A Leadership Development Plan

Running head: A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Assignment 4: Case study (A leadership development plan)
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Date (here)
Word Count (here)

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Introduction
The dictionary version of leadership implies that, it is a specific nature or feature of
person that helps in personnel and organizational improvement. Leaders play role of a ladder in
organizational improvements. In other words, it is fundamental for organizational integral
development. A leader can manage a project but a manager cannot be a leader every time
(Gliddon and Rothwell 2018). Based on organizational functionalities and operations both
democratic and autocratic leadership styles are applicable.
The specific leadership style rather position that is mostly aspired are elaborated in this
report. Apart from that, knowledge, skills and attitudes those are effective for the position are
illustrated after comparing current attributes and the desired future expectations. In order to
improve both technical and non technical competency leadership strategy is extremely essential.
Body content- A framework for developing leadership skills
1. Leadership style or position to aspire
1.1 The position involves
Being a student of management it is my dream to become a project manager for a large
project. In order to complete any project on-time and within assigned budget, a project manager
needs to play the role of both a leader and a manager as well (Kelly and MacDonald 2019). I
aspire to work for IT projects. The position of a successful project manager is appointed to take
in charge of the project activities. In order to conduct such projects I have to possess good
leadership skills also. Autocrat leadership, democratic leadership, coaching leadership, strategic

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leadership, laissez faire leadership, transformational leadership and charismatic leadership are
the different leadership styles available (Cheung, Yeung and Wu 2018). The best suited
leadership style that I need to possess for this particular position is Autocrat leadership.
Autocrat leadership style is referred to as one of the strongest one dimensional leadership
styles which gives the complete power as well as authority to the project manager. In this
approach the leaders take the final decision over others without any kind of consultancy and
discussion. After that the project manager makes all important calls to instruct the associates.
1.2 Knowledge, skills and attitudes required
In order to be effective in the position the knowledge, skills and key attitudes those I need
to possess include:
 Positive communication
 Proper gratitude
 Ability to form up team
 Empowering and developing others
 Ability to show empathy and motivate others
 Decision making and conflict management skills
1.3 Critical elements for leadership success
The key elements those are essential for leadership success include:
 Transparency
 Learning from failure
 Trust and decisiveness
 Confidence

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 Humility and creativity
2. Analysis of strengths and weaknesses
2.1 Current leadership strength and weaknesses
SWOT analysis is the best personnel analysis approach. Before getting into any new
position or new job I think that SWOT analysis is the most effective one. SWOT analysis will
help me to find out the personnel strengths and weaknesses.
Strength Weaknesses
 I know how to create balance between the
personal life activities and professional
activities
 I have strong follow through
 I can control any difficult situation
 I have good communication skill
therefore, I can manage any conflict
situation
 I have good technical competency
 I can take all possible action to ensure that
a project is completed on-time and
estimated budget.
 I do not trust people easily, thus trust
issues for the employees can create issues
 I may sometime fail to establish clear
project expectations
 In order to take any final decision I always
need help from other. Therefore, I can say
that, I am not a very good decision maker.

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2.2 Technical competency
I can say that I am technically competent. I have good creative and technical thinking
skills. I have knowledge on data management, programming and big data analysis as well. In
details I have analytical skills, statistics compiling skills, data mining skills and I can design
database as well. Besides this I can assist associates who are assigned to network architecture
design and development. I have skills on developing teams in terms of partnership as well.
Though, I have never worked for any large project earlier but I am confident enough that I can
do this.
2.3 Work preference
I am an outgoing person and I can interact with even new people also very easily. I do
prefer to work as a technical project manager where I would be able to show my technical
abilities, team management capabilities, conflict management and decision making aptitudes.
Besides showing my capabilities to others I think that from this type of projects I would be able
to learn many things that will help me in future. I think that instead of working my own team
work always results well.
2.4 Degree of integrity
Degree of integrity is defined as an ability to understand characteristic traits of other
workplace employees and team associates (Wren 2018). The degree of loyalty, dependability,
honesty and judgment abilities of a person also increases a lot. I do not have high degree of
integrity which means that I cannot easily judge other people but I shall be always honest enough
to my roles and responsibilities.

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3. Comparison of current attributes to other desired future
3.1 Communication skill improvement
Effective communication skill helps executing mission, vision and strategies of an
organization. In order to maintain a good work culture not only the leader but also the other
organizational associates need to work efficiently (Woodrow and Guest 2017). The
communication management framework helps to create, plan and improve particular culture in
an organization. However, there is a difference between leadership skill and management skills.
Nothing should be recognized as ultimate in personnel development. Continuous
improvement is always important for personnel skills, knowledge improvement (Solaja and
Ogunola 2016). Though I have good communication skills but I would prefer further
communication skill improvement program.
3.2 Experience of envisaging the future
In order to conceive a desired professional future, I definitely need to get more
experience because I do not have enough real life experience, Infact I have never worked for any
large project. In order to become a good example of leader or manager I need to earn experience
to avoid probable risks and issues.
4. Development of leadership capacity
4.1 Need to expose myself

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In order to become a good leader for any large IT project I feel I need to expose myself to
new and different experience. I have to regularly feature the resources those are essential for the
completion of a project on time and within accurate budget. In order to become a good project
manager I need to focus on industry specific skill development approaches. Apart from that,
education and project managing certification is also important to become a good leader
(Gillespie 2017). In other words I feel that I need to expose myself more to earn new and
different experiences.
4.2 Need to attend training
In order to become either a good leader or a manager regular training is essential. On job
training will help me to become technically and non-technically experienced. The training
content varies based on project requirements.
4.3 Ensure new skills in workplace
As much I know that after every alternate 5/6 months new version of systems are
releases. In order to become familiar with the application and recognize the system as a user
friendly one I need to attend technical. It will help to improve my technical skills and knowledge.
The performance of the project team associates and mine as well will let me realize that
all the new skills I have learned from the training classes are utilizing. These skills are definitely
required to be used or else the skills will fade away.
4.4 Role of mentor

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I think that a coach or a mentor always be the way to go. The role of a mentor and a coach is
somewhere different. A mentor must assist and guide the project team associates to ensure that
the project will complete on time and budget without any additional budget and investment.
4.5 How to realize leadership is improved
Feedback or invoice given by other project associates and self performance analysis
(SWOT analysis) are the two different approaches that help one leader to realize that their skills
are improved (Göncü Köse and Metin 2018). Self assessment is the best way to measure
effective leadership skills.
Conclusion
From the complete discussion it is concluded that, there is not specific or absolute
leadership style available. In order to become a good leader still over others Autocrat leadership
style is best applicable for the post of a project manager. However, in order to maintain
management standard in the workplace environment leadership strengths and weakness analysis
is very important. The leadership strengths will help me throughout realize with specific
opportunities I can earn from the project. On the other hand, the weaknesses will help me to
identify which specific threat I can face in future projects. Effective leadership will help me to
assist the other project team associates.

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References
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successful aging in the workplace. Journal of Career Development, 45(6), pp.610-624.
Gillespie, R., 2017. A cross-sectional exploration of leadership styles exhibited when facing
workplace challenges: qualitative interviews with “the Company’s” managers (Doctoral
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Gliddon, D.G. and Rothwell, W.J. eds., 2018. Innovation leadership. Routledge.
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Kelly, S. and MacDonald, P., 2019. A look at leadership styles and workplace solidarity
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