Report on Personal Leadership .

This report analyzes personal leadership using seven different mindset leadership theories, including history, culture, geography, and its impact on people performance. It also discusses leadership problems and challenges and provides recommendations for improvement.

Title of Coursework: Assignment 1:
Report on Personal Leadership
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Leadership styles differ depending on history, culture, geographic life and conditions.................3
Leadership styles impact on people performance productivity.......................................................4
Leadership styles determine who will ‘follow and how’.................................................................5
Personal leadership capabilities using Seven Leadership Mindsets Theory...................................6
Leadership problems and challenges...............................................................................................8
Recommendation.............................................................................................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
Personal statement for an ideal job................................................................................................11
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................12
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Introduction
With increasing competition, leaders are finding it difficult to lead teams in effective manner.
Leadership has become a complex phenomenon impacted by several elements such as history,
culture, individual perspective etc. This concept has emerged and changed dramatically in recent
years. This paper aims to conduct personal leadership analysis using seven different mindset
leadership theories, to understand the way culture and system can support implementation of
leadership and help in encountering corporate challenges in a better way. This paper includes
personal leadership analysis, problems encountered and ways to improve the same. Key areas
include leadership analysis on the basis of history, culture, geography, its impact on people
performance, the way leader makes follower and challenges encountered. Finally, it includes a
personal statement for an ideal job using analysis and understanding.
Leadership styles differ depending on history, culture, geographic life and
conditions
According to Chemers (2000) history have strong impact on leadership style, location along with
human development, different phases of life, generations, periods, time frame and phases have
strong impact. Sometimes people living in same year have thinking rooted in long past era.
Every era is different from each other, when there is change in external environment; pressure
comes on internal need for change. There has been dramatic change in banking history of Oman
since 1972 with just three banks, there are 17 banks at present.
Another key factor impacting Meme or leadership development is geography, which includes
physical condition in which leader is working including both physical and manmade.
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Geographical factors have strong influence on social values, for instance western culture is
different from eastern culture. If we analyze national cultural elements of Oman on Hofstede
model with USA, it is completely opposite as peoples thinking, belief and value system varies
dramatically (Bjerke & Al-Meer, 1993). Leadership in Oman depends on hierarchy and group
behavior whereas in USA it is associated with individual growth and flat structure of operation.
According to theories, surroundings including geomagnetic fields, earth topography, weather,
season, manmade environment such as building, park roads have strong impact; therefore it is
crucial to harmonize between people and their surroundings (Beck & Cowan, 2014).
Another key factor is human condition such as priorities, needs, concern and situation
encountered by individuals or group shape their decision and leadership dramatically. It also
include availability of safety, basic life needs, technology, social factors, health conditions etc.
culture also shapes individual and organizational behavior, for instance no two individual have
same circumstances or behavior, similarly culture shapes individual style of decision making
(Baumeister & Bushman, 2016).
Leadership styles impact on people performance productivity
Leadership can be defined as action taken to lead people or group, to shape their direction to
achieve strategic goals and to keep them motivated towards the same. Leadership style is an
outcome of complex interaction between individual behavior and feelings (Bhindi & Duignan,
1997). Leaders are responsible for establishing sense of authority, responsibility and focusing on
employee issues. Two most prominent style of leadership include transformational and
transactional leadership. In transactional style leader motivate their subordinate through
monetary rewards, there is use of both recognition and punishment as a tool to performance, it
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focus more on exchange and lead to short term productivity enhancement (Giuliani & Kurson,
2005). However, transformational style is more of self-recognized, moral building, inspiring and
success oriented style that help in long run productivity development.
Spiral dynamics helps in understanding team dynamics and its formation; it also shows the way
team dynamics concept can vary among individuals. For instance, the green value system in
Meme focus on group harmony, it concentrates on elements like justice, equality and fairness.
Green leaders are the one who listens to all and opt for all consensuses to decisions. This type of
leadership helps in high performance team which includes members with same memetic level in
their approach, leadership and thinking (Beck & Cowan, 2014).
Another type of management style is blue leadership that follows legitimate authority and chain
of command. It opts for a directive and authoritative style of leadership. Here clear set of
instruction follow in which all team member know what to do and how to do, they express their
opinion whenever asked for. Orange is entrepreneurial style of leadership that focuses on
success and competition (Beck & Cowan, 2014). Goals are set by the leaders; decisions are
based on organization development.
Leadership styles determine who will ‘follow and how’
There are indifferent type of leadership style adopted by managers and supervisors; style has
significant impact on the way followers behave. Autocratic style of leadership includes clear
explanation of expectations, results and the method to achieve the same. It involves command by
leader and follower follow it, there is one way communication, and decision is taken by the
leader (Schein, 2010). It is adopted in situation where there is no time for group discussion. This
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style is applicable for lower level management staff, clerk staff that is responsible for paper
work, fixed job specification etc.
Another is democratic or participative style in which leader offer guidance to all followers, there
is two way communications, group decision making (Schein, 2010). Followers participate in
discussion; it also facilitates in motivating employees and is creative in approach. This is the
most common style of working in middle level staff and helps in achieving desired
organizational outcome.
Third is Laissez faire leadership, where there is no guidance or support rather full freedom of
decision making is given to followers, there is low cooperation and high demand by followers.
This style is least recommended but prevails in teams which include equally qualified members;
all have autonomy and decision making and different experts. For instance, board of
management, strategic teams uses this style. Followers must be in arrested condition in spiral,
leadership style also needs to be calibrated to match with follower. For example, green leader
require blue follower, whereas blue needs red.
Personal leadership capabilities using Seven Leadership Mindsets Theory
According to seven leadership mindset theory every individual starts at same place and develop
slowly with time, these stages are nonjudgmental. According to results my leadership style is
associated with orange, green, yellow and turquoise style. Blue is my leadership style in
organization, I prefer law and order, as it is crucial to establish order and security, therefore
limits and boundaries are set to help subordinates to understand the way they can act and expect.
This system also ensures transparency. Being branch head I always try to set correct example of
being dedicated and responsible, I am always punctual at my job, further I also ensure to behave
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the way I expect my team to act on. There is clear organised schedule with time limit and
milestone, for examples there are monthly sales and customer targets are set. I ensure patriarchy
approach to leadership as all my team members are my family, I ensure complete dedication and
support to them. Further, I ensure all policies and procedures are in coordination with company
traditions at the same time match with external market needs. Training is another crucial
element; it helps in updating team skills, understands their issues and providing adequate
solution, on the job training is most common mechanism opted for job and skill development.
This type of style is used for regular business processes, as it set clear expectations to
subordinates, their role and duties. This element cannot be removed from banking sector as
Oman national culture opts for hierarchical corporations. Orange is percent which shows for
success-oriented, competition based style of leadership (Hofstede, 1994). There is little
preference towards individual achievement, collaboration and respect. Green represents need for
considering equal value so that all team members are given equal opportunity to speak their
perspective and views. Yellow represent understanding towards different scenarios, this
represent presence of situational leadership skills. Generally, in my working environment I do
not follow any specific style of leadership, rather I believe in opting for original solution to
problem; further all team members have different value system and ability therefore value and
contribution of all employees is considered as each member is managed according to their
ability.
I have developed wide range of skills while working in banking sector, initially when I joined
there was lack of systematic approach but with proper supervision I developed it, my task
include managing customer and branch properly. There is natural functional flow but I also
consider customer requirements, interacts with them, which help in forming health long run
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relationships. However, there are subordinates, whom I need to manage; therefore I try to opt for
holistic approach of management with macro level understanding. Banking industry is sensitive,
it involves embracing multifaceted approach, it involves large number of data, and transparency
and financial responsibilities that ensure customer first approach.
In first bank of Abu Dhabi, there is clear work flow and division of task, there are departments
segregated for different task, employees have clear idea of what they are expected to do and how.
Rules and code of conduct are religiously followed by all in the organization.
Leadership problems and challenges
Banking industry worldwide is very sensitive and full of responsibility due to high public
involvement. First bank of Abu Dhabi is also trying to expand its business in different markets.
Key challenges that leadership in banking encounter include technology and market competition
that creates a disruptive environment. Further, banking sector is also moving towards
digitalization, therefore industry is both regulation and technology driven at the same time
innovation is required to be market.
Further regulation is one of key challenges, it creates hindrance in innovation. It acts as a vicious
circle, it is crucial for development but financial and customer security is also required. In
alignment to this risk adverse culture also create hindrance in development. Oman culture is
based on patriarchy society, it focus on collectivism and rule based approach of management
(Jones, 2013). There is bureaucratic culture present that cause slow work process and innovation.
Power distance creates traditions and hierarchy which makes decision and communication
complex. However, First Abu Dhabi bank provide wide range of training However, there is also
shift in management approach as organization has implemented performance oriented, business
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approach. Presently in Omani culture, employees need to report their immediate superior, there is
lack of decision making participation and there is tendency that all decisions are taken by leaders
(Dweck, 2012).
While dealing with subordinates, primary challenge encountered is to motivate them, personally
I opt for a situational leadership and try to establish harmony between tradition and market
needs. I believe in leading on feedback and provide training to fill skill gap. Leaders need to
ensure both shareholders as well as stakeholder value creation. It is difficult to always offer
customized services in banking as it might impact business model adversely, market is highly
fluctuating and advancing which require continuous strategic improvement.
Recommendation
Firstly to ensure growth in banking industry, continuous feedback and two way communications
with subordinates is required. I t is advised to implement 360 degree balance scorecard feedback
system. It will facilitate in collecting feedback from different perspectives, including financial,
learning and growth, internal process, and customer perspectives. It will facilitate in combining
financial and non-financial goals of the company and associating them with goals and objectives.
Feedback and communication will help leader to interconnect the multi-dimensional perspective
of the tool with business strategy and establish cause and effect relationship.
It is crucial to treat shareholder and stakeholder as mutually inclusive factors; as leaders can
enhance shareholder value by investing in people and implementing changes as per external
environmental needs. Another key area of improvement is cultural enhancement, with
globalization there is need to shift from traditional practice toward globalized practice. An
effective leader in Omani culture is the one who consider welfare of all.
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From government perspective, there is need to bring certain level of flexibility in government
regulations and a culture that promote privatization and diversification. There is need to foster
more participative culture that includes feedback from all employees and their opinion in
decision making. Due to high power and uncertainty avoidance level, security is one factor that
motivates employees for self-actualization.
As a leader I try to improve my skills and shift towards green and orange leadership style, as it
will help in removing barrier and implement participative team culture, success oriented and
competitive growth. As a leader I will communicate more with my team mates regularly, get
feedback and implement improvement plans. I need to work on my patriarchy style as it might
create obstacle in innovation, there is need to make shift towards transformational style to help
other employees develop and get new ideas (Suwannapirom, 2005).
Conclusion
It is clear that leadership play significant role in organizational growth; however there are several
barriers to leadership development. First bank of Abu Dhabi is renowned organization, there is
strong impact of culture in organizational practices, traditional approach, higher power index,
collective decision making and high concern towards uncertainty avoidance are few
phenomenon. I have developed a lot by working in this organization, currently I am practicing
blue and purple leadership style; however there is need to shift towards orange style to foster
participative and innovative practices. Finally, an effective leader is the one who balance
between tradition and modernization of external market environment, adapt changes, and balance
cultural differences by offering adequate flexibility.
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Personal statement for an ideal job
An ideal job is the one that involve working in banking sector as financial analyst in First bank
of Abu Dhabi, Oman. Location is preferred as I reside at this place, therefore it will help in
balancing my personal and professional life.
Task this is one job that will help me in using both academic as well as professional skills. It
involve compensation management, business processes to work with managers for business
planning, data analysis for evaluating accounting procedures, responsible for managing strategies
in term of finance to improve performance, train new employees, responsible for providing
timely financial reports and analysis to support financial planning, integration of business
process, people and technology.
Action involves using academic knowledge for analysis, whereas training people require
implementation of leadership skills. In this job both academic and interpersonal skills will be
used at best, it involve interaction with people, a job with autonomy, responsibility and power to
make decisions.
Result involves achieving financial fulfillment as it is one of the highest paid jobs in banking
sector. Further growth will led to involvement in board of management.
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