Leadership in Organizations: Reflection and Analysis

This report discusses critical reflection on experiences of leadership, suggestions for improvement areas, and the use of leadership concepts and theories in analyzing and evaluating the leadership of Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group.

HR6002 Leadership in
Organizations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Critical reflection on experiences of leadership along with suggestions for improvement areas.
......................................................................................................................................................1
Use of leadership concepts as well as theory in analysis and evaluation of leadership...............4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES:...............................................................................................................................8
APPENDICES.................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Leadership is defined to the art of directing along with influencing individuals in such
manner that they attain their respect, obedience, loyal cooperation and confidence in
accomplishing common goals. It involves set of actions that are directed towards group
objectives and it perpetually exhibit behavioural pattern with certain objectives (Bass, 2008).
Leadership in organisations is required for accepting, adopting along with executing changes
within model of business as per dynamic trends, customer preferences as well as future concerns.
This report is categorised in two tasks wherein first task is based on critical reflection on
experience of leadership as well as suggestions for development areas. The second task is based
on usage of leadership theory as well as concepts while analysing and evaluation of leadership of
Jack Ma who is Founder of Alibaba Group.
MAIN BODY
Critical reflection on experiences of leadership along with suggestions for improvement areas.
As a leader while working in a group to accomplish the project work, I experienced that I
delegates tasks in a such way that helped me in managing myriad responsibilities at workplace. I
organised and called various meetings to update the knowledge of whole team about the
workings that members have to accomplished within set time frame. My listening skills were
excellent as I never missed any point of information that were related to me. Through this, I was
able to combine and synthesis the ideas in clear manner that were presented or shared by others
to me. In addition, I also synthesis each clump of information in order to potential contributor for
the aspects that the group was trying to accomplish while working on the project. Through out
the way, I identified various problems along with challenges that were faced by the group
members and calmly analyse whole situation so to provide appropriate solutions. I did all this
working with the support and help of team that helped me in analysing that teamwork is crucial
element of leadership and is considered the most in successful leadership. One of the good
attribute that I ascertained was commendable was my potentiality to see positivity in all
situations despite of perceived griminesses in various circumstances. I followed the concept or
theory of democratic leadership wherein I held final responsibility of work accomplishment and
delegated authorities to the group members. With this leadership, my communication with all the
group members was active. In this leadership, I redistributed powers as well as authority among
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all people involved in group workings to enhance involvements while making various decisions.
There was high individual commitment as all effectively participated in making decisions and
sharing ideas within the group. Through this, I was able to influence the members to function or
perform activities just beyond being ranked as well as filed.
While executing my leadership roles in working with group members, I faced various
hurdles that were resistance of few members to accept any changes or modifications in work
practices. In this situation, I adopted transactional leadership in which I emphasised more on
visionary leadership so to win over group members and provide them assistance that acceptance
of changes will be benefit for their development and explained them the positive effects of
changes that motivated them to accept the new workings and performing activities with new
practices. In this leadership, effectiveness was found through developing supportive relationships
among all the members rather than adopting incentives or rewarding methods to motivate
changes. Moreover, the transformation leadership model helped me in emphasising on individual
interaction with others by creating solid relationships that were based on trust and it leaded
towards increasing extrinsic as well as intrinsic motivation in group members to complete the
project by trusting each other and sharing all their opinions wherever required. Moreover, with
this leadership, I successfully developed mutual reinforcing environment in which the goals and
objectives of all group members were in synch. But at same time, I failed in managing
transparency of information with the group members.
To effectively undertake leadership roles with group workings, there are situations that
required filling of gap among requirement of new possibilities with the requirements of
practicality through providing described set of habits. For this, I opted strategic leadership style
that helped me in delivering valuables in context to what group members naturally expects from
leadership when new practicality are required for directions and leading. All situations having
requirements for new chances and practical solutions involves strategic thinking. This style
enables me to make more logical as well as confident decision while directing the individuals.
With this leadership style, I not only solved daily problems but also assisted me to planing for
tomorrow as well as for future and ensured that the pertaining problems do not re occur again in
coming duration that made it more effective. Thinks more strategically, helped me in knowing
what is to happen today and in coming phases which assisted me in adjusting the timetable of
workings based on the current happenings. At same time, there were also circumstances that
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needed encouragement of work autonomy within the group. In this situation, members needed
minimum directions from me. As I provided them the work autonomy then also I performed my
various leadership roles in order to eliminate the burden of more hurdles on group members and
they felt sense of accomplishment in return. In addition, within such scenario, I created
atmosphere of autonomy addition to responsibility that resulted in more empowerment among
members but resulting in low controlling. Furthermore, problem solving is not single activity of
the leader as I involved all members of the groups and shared group activities. Herein, I acted
much through following path goal theory whereby I directed activities through varying manners.
In this, I performed by all the leadership roles with the intention to involve each member of the
group in solving problems, sharing or laying down opinions for specific direction rather
dismissing perspective of others. With this, I analysed various leading path which required trod
as well as get the group to attain project completion by commanding, soliciting solutions as well
as rewarding. As I did not attended any of the development programmes to solve the problems
creatively, I analysed that these programmes are necessary to develop collaborative skills along
with creative techniques that plays huge role in leadership strategies. While executing my
leadership roles, I was able to grow my group members through helping them to develop their
skills in context to problem solving and decision making that was my most prioritise
responsibility as a leader. In various situation when group members came to me with the
problems I asked them what they would have done in the situation and it helped in developing
their skills. In addition, there were many circumstances in which I did not taken any sides as well
as intervene in interpersonal issues of the group members. Hence, following the styles of
leaderships as per the pertaining circumstances and solving them officiously makes the
leadership more effective.
Areas for my own development
As per the experience in working as leader in group, I analysed that there are few areas
that needs development. For such context, the suggest areas of development as a leader are skills
and attributes such as communication skills and transparency attribute. As per my experience as
a leader, I have learned that my communication skill was not that effective as requires and to
meet the requirements it needs to be developed. In addition, One of my attribute of transparency
also needs development as I only share information with few group members only that creates
confusion among other members to either consider the information or not. To improve the both
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areas, personal development plan is prepared that will help in executing actions for the
development. To improve communication skill, I will attend communication sessions with group
members and at same time will follow open door policy in which open environment of
communication will be encouraged. In context to transparency attribute, I various times failed to
keep the information transparent with the group members. These areas will be developed as soon
as possible. With development of these skills, the objectives will be synch as per the relativeness.
This areas also need development as to foster culture of trust within leaders and group members.
It will be developed by building trusted relationships with all the group members, taking
involvement in brainstorming activities and by confronting distinct circumstances.
Use of leadership concepts as well as theory in analysis and evaluation of leadership.
Jack Ma is co founder as well as former chairman of the leading company Alibaba
Group. Jack Ma is one of fascinating example of effective and successful leader. Some of his
fascinating leadership qualities are sincere enthusiasm, great communication skills, decisiveness,
managerial competence, empowerment and loyal (Daft and Marcic, 2014). Few of the leadership
theories are situational and contingency theory, trait and behavioural theories, transformational
and transactional theories as well as distributed leadership. In relevance to Jack Ma, his
leadership styles are inspiring and influential. Jack Ma is an authentic leader who has strong
sense of character. A leader must follow prompt leadership style as to foster loyalty as well as
building strong foundation through which business can grow effectively. The leadership qualities
and styles of Jack Ma are based on improving livings of staff members and greater community.
In context to transactional leadership, leaders focuses on promoting compliances with current
business goals as well as performance expectations by supervising and using concept of
punishment and rewarding. Following the leadership, leaders gains advantages of adhering status
quo as well as employing supervision which pays close attention towards the ways group
members or manpower performs their tasks. Considering transformational leadership, more
emphasis is made towards enhancing motivation along with engagement of group members with
organisational values. From the perspective of this theory, the effective leadership qualities
within the selected leader are promoting empowerment and breathless efforts to achieve success.
Jack Ma while managing manpower of Alibaba Group follows transformational leadership
style so to empower his employees together with influences them to work more so to achieve
successful results (Leadership qualities and theories of Jack Ma. 2019. The theory states
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procedures within which an individual interacts with various members and creates solid
relationship resulting towards high trust percentage and enhancement of motivation. Using this
theory, leaders make transformations within subordinates by inspirational nature as well as
charismatic personalities. In this leaders sets flexible rules that are guided by norms of group
members. The attributes within this theory determines sense of belongings to the members. With
this, the leader attains benefits of fascinating group performance, creating along with managing
changes, creating enthusiasm and influencing continuous development (Northouse, 2012). At
same time, transformational leadership theory also have some disadvantages such as it develop
negative outcomes and needs consistent feedbacks. Similarly, situational and contingency
leadership theories are also effective as they illustrates effectiveness of leaders are contingent on
their styles which matches the pertaining situation. These are basically associated with style of
leadership that fits best to the ongoing situation. When Alibaba Group was facing tough
situations and to manage its key resources as well as critical circumstances, Jack Ma followed
situational leadership style in which they evaluated their groups and teams through asking the
manpower about existing situations and according to the understanding they executes the
successful requirements for leading the team that makes the theory more effective. As per the
theory, leaders takes the circumstances to next level and proposes effective actions on the basis
of various variables pertaining in the situations. Situational leaders carefully understands needs
of group members, changes strategies according to pertaining situations, properly choosies
effective style on the basis of subordinate needs and gains trusts with confidence of all
organisational members. Some of the effective leadership qualities of Jack Ma in context to
situational theory are flexibility, changes as per the situations, coaching, delegating and clear
vision. With this theory, selected leader gained advantage of recognising flexibility needs,
building comfortable environment for group members, considering distinct development phases
and boosting training routines (Obolensky, 2017). At same time, the theory has some
disadvantage that are it only considers immediate needs not long term needs, creates more
organisational dependency and ineffective in environment that is task oriented.
Distributed leadership is also one of the theory in which understanding about the ways
in which work of leaders takes place between people and complex situations. The key qualities
of leaders following this theory are autonomy, capacity as well as accountability. In general, it is
concerned with leadership practice despite of particular leadership responsibilities. It is equitable
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with collective, extended as well as shared leadership practices which builds capacities for
improvements along with changes. In relevance with Jack Ma, his leadership is based on
mobilising expertise at all level of organisation for generating huge opportunities to change
addition to build improvement capacities (Cartwright, 2017.). The leader carefully plan future,
ignores binary ideas of others and facilitate distribution of responsibility among group members
on the basis of expertise within the roles. The leadership qualities in perspective of this theory
are concerned with encouraging pluralistic engagement, shared meanings, capacity and
autonomy. Other than this, the concept of ethical leadership states that leadership must be
directed in relevance with ethical beliefs along with values for the dignity as well as rights of
others. The qualities of leaders in perspective of ethical leadership theory are honesty, fairness,
consideration, trust and charisma. With this theory, aspects of importance of trust as well as good
relationships are understood by the organisational leaders. Ethics are associates with individual
virtuousness and their motives. Leadership of Jack Ma is based on utilising spare timings so to
protect the environment as well as positively attending charities, creating values as well as brand
recognition (Ethical leadership. 2019)). The leaders uses his ethical leadership style to enhance
valuables for competing with intense rivals. Hence, successful ethical leader has its own
responsibilities to create deep values within organisation and people. Ethical leadership style
helps a leader to ensure that they are following all the laws, creates healthier workplace culture,
focuses on creating conscientious, builds inclusive workplace, culture of accountability and
allows to report the problems quickly. In contrary, various limitations of the theory are that it
needs comprehensive support, costly to implement and requires consistency without any failures.
A leaders must frame its ethics that provides them more profits and are successfully
implemented. When the leadership is ethically implemented then it creates healthy, supportive as
well as positive workplace for the group members. Jack Ma applies the leadership theories as per
the pertaining situations. For example, in order to emphasis in specific variables that are
concerned with the environment that may determine the suitability of leadership style for the
situation, they applies contingency or situational theory of leadership. Similarly, to influence
group members and raising motivation level with commitment through offering best
opportunities, transformational leadership theory is used. In addition, to influence people by
using ethical principles and creating balance among well-being of internal members and external
wider community, Jack Ma applies ethical leadership theory.
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CONCLUSION
As per the above discussion it has been concluded that leadership is one of essential part
needed at organisation to motivate people for higher performances by strong human relations. It
is function that maximises efficiency of manpower for achieving goals of the company.
leadership plays important role of initiating actions, creating confidence, building favourable
work culture, coordinating activities, providing guidances and motivating people at
organisations. Leaders gains various experiences while performing their roles and applying
leadership styles. Some of the areas that are required more development among leaders are
communication skills addition top attribute of transparency. The key leadership theories that
leaders applies are transformational theory, situational theory, distributed leadership and ethical
leadership. Organisational leaders follows the styles and applies the theories in such manner that
it satisfies business needs and manpower expectations.
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REFERENCES:
Books and Journals:
Bass, B. M., 2008. The Bass handbook of leadership: theory, research and managerial
applications. New York: Free Press.
Bryman, A. and Et. Al., 2011. The Sage handbook of leadership. London: Sage.
Burns, J. M., 1978. Leadership,New York: Harper Row.
Cartwright, R., 2017. Mastering team leadership. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Clegg, S., Kornberger, M. and Pitsis, T., 2011. Managing & organizations: an introduction to
theory and practice. 3rd edn, London: Sage.
Daft, R. L. and Marcic, D., 2014. Building Management Skills: An Action-First Approach,
Australia: South-Western Cengage.
Daft, R. L., 2011. Leadership. 5th edn, Australia:South Western Cengage Learning.
French, R., 2015. Cross-cultural management in work organisations. Kogan Page Publishers.
Gill, R., 2011. Theory and practice of leadership 2nd edn. London: Sage.
Grint, K., 2010. Leadership: limits and possibilities. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Iszatt-White, M. and Saunders, C., 2014. Leadership. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Linstead, S., Fulop, L. and Lilley, S., 2009. Management and organization: A critical text, 2nd
edn. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.
Macdonald, I., Burke, C. and Stewart, K., 2018.Systems leadership: Creating positive
organisations. Routledge.
Northouse, P. G., 2012. Leadership: theory and practice 6th edn. London: Sage.
Obolensky, N., 2017. Complex adaptive leadership: Embracing paradox and uncertainty.
Routledge.
Pendleton, D. and Furnham, A. F., 2016. Leadership: All You Need To Know 2nd Edition.
Springer.
Rayner, C. and Adam-Smith, D., 2009. Managing and leading people. London: CIPD.
Swanwick, T. and McKimm, J., 2017. ABC of clinical leadership. John Wiley & Sons.
Thompson, P. & McHugh, D., 2009. Work organisations: a critical approach, 4th Edn.
Basingstoke: Palgrave.MacMillan.
Watson, T., 2006. Organising and managing work. 2nd Edn. Harlow: Pearson Education.
Online:
Leadership qualities and theories of Jack Ma. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.thestrategywatch.com/leadership-qualities-skills-styles-jack-ma/>
Ethical leadership. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://sunnyzhaoblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/leadership-and-ethics/>
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APPENDICES
Personal development plan
Area of
development
Date I will
have this
completed
by:
I will achieve
this by:
What's
happening
now?
How will I
know I've been
successful?
Progress
Communicati
on skills
28/01/18 The aim is to
develop my
communication
skills through
making
communication
on priority,
building
interaction with
group members
and expressing
thoughts and
ideas with
others.
Inconsistency
in
communication
, assuming that
group members
understands
jargon,
thinking that all
are excellent
communicators
.
In order to
develop this
skill, I need to
take various
sessions of
communication
and following
open door
policy.
The progress is
to be
determined by
analysing my
performance
criteria
through
effectively
communicatio
n and
understanding
other
perspective
efficiently.
Transparency 30/07/18 The aim is to
develop more
transparency
among group
members so to
accomplish
their projects
without any
issues.
I communicate
and keep the
information to
my selective
group members
only which
become barrier
as well as
influence the
In order to
develop this
skill, I need to
communicate
and build
healthy
relationship
with more and
more group
The progress is
judged by
constructive
criticism by
group
members.
9

performance of
group members
as through this
they get
confused.
members.
10