Leadership Reflection and Development Plan

This report discusses the results of a self-assessment exercise on strengths and weaknesses, the influence of leaders, events and experiences that shaped values and attitudes, and challenges faced. It also provides insights on effective leadership, steps to become a better leader, and a development plan. The document is suitable for leadership and management courses.

Running head: LEADERSHIP REFLECTION AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Leadership Reflection and Development Plan
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

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LEADERSHIP REFLECTION AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Executive Summary
The primary purpose of this report is to elucidate on the results of the self-assessment
exercise that has throws light on my strengths along with weakness. The report elucidates on
the influence of the leaders in my life that have played an important part in shaping my
personality. The report discusses about the events along with the experiences that have
shaped my value along with attitude in life. The report also talks about the challenges that
have helped me in teaching important lessons. The report also talks about the multi-
dimensional nature in relation to effective leadership within the organisation. The report deals
with how an individual can become a better leader and the steps that an individual can take
that can help him in overcoming the barriers. The report also makes a development plan that
can help me in improving my abilities in relation to leadership.

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LEADERSHIP REFLECTION AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Table of Contents
Part 1: Leadership Reflection.....................................................................................................3
Part 2: Development Plan...........................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................9
Appendices...............................................................................................................................11

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LEADERSHIP REFLECTION AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Part 1: Leadership Reflection
On the basis of Competing Values Questionnaire, it was found that I can manage
conflict in the constructive manner. I encourage the aspect of constructive conflict that helps
me in co-ordinating with different kinds of people. On the basis of the results it was found
that I am strong in relation to communication that can help me in conveying my ideas in the
clear manner (based on Appendix A). The Competing Values Questionnaire revealed the fact
that I am weak in relation to mentoring along with developing the other people. I need to
develop this aspect of my personality so that I can carry out my leadership duties in the
effective manner.
Among the Control focussed competencies, it was found that I excel at the art of
working and managing across that of different functions that can help me in carrying out
functions in an organisation successfully (Bolman and Deal 2017). I however am weak in
relation to co-ordinating the projects that can create confusion when I am working on a
specific project.
Based on Competing Values Questionnaire, it was found that I am strong in the aspect
of designing along with organising that can effectively prove to be of great help in managing
the team. It was also found that I cannot motivate myself along with other people that acts
like a barrier in the path of my progress in the organization.
Competing Values Questionnaire brought out the fact that I can implement and
sustain the change very easily that helps me in adjusting to the changes taking place in the
world environment. It was however found on the basis of the questionnaire that I cannot sell
the new ideas that has to be developed by me so that I can evolve as a successful leader in the
future.
On the basis of the Skills List, it was found that I can keep the records that are up-to-
date and motivate other people that can prove to be beneficial for my organisation (Based on
Appendix B). I am strong pertaining to counselling that can help me in guiding other
members of my team. I am however weak at mediating that can come to be of great help in
reconciling the differences that arise among the team members. The skills test revealed the
fact that I can exercise the leadership skills that can help in bring about new directions in an
organisation. I am not good at making complex decisions that hinders in finding solutions to
the problems.

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LEADERSHIP REFLECTION AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN
My school teachers have influenced me greatly that have helped me in learning
important facets in relation to leadership. The teachers in my school called Saigon South
International School were committed to students that greatly helped he students in reaching
their potential (Tannenbaum and Schmidt 2017). My school teacher taught me that engaging
with the students can help in structuring the lessons plans. On one particular occasion, I saw a
student in my class who was very weak at mathematics and I saw how providing motivation
to the student helped in bringing about significant improvements in the result of the student.
The student had performed very poorly in the first two exams but with the right kind of
support from our class teacher the student was able to derive encouragement that helped him
in performing well academically (Antonakis and Day 2017). This incident created a deep
impression in my mind and it would continue to inspire me later in my life.
In the event of working in Hai Ha Confectionery, I was able to learn a lot of things
from the marketing manager that would always stay in my mind. In the event of working in
the field of marketing, I learnt that in the event of being uncertain about any kind of decision
one should always ask the people who are more experienced that can prove to be more
instrumental in solving problem in regard to an issue. The marketing manager of Hai Ha
Confectionery taught me that one should be aware of what needs to be executed and the
reason why it should be executed (Ward 2016). I was able to gain knowledge regarding the
fact that in the event of having finite amount of resources there should be proper allocation of
the resources that can pave the path for growth of an organization. The marketing manager
taught me that it was of crucial importance that one should meet with the different
stakeholders so that one can understand their point of view (Shamir and Eilam-Shamir 2018).
This can help in revealing the weak points that can be utilised in the proper channel to bring
about improvements in the performance of the company.
There are various events along with experiences in my life that have been
instrumental in shaping my values along with attitudes. In the event of working in Allianz
Mission which is a non-governmental organization that is based within Dietzholztal I was
able to gain experiences that had a major impact on my life. Allianz Mission offers its hand in
supporting the needy people irrespective of their race, religion along with origin. The leaders
of the social welfare organisation taught me how to work with the followers that can help in
driving change in an organisation. I saw while doing the volunteering work that making the
members think independently can help an organisation in finding solutions to the problems
taking place within an organization. The people who were managing the organization called

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Allianz Mission motivated the individuals so that they could participate in that of creative
thinking. The leaders took a personal interest in the colleagues so that they can make
connections with them and make them inspired so that they can produce the best work
(Raelin 2016). The social workers need large range of skills so that they can navigate
complex working environment. There were many children along with many women in the
organisation who were distressed and the management of Allianz Mission actively listened to
the people so that can hear regarding their problems and lend their support to these group of
people.
There were many challenges that I had to overcome when I was working in Hai Ha
Confectionary that taught me important lessons regarding life. In the event of working in the
company, I got into a conflict with some other co-workers pertaining to the fact that I wanted
to shift to that of paid promotion. I felt that paid promotion would help the company in
making more profit that can help them in rising above the competitors around the world.
There were other employees in the organization who did not want to opt for paid advertising
but I managed to overcome it by making use of sound logic (Heifetz and Linsky 2017). I was
able to convince the members of my team that organic promotion by taking recourse to social
media would not help the company in dealing with the competitors. There are many
platforms that has emerged in the present age like Face Book along with Twitter that can
offer sophisticated means that can help in segmenting the audiences. Paying can prove to be
of great help in making the content appear in front of people that can help in increasing the
popularity of a firm.
I have travelled in various European countries that has helped in sharpening my
abilities in relation to leadership. During travelling, I had to take risks and it has helped me in
learning important aspects in relation to leadership. I was curious during the course of my
travel that helped me in learning a lot when I was travelling. In the event of travelling in a
foreign culture, I had to adapt myself to the cultural pattern of the new place that helped me
in learning about elements in relation to leadership. I learnt adaptability when I had to travel
in the foreign countries and this can come to be of great use in the event of becoming a leader
within an organization.
There are certain activities that one can undertake so that one can evolve to become a
better leader within an organisation. The leaders should be people-oriented that can help them
in understanding the dynamics of the team. The leaders should take genuine interest in the

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mood of the group that can help in effective performance of the team. The leaders should be
able to make the hard decisions under that of pressure that can help them in relation to
leading (Wagner 2016). A leader should be equipped with the vision that can help them in
inspiring and carrying the team ahead. The leader should be capable of seeing long term goals
of the team along with the individual team in same time. The leaders should be able to look
ahead so that they can analyse each individual step. Strategic thinking acts as a core in
relation to the modern business. The leader should be able to lead with the help of example
and he should motivate other people by taking recourse to the personal actions. An effective
leader is able to identify collaborative teamwork solution on that of the market.
Part 2: Development Plan
Leadership can be said to be an intricate blend of the capabilities along with qualities.
The business climate is constantly undergoing changes and the leaders should be able to
model on the basis of archetypes from past. The leaders in the present age cannot depend
only on their strengths pertaining to leadership but the leaders of the modern age should have
the ability of infusing passion along with energy into the team. The multidimensional leaders
can stay alert that can help them in making strategic decisions (Clinton 2018). The multi-
dimensional leaders should have the competencies along with skills that can help them in
knowing about the personality traits that can work for or against them. There are leaders who
are found to be one-dimensional who cannot survive in the competitive environment of the
present age. The leader in the present age should have various qualities like vision,
communicative skills, sense of responsibility and the self-confidence that can help them in
thriving in the modern age.
An individual can become a better leader in the event of analysing the incident and
then acting on it. The leader should at first collect the information but they should respond
immediately that can help in solving the problems. An individual can become better leader if
they can pass on the knowledge to the team. The right leader provides positive feedback that
can help in provide encouragement to the employees. The employees in the present age have
various functions to perform and they are over-burdened with various tasks. The leader
should be able to embrace failure in the right spirit that can help him in learning and giving
positive advice to the team.
There are various steps that can be undertaken by an individual that can help a leader
in overcoming the barriers and enhance the leadership knowledge. The leaders in an

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organisation should establish the democratic resonance as the primary form pertaining to
leadership that can help him in overcoming the barriers in the organisation. The resonant
leaders can prove to be more effective as they can gather high-level result from that of
motivated group of the employees (Sosik and Jung 2018). The Expectancy Theory of
leadership states that leaders should be able to express the personal feelings that can help
them in going along with the state of mind of other people that can help them in leading in
the positive manner (.Wong and Giessner 2018). The leader should be capable of eliciting
excitement from the employees that can help them in becoming more actively involved in the
organization. A leader should act as a first class communicator and have clear values and he
should be able to promote the values in other people. The leader should have the ability of
connecting to the passions that can help them in communicating the ideas to the other people
(Storey 2016). A successful leader is imbibed with strong working principles that can help in
making the team efficient so that they can perform the assigned task in the effortless manner.
It was found with the help of Competing Values Questionnaire along with Skills test
that I need to develop my skills in the areas of mentoring, co-ordinating, advertising,
mediating and making of complex decisions. My SMART goals would be to make
improvements in these areas so that I can evolve to become a successful leader. These are the
areas that I need to develop that can help me in emerging as an efficient leader. I shall
undertake the Executive Development Program that can help me in transitioning from
regional management to that of general management. This program can help me in preparing
me for the complexities pertaining to organizational dynamics along with leadership. I shall
enrol myself in the Pace Institute of Management in Vietnam that can help in developing
capacities pertaining to leadership. PACE provides business training along with resources
that can prove to be instrumental in expanding knowledge of the business leaders within
Vietnam. The Executive MBA in relation to leadership specializes in that of research based
development that can help me in overcoming my weakness pertaining to mentoring, co-
ordinating and motivating. The faculty of PACE are of high-profile standard from that of
multinational backgrounds that can help an individual in developing the leadership
competencies (Leung 2015). The benefits that I would be able to derive with the help of this
program pertains to understanding of global business environment and its impact on the
aspect of leadership within Vietnam. This course would be able to train me about strategic
decisions along with operational management. The session would teach me about marketing
strategy along with sustaining competitive advantage that can help me in sharpening my

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skills in relation to marketing and that of co-ordinating. SMART can act as an effective tool
that can help in providing clarity along with focus that can help an individual in reaching the
goals. The program can be measurable as the results and the workshops of the program would
be able to help me about the improvements that have been made by me in relation to my
weakness.
The custom programs of PACE would be able to help me in providing tailored
training to that can help an individual in building an effective workplace. The training
programs have been customized so that it can meet specific needs of corporate clients who
seek the services of the institute (Miner 2015). The fees of the course is around $ 34, 769 and
it is affordable for me. This helps in making the leadership development program achievable
for me. The leadership development program can be said to be relevant as it can help me in
getting over my areas of weakness and train me on various arena in relation to leadership.
The leadership development plan can be said to be time-bound as I would be able to measure
the improvements that have been made by me in the course of a single year. The feedback of
the mentors of the college would be able to throw light regarding the improvements that have
been made and how I have been able to get rid of the weakness.

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References
Antonakis, J. and Day, D.V. eds., 2017. The nature of leadership. Sage publications.
Bolman, L.G. and Deal, T.E., 2017. Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and
leadership. John Wiley & Sons.
Clinton, R., 2018. The making of a leader: Recognizing the lessons and stages of leadership
development. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc..
Heifetz, R. and Linsky, M., 2017. Leadership on the Line, With a New Preface: Staying Alive
Through the Dangers of Change. Harvard Business Press.
Leung, L.M., 2015. The construction of student leadership development model in HKIEd:
Based on service leadership core beliefs advocated by HKI-SLAM. In Promoting Service
Leadership Qualities in University Students (pp. 83-97). Springer, Singapore.
Miner, J.B., 2015. Organizational behavior 1: Essential theories of motivation and
leadership. Routledge.
Raelin, J.A., 2016. Imagine there are no leaders: Reframing leadership as collaborative
agency. Leadership, 12(2), pp.131-158.
Shamir, B. and 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.
Sosik, J.J. and Jung, D., 2018. Full range leadership development: Pathways for people,
profit, and planet. Routledge.
Storey, J., 2016. Changing theories of leadership and leadership development. In Leadership
in Organizations (pp. 33-58). Routledge.
Tannenbaum, R. and Schmidt, W.H., 2017. How to choose a leadership pattern.
In Leadership Perspectives (pp. 75-84). Routledge.
Wagner, W.E., 2016. Leadership for a better world: Understanding the social change model
of leadership development. John Wiley & Sons.
Ward, J., 2016. Keeping the family business healthy: How to plan for continuing growth,
profitability, and family leadership. Springer.

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Wong, S.I. and Giessner, S.R., 2018. The thin line between empowering and laissez-faire
leadership: An expectancy-match perspective. Journal of Management, 44(2), pp.757-783.

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Appendices
Appendix A
Strength Weakness
Collaborate- focused
Competencies
Managing Conflict Mentoring
Control- focused
competencies
Managing the different
functions
Co-ordinating Projects
Compete- focused
competencies
Designing Not being able to motivate
Create-focused
competencies
Implementing changes
easily
Unable to sell ideas
Figure: Competing Values Questionnaire
Source: Created by the Author

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Appendix B
Highly Proficient Competent Little or no Skill
In Keeping Records Leadership Skills Mediating
Motivating Other People Making the complex
decision
Counselling
Figure: Skills Test
Source: Created by the author

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Figure: Results of Skills Test
Source: Created by the Author