Characteristics of a good leader
Essential characteristics of a good leader
I personally believe that there are various qualities or characteristics of a good leader which not only enable him or her to perform the jobs of a leader in an effective manner but also help them to cater to the need of the different followers. Scott et al. (2015) are of the viewpoint that one of the most basic characteristics of a good leader is their ability to influence the different subordinates who are associated with them in the most effective manner so that they are being able to achieve the targets that has been outlined for them. As opined by Haber?Curran, Allen and Shankman (2015), a good leader is also required to have the ability to make ethical decisions which do not favor any particular individual but are dictated by the various precepts of ethics. In addition to these, a good leader is also required to display integrity of personality, sound reasoning, the ability to manage time in an effective manner and others (Lee, 2017). Baron and Parent (2015) uphold the viewpoint that the contemporary leaders need to act as stewards of an organization and they are required to posses the skill sets of the managers as well. Furthermore, I personally believe that a good leader also needs to have effective communication which will help him or her to not only convey the right kind of information to the subordinates but to influence them as well. In addition to these, a good leader also needs to have ability to manage the organizational changes and also the different stakeholders who are associated with an organization in an effective manner. These in short are some of the characteristics that I personally feel a good leader should posses in my line of business.
Analysis of leadership strengths and weaknesses
Seidle, Fernandez and Perry (2016) are of the viewpoint that the effectiveness of a good leader depends to a large extent on the manner in which the concerned leader is being able to overcome the inherent weaknesses of their character and further strengthen their strong aspects. It is with this inherent object that I undertook several personality as well as psychometric tests which not only revealed the strengths of my leadership abilities but at the same time my weaknesses as well. I personally believe that a thorough knowledge of these aspects is important it will provide me an overview of the key areas of my personality on which I need to work on so as to improve my leadership abilities.
Analysis of leadership strengths and weaknesses
The first psychometric test which I undertook was the “Big Five Personality” which revealed insightful details about my leadership abilities. For example, in this test, I got the highest score in the index of agreeableness (Appendix 1). This clearly indicates that my actions as well as behavior are not only agreeable with my team mates but at the same time they agree with the decisions that I make. However, the results of the test clearly indicate that I lag behind in the aspects of extraversion, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness. Caniëls, Semeijn and Renders (2018) are of the viewpoint that the entity of extraversion indicates the extent to which an individual is outgoing as well as social. This is one of the most essential features of an effective leader and enables him or her to bond in an effectively with the followers or the subordinates who are associated with him or her (Sanders, 2017). However, as the results show this is an area of weakness of mine and thus for the development of my leadership abilities I would have to develop this aspect of my character.
As opined by Litano and Major (2016), conscientiousness can be defined as the ability of an individual to perform a task or job role in a diligent or careful manner. As per the “Big Five Personality Test” this is another basic character trait that the good leaders are required to have since it helps them to perform the different job roles in a much effective manner (Shalka, 2017). However, since the results of the test indicate that I lag behind in this section I would have to develop this aspect of my character. Neuroticism and openness are two other aspects of a good leader and as per the results of the test I would have to develop these two aspects of my character as well so as to become an effective leader.
Gallup’s Test is another psychometric test which I used to find about the key competencies of my character. The results of the test clearly indicate that strategic thinking is my strong point since I have scored the maximum amount of points in this section (Appendix 2). However, the results of the test, at the same time, reveal the fact that determination, salesmanship, optimism, ambition and others are my weaknesses on which I need to work on so to become an effective leader. Day et al. (2014) are of the viewpoint that the notion of strategic thinking is one of the most basic skills that the leaders are required to have so that they are being able to strategically in the diverse situations and also act accordingly. The result of the test clearly indicates that I already have this skill set and would need to further fortify it so as to become an effective leader. As opined by Khoreva and Vaiman (2015), the character trait of determination not only enables a leader to achieve the different individual goals that they have set for themselves but also the ones that has been set for the team for which they are responsible. However, I would have to work on this aspect since the result clearly shows that I fall short in this section. Recent researches have shown that a leader is required to be ambitious and also optimist so as to achieve the right kind of success not only for themselves but also for their teams as well (Clinton, 2018). Thus, I would have to work on these aspects of my character as well in order to become a good leader. According to Terrell et al. (2018), “salesmanship is the art of increasing satisfaction by persuading those people who should do so to buy specific goods or service”. In the particular context of leadership, it can be said that this is the art which a leader uses to persuade his or her followers to perform the kind of job roles that they are reluctant to perform so as to improve their performance. Thus, I need to develop this skill which will enable me to influence the behavior of my subordinates in the most effective manner.
Leadership Development Plan
Leadership Development Plan
As opined by Scott et al. (2015), continuous learning and learning from the past experiences are important processes which a leader needs to indulge in so as to develop their not only skill sets but also their abilities as a leader. Furthermore, I also believe strategically planning the process of leadership development is also important for the individuals to undertake since it will provide them with an overview of the manner in which they need to develop their skills. Below given is a leadership development plan which I intend to use for my coming years-
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Who |
What |
Why |
When |
How |
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I would not only have to undertake the development of the key competencies of my character but also work for the development of my leadership abilities. |
A decade from now I see myself as being a business leader in a multi-national organization in the nation of Australia |
This would be one of one major job roles within the framework of the organization. I not only be entrusted with the role of the influencing the followers but also mentor them as well. |
A decade from now |
To lead the different individuals of the organizations in an effective manner towards the achievement of the overall goals of the concerned organization. I would to have to work in different designations to gather extensive experience and effective people management skills so as to manage the different people of the MNC in an effective manner. I would also offer them mentoring, coaching, create effective job designs and others to help the followers to achieve the targets which has been given to them. |
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I would be responsible for the development of my leadership abilities. |
I would have to understand the strengths and weaknesses of my own leadership abilities and work for the development of my leadership abilities |
To achieve this I need to develop my leadership abilities but also to work hard in a dedicated manner |
Two years from now |
To become the kind of leader who will contribute in a positive manner towards the development of the organization to which he is related to. I would like to take the help of different workshops wherein I will develop the kind of skills that I lack and which will help me to become a good leader. In addition to these, I would also undertake a thorough analysis of the different leadership theories and styles and try to absorb the best aspects of these leadership styles and theories into my personal leadership style. Furthermore, I would also try to go through the past interviews, speeches and biographies of the leaders to understand the manner in which they handled different situations and managed their followers. |
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I would be required to work in different positions of the organization so as to acquire the kind of skill sets which would enable me to perform the job roles of a good leader in the MNC of Australia that I am hoping to work for in the future. |
Along the way I see myself being working as a team member, team-leader, supervisor, and manager. |
I hoping that working in these positions would provide me with the relevant as well as the right kind of exposure and also experience which would in turn help me to perform the job roles of the leader in future in an effective manner. In addition to this, I am hoping that by working in these different positions I would be able to develop my capabilities or abilities as a leader in a better manner. |
Six years from now |
I would begin by gaining the right kind of educational degrees and also by working in the kind of organizations which would not only add in a positive manner towards my work experience but also o my abilities as well. In addition to these, I would also have to get familiar with the real implications of the various management and leadership theories and framework and also the manner in which they are being used in the actual business world. |
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I would be required to work not only as an ethical, effective but also as a charismatic leader who would not only take into effective consideration the perspective of the organization but at the same time that of the followers as well. |
When I achieve my greatest job the create the kind of organizational culture within the MNC and also offer them the kind of leadership that in the coming years the organization will be known for the leadership that I have rendered to the organization just like Starbucks is known for the leadership of Howard Schultz. |
This would help me to achieve my lifelong dream of becoming a good and also to contribute in a meaningful manner towards the growth of the organization that I would be working for. Furthermore, this would also help me to work for the improvement of the condition of the employees as well in a substantial manner. |
Fifteen years from now |
For the achievement of this goal I would have to develop my own unique style of leadership by selecting the best aspects of all major theories as well as frameworks of leadership. In addition to these, I would also have to inculcate the qualities of emotional intelligence, cultural competency and others which would enable me to not only understand the different followers who would be associated with me but also work with them in a collective manner as a team. |
Conclusion:
To conclude, the individuals of contemporary times are required to posses the qualities of leadership so as to gain success in the ever competitive world of employability. The process of leadership offers wide ranging benefits to the individuals and also the teams and helps in a substantial manner to not only motivate the individuals but also to help them to achieve the targets or the objectives that has been outlined for them. However, at the same time, it needs to be noted that for the development of their leadership abilities an individual needs to not only indulge in the processes of continuous learning activities but also take the help of different kind of Strategic Leadership Plans. As my Strategic Leadership Plan shows I have chalked out my leadership abilities plans for the coming fifteen years. The plan seems to be a very tough one however I am hoping that by dint of hard work and dedication I would be able to achieve the objectives that has been outlined by me.
I would also like to say that the course which I am undertaking and my own personal research works into the diverse aspects of the notion of leadership has helped me in a substantial manner to gain a knowledge regarding the kind of abilities or skill sets that I need to develop for the effective development of my leadership abilities. Furthermore, I personally believe that there is a need for the present day leaders to be self-reflective, strategic thinkers, have different kind of skill sets like emotional intelligence, cultural competency and others. I believe that it is the conglomeration of all these skills and abilities which not only lends effectiveness but at the same time efficiency to the modern leaders and thus I want to inculcate them within my own personality as well
The notion of effective leadership has emerged as one of the pivotal notions within the framework of the modern business world and it is seen that the effective leaders are required to posses various kinds of character traits (Clinton, 2018). As opined by Terrell et al. (2018), some of the most important character traits that the contemporary leaders are required to have are effective communication skills, critical decision making and situation handling, motivational skills and others. Shamir and Eilam-Shamir (2018) are of the viewpoint that it is the conglomeration of all these skill sets which enable a leader to dispense their job roles in an effective manner and also to influence the followers for the achievement of their targets. This is a reflective report which will focus on my development as a strategic leader through the development of the required skill sets that are needed for the same. The report begins by providing an overview of the essential characteristics that an effective leader is required to have. In addition to this, the report also outlines some of my personal strengths like strategic thinking, agreeableness and others. The report also sheds light on some of my weaknesses like determination, optimism, salesmanship and others. Lastly, the report concludes by proposing a leadership development plan which I can utilize for the development of my own leadership style.
References:
Baron, L., & Parent, É. (2015). Developing authentic leadership within a training context: Three phenomena supporting the individual development process. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 22(1), 37-53.
Caniëls, M. C., Semeijn, J. H., & Renders, I. H. (2018). Mind the mindset! The interaction of proactive personality, transformational leadership and growth mindset for engagement at work. Career Development International, 23(1), 48-66.
Clinton, R. (2018). The making of a leader: Recognizing the lessons and stages of leadership development. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc..
Day, D. V., Fleenor, J. W., Atwater, L. E., Sturm, R. E., & McKee, R. A. (2014). Advances in leader and leadership development: A review of 25 years of research and theory. The Leadership Quarterly, 25(1), 63-82.
Haber?Curran, P., Allen, S. J., & Shankman, M. L. (2015). Valuing human significance: Connecting leadership development to personal competence, social competence, and caring. New directions for student leadership, 2015(145), 59-70.
Khoreva, V., & Vaiman, V. (2015). Intent vs. action: Talented employees and leadership development. Personnel Review, 44(2), 200-216.
Lee, G. (2017). Leadership coaching: From personal insight to organisational performance. Kogan Page Publishers.
Litano, M. L., & Major, D. A. (2016). Facilitating a whole-life approach to career development: The role of organizational leadership. Journal of Career Development, 43(1), 52-65.
Sanders, C. (2017). Leading Self: Thinking about Leadership as Part of Professional Growth: Expanding Your Leadership through Personal Exploration. Young Adult Library Services, 15(4), 22.
Scott, M., Whiddon, A. S., Brown, N. R., & Weeks, P. P. (2015). The Journey to Authenticity: An Analysis of Undergraduate Personal Development. Journal of Leadership Education, 14(2).
Seidle, B., Fernandez, S., & Perry, J. L. (2016). Do leadership training and development make a difference in the public sector? A panel study. Public Administration Review, 76(4), 603-613.
Shalka, T. R. (2017). The impact of mentorship on leadership development outcomes of international students. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 10(2), 136.
Shamir, B., & Eilam-Shamir, G. (2018). “What’s your story?” A life-stories approach to authentic leadership development. In Leadership Now: Reflections on the Legacy of Boas Shamir(pp. 51-76). Emerald Publishing Limited.
Terrell, R. D., Terrell, E. K., Lindsey, R. B., & Lindsey, D. B. (2018). Culturally proficient leadership: The personal journey begins within. Corwin Press.
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