Dynamic Leadership: Self-Development and Reflective Practice

This article discusses the importance of personal development in gaining leadership skills. It explores the results of the Gallup's personality test and the need for continuous learning and reflective practice to enhance leadership abilities.

Running head: DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP
Dynamic Leadership
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP
Self-Development
The process of becoming an effective leader or gaining leadership skills is
coterminous with the machinery of personal development (Shamir & Eilam-Shamir, 2018).
The construct of personal development is essential since it enables the individuals to not only
gain a working knowledge about the strengths and the weaknesses of their character or
personality but also helps to undertake development in the desired sections as well
(Heeneman et al., 2015). The Gallup’s personality test has emerged as one of the most
popular personality tests in the recent times (Soria, Roberts & Reinhard, 2015). The test
provides an overview of the key strengths as well as the weaknesses of an individual’s overall
personality and thereby offers them an opportunity to work on the weaknesses on one’s
personality and further strengthen the strengths of one’s personality.
A few days back I undertook the Gallup’s personality test with the inherent desire to
find out the key competencies of my own character or personality. I have to say in this regard
that the results were very surprising to me since the test clearly revealed that I posses 75% on
the basis of the answers that I gave (Appendix 1). In the earlier times I thought that I did not
posses any dynamic or for that matter any other leadership skills and the results of the test
were thus surprising to me. The results of the test perplexed me since all through my life I
have never taken any strong leadership stance nor have led any team. In addition to this, the
results of the test at the same time revealed that I strategically thinking person with a
significant integrity of character and at the same time am resourceful and self-motivated
(Appendix 1). Needless to say that although the results of the test were very flattering yet at
the same time there are lots of areas on which I need to work on so as to effectively enhance
my leadership abilities and other aspects of my character or personality (Appendix 1).

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Reflective Practice
The process of reflective writing and practice can help an individual in a significant
manner in the process of continuous learning and also self-development (Illeris, 2014). The
process of reflection not only enables an individual to reflect in a subjective manner on the
key competencies on their own character but at the same time helps them to seek
development in those areas as well (Illeris, 2014). However, at the same time, it needs to be
said that this particular aspect requires an individual to undertake continuous self-
development. Furthermore, I am of the viewpoint that an individual needs to inculcate the
habit of continuous learning in order to attain the stage of self-development. In the particular
context of the development of my leadership abilities, I would like to say although I have got
a score of 75% on Gallup’s personality test yet there is much scope for growth. This can be
attained only through the processes of self-development and continuous learning. For
example, I would be required to undertake various kinds of activities like the development of
emotional intelligence, critical decision making abilities and others for the further
development of my leadership abilities. In addition to these, I firmly believe that the process
of going through the various theories of leadership and also the context in which they can be
used would really be very helpful for me. Furthermore, watching the videos of the past
leaders over the various internet channels can also help me in a significant manner. Thus, it
can be said that to improve my dynamic leadership style I would need to undertake the
processes of self-development and continuous learning.

3DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP
References
Heeneman, S., Oudkerk Pool, A., Schuwirth, L. W., van der Vleuten, C. P., & Driessen, E.
W. (2015). The impact of programmatic assessment on student learning: theory versus
practice. Medical education, 49(5), 487-498. Retrieved from
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/medu.12645
Illeris, K. (2014). Transformative learning and identity. Journal of Transformative
Education, 12(2), 148-163. Retrieved from
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1541344614548423
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. Retrieved from
https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/S1479-357120180000009017
Soria, K. M., Roberts, J. E., & Reinhard, A. P. (2015). First-year college students’ strengths
awareness and perceived leadership development. Journal of Student Affairs Research
and Practice, 52(1), 89-103. Retrieved from
https://naspa.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19496591.2015.996057#.W7RosnszbI
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Appendix 1