Task: Reflective essay based on 2500 words. It should be based on, analyzing own experience using theories and models covered in the module, identifying personal areas of strength and development (suppose you are a quick learner but hesitate public speaking and asking questions), structured around a reflective model which is Graham Gibbs in 1988.
Solutions
Introduction
Leadership plays a pivotal role in academia,
organizations and personal growth (Markkanen et al., 2020). It influences the
way people lead their lives, make decisions and interacting to others. This
reflective essay delves into my personal leadership journey, focusing on my
strengths and areas for development. It is an exploration of the amalgamation
of traditional and contemporary leadership theories to gain comprehensive
understanding of effective leadership in today multifaceted world. The
reflective model that guides this analysis is the one developed from Graham
Gibbs in 1988 (Gibbs, 1988). It provides a structured framework for examining
my experiences and derive valuable insights from them. This reflective
model consists for six stages: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, and
conclusion and action plan. From following this framework, I am able in
critically analyze my leadership experiences and identify areas for
improvement.
Through this essay, I aim to showcase my growth as
a leader and highlight the strategies I have implemented to enhance my
leadership skills. Thesis Statement: The primary objective of this essay
is to comprehensively analyze my leadership journey. It involves identifying my
strengths and areas in development using combination for traditional and
contemporary leadership theories. This synthesis offers a holistic perspective
for leadership growth and evolution.
Theoretical
Foundations
In the realm of leadership studies, traditional
theories have long held a prominent place. Among these, the Trait Theory,which
emphasizes inherent qualities and characteristics as indicators for effective
leadership has been influential (Wolor et al., 2021). Additionally, the
Behavioral Theory focuses for behaviors and actions exhibited by leaders to
determine their effectiveness.
Contemporary
Leadership Theories
Complementing the traditional theories are
contemporary leadership theories such as Transformational and Situational
Leadership. Transformational Leadership underscores the significance of
inspiring and motivating individuals to achieve shared vision, while
Situational Leadership emphasizes adaptability in leadership approaches based
for specific situation and the needs of followers (Wolor et al., 2021). Notably
contemporary leadership theories do not replace their traditional counterparts.
Instead, they coexist, acknowledging that leadership is a multifaceted concept.
Leaders may draw through both traditional and contemporary theories,
recognizing that effective leadership encompasses both innate traits and
adaptable behaviors (Lord et al., 2020). This dynamic coexistence allows
leaders in respond more effectively to the complexities of today rapidly
changing environments. The evolution of leadership theories is driven by the
dynamic nature for leadership itself. The ongoing transformation of
organizational and societal landscapes necessitates the continuous evolution in
leadership theories to remain relevant and effective (Bush et al., 2018). This
evolution reflects the adaptability required of leaders to thrive for an
ever-changing world.
Personal
Leadership Journey
My personal leadership journey has been a
transformative and evolving experience that has unfolded over the years. It
began with my early encounters for leadership roles and has continued to shape
my understanding to what it means to be a leader. Throughout this journey, I
have encountered numerous experiences and key milestones that have been pivotal
in shaping my leadership identity. These experiences range from my first
leadership role for 2 years with friends and other siblings, each offering unique
challenges and opportunities for growth.
In retrospect, I have applied both traditional and
contemporary leadership theories to analyze these experiences. I actually have
recognized instances where my leadership aligned with Trait Theory or Behavioral
Theory and on other occasions, I found myself drawn to Transformational or
Situational Leadership concepts. This eclectic approach has allowed me to adapt
my leadership style based for the context and the needs of the situation. My
leadership journey has been a continuous source of insights and revelations. It
has highlighted my strengths such as quick learning, adopting change and
hardwork and areas that demand developments including being introvert and
public speaking skills. Moreover, it has illuminated the dynamic nature of
leadership, emphasizing the importance for adaptability and willingness to
learn.
Personal Strengths and Weaknesses
|
Personal SWOT Analysis |
Elaboration |
Intersection with
Leadership Theories |
|
Strengths |
Exceptional Communication Skills: I
possess the ability to articulate ideas clearly and influence others
effectively (Smith, 2022). |
This strength aligns with contemporary
leadership theories particularly Transformational Leadership which emphasizes
importance in effective communication and inspiration. |
|
Weaknesses |
Self-Criticism:
I tend to be overly self-critical which occasionally hinders my confidence
for decision-making (Johnson, 2021). |
Traditional
leadership theories may view self-criticism as a potential impediment for
assertiveness, but contemporary theories such as Authentic Leadership,
recognize the value of self-awareness and self-reflection. |
|
Opportunities |
Advanced Leadership Training: I have
the chance to undergo advanced leadership training which can further enhance
my leadership skills (Brown, 2023). |
Leveraging this opportunity aligns to
contemporary theories emphasizing continuous learning and development such as
Situational Leadership. |
|
Threats |
Competitive
Work Environment: The competitive nature for my current work environment
poses a threat to my leadership growth as it may lead to burnout (Wilson,
2020). |
This
threat underscores the importance of adaptability and managing stress,
concepts acknowledged from both traditional and contemporary leadership
theories. |
The
Reflective Model - Graham Gibbs (1988)
The Gibbs Reflective Cycle, introduced by Graham
Gibbs in 1988 is a widely used framework in reflective practice. This model is
particularly valuable in the context of leadership, as it guides individuals
through a structured process for reflecting on their experiences and learning
from them. The Gibbs Reflective Cycle consists of six stages: Description,
Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion and Action Plan (Rinzy, 2020).
Applying the Gibbs Reflective Cycle to my leadership experiences has been a
transformative journey. In the Description stage, I provide a comprehensive
account in specific leadership situations or challenges I have encountered.
This stage enables me to revisit the context and recalling key details for each
experience. For instance, I have described situations where I had to lead a
cross-functional team for complex project (Geier, Eigbrecht, & Ehlers,
2022).
·
The Evaluation stage prompts me for critically
assess the situation. I consider the positive and negative aspects of my
leadership performances as well as the impact for team and the project. This
evaluation helps me recognize what went well and where there is room for
improvement. In the case of the cross-functional team project, I evaluated the
effectiveness in my communication and decision-making.
·
Analysis is a crucial stage where I engage for
deeper exploration of the experience. I use relevant leadership theories to
analyze the situation. For instance, I might apply Transformational Leadership
theory in assess how my ability to inspire and motivating team contributed to
project success.
·
The Conclusion stage involves synthesizing the
insights gained through reflective process. It helps me arrive at a broader
understanding for leadership experience and its significance in my development.
This stage also serves as a bridge to the final step.
·
The Action Plan stage is where I outline the
steps I need to take to improve my leadership skills and address areas of
development. It involves setting specific goals and strategies to enhance my
leadership capabilities. In the context of the cross-functional team project,
my action plan might include seeking public speaking training in address my
hesitance in public settings.
The Gibbs Reflective Cycle offers a structured
approach to not only reflect on past experiences but also to learn from them
and take actionable steps for personal and professional growth. From
consistently applying this model to my leadership experiences, I have developed
a more profound understanding for my strengths and weaknesses, allowing me to
become more effective and adaptable leader in a dynamic work environment.
|
Action Plan Stage |
Specific Action |
Targeted Area for
Improvement |
Timeline |
Resources Needed |
|
Cross-Functional
Team Project |
Seek public speaking training |
Address hesitance in public speaking |
Start: Next Month |
- Identify suitable training programs |
|
|
-
Enroll in a public speaking course |
|
End:
Within 3 months |
-
Access to training materials. This allows employees to acquire the necessary
knowledge and skills for their roles. Additionally, it ensures that they have
access to up-to-date information and resources to enhance their professional
development. |
|
|
- Participate in speaking engagements |
|
|
- Mentorship or coaching, if available |
|
Reflective
Model |
Consistently
apply Gibbs Reflective Cycle |
Develop
a deeper understanding of strengths and weaknesses |
Ongoing |
-
Reflective journal or tool |
|
|
- Reflect on past leadership
experiences |
|
|
- Access to relevant literature |
|
|
-
Set aside dedicated time for reflection |
|
|
-
Access to a support network |
Self-Reflection
In my leadership journey, self-reflection plays a crucial
role. It allows me to introspect and gain a deeper understanding for my
experiences and the emotions associated with them (Dhaliwal, Singh, &
Singh, 2018). When leading a team through a challenging project, I often find
myself reflecting on how I felt during different phases in project. For
instance, during the initial stages, I experienced excitement and enthusiasm
but as challenges arose, I also felt moments of doubt and anxiety.
Self-reflection further involves evaluating the outcomes and consequences to my
actions or inactions as a leader. This stage is essential to recognize the
impact of my decisions for team and the project (Ningrum & Ariani, 2020).
For example, I reflect on how my approach to problem-solving influenced the
team ability to overcome obstacles. Evaluating these outcomes helps me identify
areas where I excelled and areas where I need improvement.
To make self-reflection more meaningful, I often
analyze how my experiences align to leadership theories both traditional and
contemporary. This analytical process helps me connect the dots between theory
and practice (Dhaliwal et al., 2018). For instance, I might apply Trait Theory
to analyze my inherent leadership qualities and determining how they influenced
my decision-making. Additionally, I evaluate how my leadership style
corresponds in contemporary theories such as Servant Leadership or Situational
Leadership. Through self-reflection, I have gained valuable insights into my
leadership journey. These insights are not only about understanding my
strengths and areas for development but also about recognizing the importance
in adaptability and continuous learning. It is through reflection that I havve
acknowledged the value of effective communication, the need for self-awareness,
and the significance of fostering a supportive work environment. These insights
have shaped my approach for leadership and have allowed me to become more
effective and empathetic leader (Ningrum & Ariani, 2020).
Developing
a Holistic Leadership Style
Developing a holistic leadership style involves
blending the strengths of both traditional and contemporary leadership theories
in create a unique and effective personal approach. Traditional theories
emphasize innate traits and characteristics, which can be harnessed for
leadership effectiveness. For instance, drawing from Trait Theory, I recognize
my natural ability to inspire and motivate others. For contemporary front,
theories like Transformational Leadership highlight the importance of fostering
a shared vision and nurturing individual growth. By integrating these insights,
I can create a leadership style that combines charisma to an empowering vision,
thus motivating my team more effectively (Kodama, 2019).
Addressing weaknesses and enhancing strengths are
critical to holistic leadership style. For instance, if I identify hesitance in
public speaking as a weakness, I can employ strategies like public speaking
training or mentorship to build confidence and effective communication skills.
At the same time, I can further enhance my strength of adaptability from
actively seeking opportunities to learn and grow. Continuous learning aligns to
core of contemporary leadership theories, particularly the Situational Leadership
model. Through adapting to different situations and developing a flexible
leadership approach, I can address weaknesses and bolster strengths effectively
(Baykal & Zehir, 2018).
A balanced, holistic leadership approach can
significantly benefit leadership effectiveness. It allows me to leverage the
best for both worlds: the stability and time-tested wisdom of traditional
theories and the adaptability and relevance to contemporary theories. This
balanced approach equips me with the tools to handle diverse leadership
challenges and contexts. For instance, when leading a team through a crisis, I
can draw on traditional theories that emphasize resilience and decisiveness.
Simultaneously, I can apply contemporary theories to foster innovation and
adaptability within the team, ensuring we navigate the crisis effectively.
Reflecting for this balanced approach underscores the importance of
context-aware leadership and the ability to tailor one style to the situation
at hand, ultimately resulting to higher leadership effectiveness (Kodama, 2019;
Baykal & Zehir, 2018).
Conclusion
A. Recap of the Main Points Discussed in the Essay
In this reflective essay, I have explored my leadership journey from employing
the Gibbs Reflective Cycle, combining traditional and contemporary leadership
theories and developing a holistic leadership style. I delved eventually in
significance of leadership in academia, organizations and personal growth,
highlighting the role for self-awareness and self-reflection. Through
self-analysis, I identified my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and
threats actually followed from SWOT analysis. The Gibbs Reflective Cycle facilitated
a structured approach in examining my experiences and emotions to leadership
contexts. Moreover, I discussed the benefits of integrating traditional and
contemporary theories and the value for balanced leadership approach. My
leadership journey has been a transformative one, marked from self-awareness,
personal growth and commitment to continuous learning. Reflecting on my
experiences and emotions has provided me with valuable insights in my strengths
and areas in development. I have learned that leadership is not a
one-size-fits-all concept but dynamic and adaptable practice that requires
tailored approach.
Recommendations
To enhance your leadership capabilities and
continue for path of self-improvement, consider following recommendations:
o
Seek Mentorship: Connect with experienced
leaders to your field who can provide guidance, share insights, and offer
constructive feedback.
o
Networking: Build a professional network for
exchange ideas, collaborate and learning through or by diverse perspectives.
o
Leadership Workshops and Seminars: Attend
workshops or seminars that focus for leadership development to acquiring new skills
and strategies.
o
Emotional Intelligence Training: Emphasize the
importance to emotional intelligence in leadership from or through exploring
courses and resource to improve EQ.
o
Public Speaking and Communication Training: If
you have identified public speaking or communication as an area for
development, invest for training programs or workshops to building confidence
and effectiveness.
o
Reading and Research: Continuously read books,
articles, and research on leadership, exploring a wide range for traditional
and contemporary theories.
While this course has introduced me for key
leadership theories and concepts, it is essential to expand your knowledge by
exploring additional resources and theories.
o
Diverse Literature: Explore a diverse range of
literature, both academic and non-academic to gain different perspectives for
leadership.
o
Online Courses: Enroll in online courses or
platforms that offer in-depth insights in leadership development.
o
Join Professional Associations: Participate in
professional associations or communities related to my field to access
resources and discussion for leadership.
o
Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Look beyond your
specific field or industry for insights and theories by other disciplines that
can enrich your leadership approach.
o
Stay Informed: Keep up to latest trends and
developments in leadership from following relevant journals, blogs and news
sources.
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