In order to manage human resources effectively, human resources officers should demonstrate superb leadership skills. Write a reflective essay that best describes your leadership style in light of the

Leadership Style

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Institution:

Leadership Style

Introduction

Organizations that perform well in the current turbulent and challenging environment rely heavily on the skills and capabilities of their leaders. Effective leaders are able to provide a sense of direction within the organization and guide people towards meeting important and common organizational goals. In addition to motivating employees, such leadership encourages them through constant motivation to assume responsibility for their performances. Most importantly, ideal leadership attracts and retains a talented workforce that contributes significantly to organizational productivity, growth, and sustainable development. Due to the dynamic nature of the current work environments, it is imperative for leaders to exercise flexibility with respect to decision making. They can also utilize the leadership capabilities and vital capacities of their staffs for guidance. Such approaches nurture and refine their skills as well as enhance the sustainability of their models by promoting a sense of inclusion. This paper describes my leadership in terms of the situational theory and presents effective ways through which I plan to improve my motivation and leadership skills.

The leadership model that best describes me is the situational model. According to Blanchard, Fowler and Hawkins (2005), this is a flexible leadership approach that recognizes and appreciates the dynamic nature of current organizational environments. Thus, it utilizes various leadership styles under different circumstances in an effort to meet organizational goals and objectives. After identifying the tasks of my group, I always proceed to evaluating the willingness as well as ability of the members before determining the most suitable leadership style for any given situation. Findings of the situational analysis inform my decision making during the application of the theory. Specifically, when members exhibit a low level of willingness, I direct them accordingly. Thus, besides defining the roles to the members, I explain the tasks with utmost clarity and supervise them. Under these circumstances, members are often afraid of pursuing the respective tasks because of lack of abilities or limited experience.

Coaching helps me to achieve group goals in instances where members have the willingness but lack the ability to perform the tasks. Through constant communication, I seek for suggestions and ideas from members and incorporate them in critical decision making. In most instances, Patnaik (2011) indicates that respective ideas are informative as well as insightful. The supporting approach is usually highly effective in instances where members show reluctance in dealing with the tasks at hand. Finally, I employ delegation under ideal circumstances when members understand the complexity of the tasks and are willing to undertake them without supervision.

There are various distinguishing traits that enable me to perform vital leadership roles and responsibilities under different circumstances. To begin with, I am an inspiring and creative individual. In this respect, I have the ability to envision a desirable future with respect to organizational outcomes and inspire the members to commit themselves to meeting relative goals and objectives. I appreciate that members have different capacities, skills, and competencies that enable them to perform specific roles and responsibilities. Through motivation and constant encouragement, I enable them to exercise creativity at all times. What’s more, I take practical measures to identify and deal with all forms of both existent and emergent constraints. In his research, Blanchard et al (2005) indicates that the challenges undermine employee initiative and affect their performance negatively.

Then, I am supportive and commit myself to creating environments that allow for effective functioning. As aforementioned, I strive to address the challenges that undermine effective functioning of group members. Moreover, I encourage them to identify the constraints and voice them at all times. Paglis and Green (2002) posit that the supportive environment facilitates employee progress and contributes positively to enhancing both individual and organizational productivity. Another desirable trait that is useful in my leadership model and which has enabled me to attain the highest levels of achievement pertains to integrity. In this respect, research evidence ascertains that employees of modern organizations require their leaders to exercise integrity at all times (Paglis & Green, 2002). This demands leaders to not only be fair and honest, but to also exercise forthrightness and candidness. In addition, respective leaders treat individuals with the highest degree of consideration.

Also, being able to make credible and timely decisions is a distinctive character trait that contributes positively to my performance at all levels. Fundamentally, leaders are responsible for making decisions that guide performance within their groups. Since the current work environments are dynamic, they require decisions to be made constantly under various circumstances. Being able to make worthwhile decisions at all times helps me to address the challenges with ease. I always make efforts to stick to my decisions unless I am compelled by circumstances to change them when need arises. This trait has been particularly important in helping me to avoid conflicts and achieve my goals and objectives. Further, it contributes to my level of integrity and presents me as a trustworthy individual who keeps his word at all times. It gives my followers the confidence to trust my decisions, capabilities, and competencies.

As a follower, the leadership approach that I prefer is the laissez-fair style. Basically, this accords me the power as well as rights to make vital decisions regarding my performance and responsibilities. Before I commit myself to performing any tasks, I always ensure that I have sufficient skills, knowledge and competencies. These enable me to uphold professionalism at all times as well as exercise individuality. By my leader simply delegating the tasks, the approach enables me to perform my duties without any form of interference. When provided with sufficient materials and resources, characteristic autonomy gives me an opportunity to undertake the tasks successfully. Also, Blanchard (2009) posits that the approach promotes trust between followers and their leaders. This is sustainable and goes a long way in enhancing the level of commitment of employees with regards to achieving organizational goals and objectives.

The leadership theory that best describes how I take practical measures to influence others is the democratic style of leadership. This encourages active employee participation in critical decision making. According to Paglis and Green (2002), it encourages a sense of inclusion and enhances employee commitment to meeting important organizational goals and objectives. Although I assume the sole responsibility of making decisions within groups, I encourage members to voice their concerns regarding the respective resolutions. In most instances, these do not influence the decisions that I make in the long run. Nonetheless, the practice enables members to feel that they are an important facet of the group. It also encourages sharing of important ideas and information. At this point in time, it is worth noting that effective performance of current organizations relies on vital information. Blanchard et al (2005) posits that information sharing tendencies enhance creativity and individual initiative. They give followers a chance to exploit their potential fully and utilize their capacities effectively. By rewarding creativity outcomes, the democratic style appreciates the contributions of individual members to group achievements and motivates them to continue making credible contributions.

Individually, I purpose to improve my leadership and motivation abilities. Certainly, effective leadership contributes positively to employee performance and organizational productivity. With respect to improving leadership, I look forth to attaining communication competencies and developing genuine enthusiasm and passion in my projects within four months. Specific activities that would enable me to achieve the preceding goals include taking communication studies, establishing new relationships, and encouraging information sharing as well as feedback within group settings. While working in groups, I will make sure I pay special attention and show genuine interest in the contributions of group members. In his research, Blanchard (2009) indicates that placing undue emphasis on task completion at the expense of group cohesion undermines productivity. For this reason, I will show great interest in the tasks that group members assume at different times.

I will also take significant steps to improve my motivation skills. In this regard, I will embark on improving my educational capabilities as well as competencies of groups and developing an appreciative attitude. Likewise, this should be attained within the next for months. In particular, I will encourage individuals within groups to pursue higher education in their disciplines. By providing them with a supportive environment, I will ensure that they enroll in credible learning institutions that can equip them with sufficient skills and knowledge. Then, I will learn to acknowledge and recognize the efforts that group members make to organizational wellbeing. In this respect, Patnaik (2011) agrees that positive recognition is a viable incentive that leaders can use to motivate groups.

In pursuit of the abovementioned goals, I will implement the transformational leadership model. Blanchard (2009) asserts that this type of leadership is inspirational and instills positive changes in the followers. Leaders who assume this approach are passionate, enthusiastic, and participate actively in important group activities. They place special emphasis on assisting group members to succeed in their different fields. Undoubtedly, utilizing this model will compel me to commit to using different incentives to motivate as well as inspire members. By sharing passion and enthusiasm with the followers, I will ensure that they set achievable goals and commit themselves to meeting them accordingly.

Summary

Effective leadership has direct positive implications on organizational growth and development. With regards to situational leadership, I utilize different types of leadership in varied circumstances. This enables me to deal with challenges effectively without compromising employee performance. I have distinctive traits that ensure successful implementation of the situational leadership. Besides being supportive, I am confident, decisive, and inspirational. Furthermore, I uphold integrity through pursuit of honesty, candidness, and other related virtues. From the point of view of a follower, I prefer the Laissez-faire leadership approach. This accords me the freedom to undertake my duties without external interference. Through the democratic leadership style, I influence followers and give them a chance to participate actively in critical decision making. Individually, I look forth to enhancing my motivation and leadership skills through the established goals. Adoption of the transformational theory will go a long way in enabling me to meet these objectives.

References

Blanchard, K. (2009). Leading at a higher level. New York: FT Press.

Blanchard, K., Fowler, S. & Hawkins, L. (2005). Self-leadership and the one minute manager: Increasing effectiveness through situational self-leadership. New York: William Morrow.

Paglis, L. & Green, S. (2002). Leadership, self-efficacy and managers’ motivation for leading change. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 23 (2), 215-235.

Patnaik, J. (2011). Organizational culture: The key to effective leadership and work motivation. Social Science International, 27 (1), 79-94.