Developing Leadership Capabilities: Conflict Resolution and Communication Skills

This article discusses the importance of developing conflict resolution and communication skills to become an effective leader. It also provides strategies to encourage full participation and teamwork of group members regarding innovation and creative thinking. The author shares personal experiences and reflections on how they assessed their capabilities and formulated strategies to improve their leadership skills.

Running head: Leadership 1
Leadership
Student’s Name
Course
University
Date

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Table of Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................3
Leadership capabilities..............................................................................................................................3
Conflict resolution skills........................................................................................................................3
How to develop.......................................................................................................................................3
Communication skills............................................................................................................................4
How to develop my communication skills............................................................................................4
How I assessed my capabilities.............................................................................................................5
STRATEGIES THAT I USED TO BE A GOOD LEADER..................................................................7
How I evaluated and formulated strategies to encourage full participation and teamwork of the
group members regarding innovation and creative thinking.................................................................9
Reflection on how I have improved my capability to become a better leader about the self and peer
reviews on group assignments and presentations..................................................................................11
How I assisted with the decision-making process..................................................................................12
Conclusion................................................................................................................................................13
My biggest take away from this course..............................................................................................13

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Introduction
Leadership capabilities
According to Hempsall (2014) leadership refers to the process of influencing action among a
particular group of people. A good leader should have some unique qualities which are essential
for his success as a leader. Being a leader in the organization, I always have a quest for been a
better leader as years go by. According to Boak & Crabbe (2018), there are to main capabilities
that I would like to develop to an effective leader:
Conflict resolution skills
Conflicts are part and parcel of human life. As a leader in the organization, there are
usually conflicts between the employees and management or even employees themselves which
makes the most talented employees to leave the organization. This has pained me as a leader
forcing me to work on conflict resolution skills to prevent such occurrences in the future.
How to develop
I requested the organization to assign me the task as a counselor in the organization. All the
employees who have individual differences come to my office where we discuss the issue and
solve the problem. In case of a complex issue, I usually tell them to go back on a given date after
which I would have discussed their issue with my mentor who gives me the way forward, and I
usually have the problem solved once they come back. I also read a lot of articles concerning
conflict resolution with approaches for various types of conflicts which I always apply in case of
any issues among the employees (Singh, Kumar & Puri, 2017).

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Communication skills
This can be perceived in various ways. It is the ability to: convince the employees by the way
you talk to achieve the desired objective, ability to be fluent in more than one language, etc. This
is very important for a leader especially when there is a need for change in the organization. A
leader has to come up with good communication strategies to ensure compliance by all the
employees with minimal resistance among them.
How to develop my communication skills
During the change management process, I am usually the critical person who communicate with
the employees. I am also pursuing a part time course in a foreign language where I am studying
French so as to be efficient enough because our organization is looking forward to forming a
partnership with a company in France over a particular project hence as a leader I need to be
competent to deal with the employees from the other side.

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How I assessed my capabilities
Through SWOT analysis, I was able to ascertain my strengths and weaknesses in various aspects
of leadership (Bryson, 2018).
Strengths
I discovered that I could motivate the employees because I initiated pay as per the performance
system which has made the employees very productive than before. I am courageous enough
since I usually face my seniors and question them over critical issues concerning organizational
performance. I am a responsible leader because I regularly ensure that the objectives set by the
organization have been achieved within the specified time frame. I am generally accountable for
my actions especially when I represent the organization in significant forums; the organization
usually count on me for proper feedback.
Weaknesses
As a leader, I discovered that I was not efficient in managing conflicts among the employees in
the organization. As a result, many employees have been leaving the organization hence I felt the
need to develop conflict resolution skills. I also discovered that there was high resistance to
change among the employees in the organization; therefore there was a need to devise on how I
shall be communicating to them as a leader to enhance acceptance to varying among the
employees in the organization, I also discovered that I was only Familiar with English hence I
felt the need to learn a foreign language which was going to be efficient during the partnership
with the French company. I also had to learn on how to communicate to the employees in
different circumstances in the company, e.g. during a crisis, during strikes, etc.

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Opportunities
As a leader, I discovered that being fluent in French would facilitate easy communication with
the foreign officials hence I had to learn how to speak French to be an effective leader.
Threat
Sometimes self-esteem was a threat when there was a need to face the senior manager with a
1critical concern, but I took the time to strategize on how I would approach him.

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STRATEGIES THAT I USED TO BE A GOOD LEADER
Been straightforward
As a leader, I decided that I would be sincere in everything that I did and this has enabled me to
avoid many temptations such as bribery, nepotism, etc.
Determination
As a leader, I have always been determined in everything that I do. I usually believe that the
organization can achieve its set objectives within the stipulated period and through determination
and proper supervision, it has always happened.
Planning
As a leader, I have always planned for various tasks to be undertaken by the employees which I
usually ensure that all the works have been completed within the predetermined period.
Learning
Through reading various materials about leadership and observing how successful leaders
operate, I have been able to be a better leader.
Been ready to listen to other people's ideas
As a leader, I have always looked to other people's suggestions, and this has made me successful
since there has been minimal conflicts and resistance among the people especially during the
decision-making process within the organization.

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Measuring performance
Through self-appraisal, I was able to ascertain my efficiency as a leader about the degree of
achievement of my objectives and where there were setbacks I took an immediate action to
address the concern.
Career development
I enrolled to a leadership school for a little leadership course where I gained many insights about
what leadership entails, and it made me be the type of a leader I am today something which I am
proud of.

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How I evaluated and formulated strategies to encourage full participation and teamwork of
the group members regarding innovation and creative thinking.
Through setting of goals
As a group leader, I set goals to be achieved at the end of the group discussion which saw each
of the group members actively participating through brainstorming after which the group work
was accomplished (Schoemaker, Heaton & Teece, 2018). The goal setting theory of team
participation was the strategy that enhanced the achievement of the set group objectives.
Division of work
By application of the specialization strategy, each of the group members was assigned a part to
work on before the group meeting which enhanced a productive group discussion after the group
members met for the group discussion. The application of the specialization theory improved the
useful accomplishment of the group task.
Building trust and respect
This is where each members' opinion in the group work is accepted as the correct one and as a
result individuals feel respected which enhances their full participation. Reciprocity theory is
applied which states that individuals tend to give their best when something is given to them to
them in return which increases the success of the group work.

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Appreciation of good work
As a leader I ensured that the other group members appreciated individuals who gave their best
in the group work, good performance was easily identified after the results of the group work
was out and each's contribution was quickly recognized, and after that, the group members were
appreciated. The application of the motivation theory enhanced the repetitive behavior in future
which always improved the best results of the group work.
Outlining of the tactics to be used by group members during research
According to Santamaria (2014) as a group leader, I described the tactics to be used by the group
members to tackle the allocated tasks to enhance quick research and submission of the results for
discussion by all the members during the group work.

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Reflection on how I have improved my capability to become a better leader about the self
and peer reviews on group assignments and presentations
Coordination of the group meetings
As a group leader I had the task of passing communication to all the group members regarding
the venue for group discussion and ensured active participation of each group member during the
group work, this indeed has improved my capability to becoming an effective leader (Robinson,
2017).
Presentation of the group work
It was a requirement for each of the group to present their task in front of the class in the
presence of the lecturer after which the marks were allocated. I took the mantle for showing our
group task which gave me confidence which was a vital aspect that improved my leadership
capability since a leader should be confident enough to address his subjects.
Formulation of strategies for the group work
As a leader, I played an important role in the wording of the plan for the undertaking of the
group work and ensured that it was a success (Rothaermel, 2015). This has improved my
capability as a leader because I usually formulate effective strategies in the organization which
enhances the achievement of the set organizational goals and objectives.

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How I assisted with the decision-making process
According to Trianni, Cagno & Farné (2016) as a leader I helped my group members in making
decisions concerning the group assignment in the following ways:
Determining the solution to the problem
As a leader, I thoroughly analyzed the problem and came up with various approaches for solving
the problem which enhanced the success of the group work.
Gathering of information
As a leader, I did thorough research of the task in prior and collected the relevant information
about the task after which I directed the group members on the efficient sources to obtain the
data for the group work.
Brainstorming sessions
As a leader I led the group through the brainstorming session where the group members were
able to give their various opinions about the assigned task which was recorded by the group
secretary, this enhanced a quick solution to the problem that was in question.
Efficient evaluation of the alternatives
As a leader, I made a practical review of the available options to come up with a concrete
solution to the problem.

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Conclusion
My biggest take away from this course
I have gained much in the leadership qualities that shall enhance my success as a leader. I have
also learned about various types of leadership styles that I can apply as a leader when dealing
with my subjects for efficiency.

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References
Bryson, J. M. (2018). Strategic planning for public and nonprofit organizations: A guide to
strengthening and sustaining organizational achievement. John Wiley & Sons.
Boak, G., & Crabbe, S. (2018). Experiences that develop leadership capabilities. Leadership &
Organization Development Journal.
Hempsall, K. (2014). Developing leadership in higher education: Perspectives from the USA, the
UK, and Australia. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 36(4), 383-394.
Robinson, V. (2017). Capabilities required for leading improvement: Challenges for researchers
and developers.
Rothaermel, F. T. (2015). Strategic management. McGraw-Hill Education.
Santamaria, L. J. (2014). Critical change for the greater good: Multicultural perceptions in
educational leadership toward social justice and equity. Educational Administration
Quarterly, 50(3), 347-391.
Singh, R., Kumar, N., & Puri, S. (2017). Thought self-leadership strategies and sales
performance: integrating selling skills and adaptive selling behavior as missing links.
Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, 32(5), 652-663.
Schoemaker, P. J., Heaton, S., & Teece, D. (2018). Innovation, Dynamic Capabilities, and
Leadership. California Management Review, 0008125618790246.
Trianni, A., Cagno, E., & Farné, S. (2016). Barriers, drivers and the decision-making process for
industrial energy efficiency: A broad study among manufacturing small and medium-
sized enterprises. Applied Energy, 162, 1537-1551.