Leadership Journey: Responsibilities and Challenges Faced by a Leader

This report discusses the responsibilities and challenges faced by a leader in an organization. It also highlights the results of the Gallup Strengths Finder and the feedback on the leadership style, interpersonal skills, and capabilities of the author. The report emphasizes the importance of feedback for professional development.

Running head: LEADERSHIP JOURNEY
Leadership Journey
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

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LEADERSHIP JOURNEY
Executive Summary
The primary purpose of this report is to elucidate on the responsibilities and challenges that a
leader faces within an organisation. It discusses about key aspects in relation to my leadership
journey that have been instrumental in shaping me as a leader. It throws light on the results of
my Gall up Strength Finder and provides the feedback on my leadership style, interpersonal
skills and my capabilities. It discusses about implications of feedback that can prove to be
crucial in relation to my professional development.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
My Leadership Journey..............................................................................................................3
Leadership Journey of Partner...................................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................7
References:.................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
Leadership Journey charts the career progression of an individual and it helps an
individual in realizing the strengths. The journey that a leader goes through helps an
individual in working on the areas of weakness that can help him in acquiring a strong
professional position (Kim &Mauborgne, 2017). This report focuses on the persons who have
influenced me and the critical events that have influenced my leadership journey. The report
also discusses about the results of Gall up Strengths Finder and the feedback that I have
received regarding my leadership style and the interpersonal skills from the other employees
in the organisation. The report also throws light on importance of feedback about its
significance in relation to my profession.
My Leadership Journey
Currently I am in the professional position of Marketing Manager in the company
called Bakers Delight which is instrumental in selling of loaves. I had to develop the brand
that can help in expansion of the company. I was given the responsibility of directing the
media relations that can help in making the company popular within the market (Swanson &
Frederick, 2016). My role included producing the press release that can help in the marketing
of the company. I was charged with the responsibility of carrying out the market research so
that it can help me in gaining understanding regarding the needs of the customer. I was given
the responsibility of the identification of opportunities prevailing in the market and studying
the competitors of Baker’s Delight so that it can rise above the competitors. I had to develop
marketing strategy for Baker’s Delight that can help in promotion of products to that of the
target market (Chang, Chen&Chiou, 2015). The challenges that I had to face as the
marketing manager was in relation to assessing the trends in current market. I had to learn the
new things in relation to social media and web designing that acted like a challenge for me.

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In the position of Marketing Manager, I was influenced by the Marketing Director
who helped me in developing the marketing strategies for Baker’s Delight. The Marketing
Director helped me in establishing the marketing budget that helped me in learning a lot. The
Marketing Director provided me with valuable guidance that can help the company in
meeting the marketing objectives. The Marketing Director offered me valuable advice in
relation to competitor research that enabled me in learning a lot and helped me in developing
as a leader. The Marketing Director pointed out to me the importance of working with the
sales department that can help in developing the pricing strategies that can maximise the
profits of the company. The Marketing Director advised me on the importance of supporting
the employees so that they can become brand ambassadors by taking recourse to sharing on
that of their own term. I was told to encourage the members of organisation to update the
profiles in Linked In by providing brand information that is up-to-date that can work to the
benefit of company. It had a great impact on the prospect of the company as it can help in
increasing the revenue of Baker’s Delight. I was advised by him to create leaderboard that
can help in displaying the sharing activity of the employees of Baker’s Delight. I was told to
direct the employees so that they would use custom hashtags in the event of posting about a
conferences that can augment the social media presence of Baker’s Delight (Ward, 2016).
The advice provided by Marketing Director helped me in understanding the important role
that the employees of Baker’s Delight can play in increasing brand image of company within
that of the competitive marketplace.
The Psychometric test of Gallup Strengths Finder brought out the fact that the
strengths that I have are in relation to communication along with the strategic abilities. The
positive attributes of consistency and deliberation are imbibed in me that can help in
furthering my professional development. I have got analytical skills that can help me in
judging things in the true light that can be of great use in the arena of marketing. The test

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emphasized on the fact that I have strong communication skills that can help in the aspect of
maintaining co-ordination among the employees in an organization. Effective communication
is of great significance in the realm of marketing that can help in maintaining proper dialogue
with that of the clients. The test indicated that I act in a consistent manner that can help me in
building credibility in the organisation. I can act as a trusted colleague that can work for the
welfare of my organisation. The element of trust should be built by an employee that will
make him a valuable asset of a company (Felix, Rauschnabel&Hinsch, 2017).
The interview given by my partner helped in throwing important light on my
leadership style and my social skills. We are working together in Baker’s Delight for the last
one year and hence my partner can act as a reliable source pertaining to valuable information.
At the time of the interview, my partner was asked whether I was a good communicator to
which my partner said that I was endowed with interpersonal skills that helped me in my role
of a leader (Piercy, 2014). I can communicate well the vision of my company to my co-
workers and the subordinates that can help them in working in the proper direction. A survey
that was conducted at Baker’s Delight revealed that I had great decision making abilities that
was owing to my analysing skills (Farris et al., 2017).
The analysing skills that I have got will help me in evolving as a strategic leader that
will be able to help him in challenging prevailing view without any kind of outrage. The
leader being consistent in relation to style will be able to create a stable work environment
that will be able to maximise the profit of the organization.
Leadership Journey of Partner
I was greatly helped by the Marketing Manager of my organisation who showed me
how to analyse the market in the proper manner which is necessary for survival within the
competitive market. I am working as a team leader in a marketing firm that necessitates co-

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ordination among the team members for the proper marketing of a product or a service. The
marketing of a product is a demanding task especially in the event when an individual has to
promote a new product in the market. I possess analytical skills that help me in working in a
smart manner. The analytical skills that I have got will help me in delving into the problems
that can help in the arena of evaluation of information. Correct information can be separated
from that of the incorrect ones by taking recourse to analytical skills that can help in the
aspect of critical analysis (Lovelock & Patterson, 2015). My task is to analyse the market
dimensions so that I can seek the best method that can aid in relation to marketing of a
product. My analytical skills were revealed successfully when I suggested to my team that the
best way to position product would be to take it directly to that of the targeted customer.
A leader should be capable of making right decision at that of the right time and my
strategic competence can help me in the aspect of taking the right step that can help the
organisation in realizing the objectives. The analysing skills will be able to help him in
changing course in the event of the path turning out to be incorrect. The element of
consistency that I am imbibed with will help me in being predictable that can help in
providing stability to the organization. I have the ability of working hard which is an
important attribute of a marketing professional. I can finish my work within a stipulated time
frame that provides me with time to co-ordinate with the other members in my team. I am
proficient in communication that can help in building alignment which is a crucial quality of
a leader. It can help me in the execution of strategy that is imperative for a leader in an
organisation. Communication will act as the “information highway” that shall be able to help
the leader in dealing with all kinds of circumstance (Blakeley, 2015). The communication
skills that I am imbibed with can help me in connecting with the subordinates that can help
them in delivering performance in an effective manner in the workplace. I can deal with
challenges successfully in the organization. Being able to deal with challenges, have

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sharpened my problem-solving skills. This skill will enable me to think about answers
quickly that can greatly help the members of my team.
The significance of feedback lies in the fact that it can help me in the aspect of proper
utilisation of strength that can come to be of use for my organisation. The importance of
feedback exists in the fact that it can maximise the potential of employees in the organisation
and it can make them aware regarding their strengths (Yıldız, Baştürk&Boz, 2014). The
survey indicated that I took a lot of time before taking a decision but once I made the decision
I stood by him. This showed that I was consistent that can make me a trustworthy source in
the company. The key stakeholders are always consulted by me before taking a decision that
helps me in staying confident and showed that I acted in an accountable manner. The survey
revealed that the employees who performed well was provided with appreciation and on the
other hand in the event of the employees struggling they were made to realize the mistakes
that showed my capabilities as a leader (Ekpo et al., 2015).
Conclusion
The leadership journey shows career progression pertaining to an individual that can
help an individual in realizing strengths. Leadership journey can be useful for the leader in
improving the areas of weakness that can help him in excelling in his career. In the position
of Marketing Manager, I was assigned with the duty of developing brand that can aid in
expanding the company. My responsibility as marketing Manager of Baker’s Delight was to
take charge of social media presence of Baker’s Delight that can help in increasing popularity
of company within that of the competitive market. The Marketing Director offered me help in
the development of marketing strategies that can assist in proliferation of company. I was
provided guidance regarding how to make marketing budget that can prove to be of great use
in my profession. The interview with partner highlighted the fact that I was great at
communication and I had interpersonal skills that helps me in fulfilling efficiently role of the

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leader. This helped me in providing proper guidance to subordinates who would be able to
use this for betterment of company. It can help in their effective functioning within the
workplace. The skill of analysing is an important aspect of a leader that can help him in
challenging the view point of other people in organization without raising any kind of
outrage. My partner have analytical skills that greatly aids him in introspecting the conditions
in the prevailing market and come out with solutions that can rightly help in marketing of a
product. The Marketing Manager offered my partner with all kinds of necessary help in
studying the conditions of the market that act greatly help in the realm of marketing.

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References:
Blakeley, K. (2015). Inspiring responsible leadership in business schools: Can a spiritual
approach help. Leadership development: Questions business schools don’t ask, 151-
163.
Chang, T. Z., Chen, S. J., &Chiou, J. S. (2015). Management leadership behavior and market
orientation: The relationship and their effects on organization effectiveness and
business performance. In Marketing, technology and customer commitment in the new
economy (pp. 276-281). Springer, Cham.
Ekpo, A. E., Riley, B. K., Thomas, K. D., Yvaire, Z., Gerri, G. R. H., & Muñoz, I. I. (2015).
As worlds collide: The role of marketing management in customer-to-customer
interactions. Journal of Business Research, 68(1), 119-126.
Farris, P., Bendle, N., Pfeifer, P., &Reibstein, D. (2017). Key marketing metrics: the 50+
metrics every manager needs to know. Pearson UK.
Felix, R., Rauschnabel, P. A., &Hinsch, C. (2017). Elements of strategic social media
marketing: A holistic framework. Journal of Business Research, 70, 118-126.
Kim, W. C., &Mauborgne, R. A. (2017). Blue Ocean Leadership (Harvard Business Review
Classics). Harvard Business Review Press.
Lovelock, C., & Patterson, P. (2015). Services marketing. Pearson Australia.
Piercy, N. (2014). Marketing Organisation (RLE Marketing). Routledge.
Swanson, D. L., & Frederick, W. C. (2016). Denial and leadership in business ethics
education. Business ethics: New challenges for business schools and corporate
leaders, 222-240.

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Ward, J. (2016). Keeping the family business healthy: How to plan for continuing growth,
profitability, and family leadership. Springer.
Yıldız, S., Baştürk, F., &Boz, İ. T. (2014). The effect of leadership and innovativeness on
business performance. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 150, 785-793.