fundamental leadership skills, like good communication, active listener, motivating the team, flexibility always help the leader rise and help organizational structures. Leader always comes with the followers and thus this relationship is an important one in any organization. A healthy leader follower bond will always hence the productivity and culture inside the organization. Feedback is highly encouraged in a two way process between leader and follower to efficiently work and carry the visions forward. Lastly, leaders face with different situations in the organization and so to deal and excel in those situations is what the actual skill of the leader. Conflicts should be handled in a right way so that employees can work together.
Section 3 Leadership Situations
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