Developing Ethical Leadership Skills: Self-Reflection and Peer Assessment

This journal discusses the personality factors that help individuals develop ethical leadership skills through self-reflection and peer assessment. It explores leadership theories and models, and emphasizes the importance of aligning personal values with organizational demands.

Running head: ETHICAL LEADERSHIP
ETHICAL LEADERSHIP
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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Section one: Self-reflection
The aim of this self-reflective journal is to discuss the personality factors which help
the individuals to develop skills relaying to management or leadership. It is the one of the
most important as well as interesting aspect of the self-development. This journal contains the
personal assessment by focusing on four areas in Leadership and the results of the relevant
self-assessments. These are all supported by the reactions and comments of one of the
colleagues who have understanding of the aspects of personal behavior. This part of the
journal will be provide examples from my own experience and show an understanding of the
consequences of my own values, attitudes, style, behavior. In addition to this, the concepts,
models and theories of leadership will also be explored.
In the chapters 1 to 5 of the book by DuBrin namely Principles of Leadership, I have
been influenced by the importance of self-assessment especially in the case of leadership
skills development. The changing nature of leadership has always been an interesting concept
for me. Starting from the politics of the government of the country to the global leaders who
are controlling the business in all over the world have influenced me to take interest in this
particular subject. Through the learning process as well as personal experiences in the
college, university and now in the work life within a framework of a small firm, I have
explored four aspects of leadership, which I need to grow within me if I want to be a perfect
leader motivating the followers in an ethical manner. These four aspects of ethical leadership
are having capability to influence the others, ability to inspire confidence. Creativity and
intellectual stimulation and finally individualized consideration of the group members.
From the text assigned for the least five weeks I have growth my knowledge to
explore the various aspects of the leadership theories like situational leadership, path goals
theory, decision making style and contingency theory of leadership. From these models and
theories I have understood that the organostions emphasize the concepts of the leadership

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through giving training the managers or the group leaders for propelling the team or the
organostions forward (Dubrin 2013). These four aspects of leadership starting from being a
role model to the followers and show the charismatic personality that attracts and create a
positive impact on the minds of the followers (Antonakis and Day 2017). These factor
influences the others to become more like the leaders which is a pressing aspects that they
always utilize in motivating the employees to get support from them. It is the ability to grow
confidence as well as purpose of the followers (Amanchukwu, Stanley and Ololube 2015).
The ethical leadership to me, relies more on the give and take understanding among
the leaders and employees. By using different self-assessment tools, like Myers-Briggs type
indicator, Big Five personality traits, 16 personality test and Gall up test, I have found out
some very important aspects in me. First of all, the leadership skills include the
communication skills of the leader along with his negotiation skills. It can be stated that
effective commination process has become one of the strengths in me based on which I have
learn to cope up with the situation and survive in this highly competitive world. Through
verbal as well as non-verbal communication style, I have effectively shared my ideas to the
others and solved the misinterpretation issues in the organization I have been working.
Along with this, the test results opine that I am a learner and support the process of
gaining firsthand knowledge. It is true that I try to find out examples from my experiences
and relate those with the theories in have read in the last five weeks’ time span. This have
helped me to understand the connection of the expectations of the organostions on the leaders
in one hand and the expectations of the employees on the same. The values beliefs and
understanding of myself also largely depends upon my analytical feature. It is a true fact that
I prefer to analyze each and every incident so that I can find a pattern to understand the issues
related. This ability to analyze any issue, has given me the scope to utilize my problems
solving talent. I engage the subordinates in this aspect and increase the diversity. As an

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ethical leader, I would always be clear and transparent to my subordinates and encourage
them to provide their own ideas to solve the problem. I have found this process quite
effective as this promote collaboration among the employees and solve the problematic
situation more easily. However, I have found that I need to enhance my knowledge about the
cultural impact on the organizational process. This the due to the fact that after globalization,
the companies have been expanding in other countries and their national culture is playing
important roles in the organizational culture (Nawaz and Khan 2016). Therefore, I need to
work more on increasing the adaptability and flexibility of myself so that I can be updated
with time and need of the organization.
In addition to this, I have identified that the leaders based on their clear vision about
the future, can effectively communicate their ideas. They are able to communicate their
experimentations in one hand ensure commitment among the followers so that they can
create a scope for developing personal and professional development of the employees in the
organostions (Nawaz and Khan 2016). I have also found that the optimism in the personality
of the leaders are essentials so that they can encourage enthusiasm as well as ability through
conveying the messages of precisions, sense of authority and power.
Another facet of leadership is the creativity and intellectual stimulation of the
leaders which makes them different from the others. The intellectual creativity in the leaders
allows the followers to take part in the decisions making process (Ehrhart 2015). I have
understood that this method of involving the followers in the decision making process can
increase scope for diversity and finding out creative and innovative solutions (Nawaz and
Khan 2016). The successful leaders always consider the group members individually so that
each of them can be effectively motivated in different ways.

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Section 2: peer assessment
The peer assessment has revealed some very important factors in the personality of
mine. I had shared my writing with one of my colleagues and he has revealed the weaknesses
in me that will be barrier for me to become a successful leader. In his view, I am an introvert
person who has creativity, intellect and ability to get exposure, but do not pursue for
limelight. According to him, the presentability factor is lacked in my personality and I usually
communicate with the persons with whom I feel comfortable. This characteristic of being
selective can reduce the popularity and the followers will not be convinced to follow my
ideology. In addition to this, the feedback has also revealed that I am pragmatic yet
pessimistic. As I support the process of analytical view of every subject. This elongated and
slowed down the improvement process that will affect his decision making process in future.
Another factor, the peer reviewed action has pointed out that relates to the risk taking
mentality. According to my colleagues, I am a very careful persona and responsible with my
work but I lack the risk taking factor that makes the leaders more successful in their career
(Ehrhart 2015). Whenever I find a minimum difficulty or out of expertise tasks, I directly
reject them within thinking more about finding solution. It is a known fact that the leaders
need to cope up with any change in the industry and motivate the persons more sincerely.
Therefore, if I do not take risks, I will not be able to find out new ways to change or
incorporate changes in the organization thinking that these changes will affect me and my
group in a negative way. Finally, it has been pointed out that the mentoring mentality that the
successful leaders possess, is not possessed by me in any way. My colleague in this respect
wants to add that I should grow the capability to customize the training process of the
employees and take more care of the subordinates. These will be allowing the team members
for growing as well as becoming fulfilled in their positions.

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Therefore, it can be concluded that the methods of developing leadership skills has
various facets to remembers, the personal values, understanding and beliefs are needed to be
aligned with the requirement of the organizations as well as the demands of the subordinates.
Through proper self-assessment process and peer assessment, the personal strengths,
weaknesses and scopes for growth can be pointed out. Based on these, the personal and
professional growth in terms of leadership skills can be developed.

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References:
Amanchukwu, R.N., Stanley, G.J. and Ololube, N.P., 2015. A review of leadership theories,
principles and styles and their relevance to educational management. Management, 5(1),
pp.6-14.
Antonakis, J. and Day, D.V. eds., 2017. The nature of leadership. Sage publications.
Dubrin, A. (2013). Principles of Leadership. 7th ed.
Ehrhart, M.G., 2015. Self-concept, implicit leadership theories, and follower preferences for
leadership. Zeitschrift für Psychologie.
Nawaz, Z.A.K.D.A. and Khan_ PhD, I., 2016. Leadership theories and styles: A literature
review. Leadership, 16, pp.1-7.