Leadership Reflection

This reflective journal examines leadership theories and analyzes the leadership styles of Maya Angelou and Nicolae Ceausescu. It also reflects on the challenges and lessons learned from working in a group setting during the presentation preparation process.

PERSONAL
REFLECTION

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
1. Summary of presentation........................................................................................................3
2. Things which is learnt while working in a group and challenges which is faced...................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Leaders are a person who leads or commands any group, association or any nation for
developing their team members by taking various initiatives. Basically, they are responsible for
directing other individuals who is connected with them and liable for showing correct path (Uhl-
Bien, 2011). However, this personal reflection is going to highlight the summary of great leaders
by throwing lights on their struggling life cycle. Along with this, theories and models were also
outlined in the PowerPoint presentation for understanding the path of successful leaders.
Furthermore, personal reflection will frame the various things which was learnt by an individual
and the group members while designing this outstanding presentation. Moreover, challenges that
were faced by teammates are also discussed in the reflection.
1. Summary of presentation
According to Armstrong, M, (2012) leadership is a term which is described as capability
of persuading others as well as ability to behave distinctly. However, it is a process of affecting
people and encourages teammates to do their best for attaining desired outcomes. Along with
this, main objective is to develop and interact with group members to make a clear vision for
future, encouraged people and securing their involvement too.
Therefore, our presentation was based on “The Path Of a Leader” in which we explained
the background, trait approach, leadership skills, leadership style of two successful leaders; one
was Nicloae Ceausescu and the other was Maya Angelou and leadership
Maya Angelou – She was born in 4th April in almost 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri and she
get passed away in around 28th May, 2014. However, she was an American civil rights activist
and plays a major role as a Fundraiser and organizer in civil rights movement. Although, she
aids and collaborated with various historical leaders also such as Martin Luther king, Jr. and
Malcolm X. In her entire life, she has received two awards one is NAACP and another one is
literary work in almost 2005 and 2009. Additionally, in 2011 she was again awarded by Barack
Obama due to highest civil honour on the entire country and got a “the presidential medal of
freedom” (Dinh and et. al., 2014).
Trait approach is one of most suitable theory which we used for understanding the
concept that emphasizes on person whole personality and their way of leading group. Basically,
there are almost five personality frameworks which is known as five factor model and signifies
through five distinct abilities such as; Openness, Conscientiousness, extraversion, Agreeableness

and Neuroticism as well as one individual just like Maya Angelou who is having a very
influencing personality. In fact, she is famous for her various abilities such as; poetry, drama,
activist and so on. On the other hand, she act as an inspiration for number of society specially for
African American who was suffered and gone through discrimination which is based on racism.
Moreover, this African lady is considered as Icon for women’s because she thought that
problems and difficulties in early age make people weaker instead of stronger (Softic and et. al.,
2013).
Consequently, all the five traits of this approach are distinct in meaning such as; openness
standards for imaginative behaviour or a person is having wide range of interests. Secondly,
Conscientiousness means that person is too much methodical and behaves in an organized
manner. Thirdly, Extraversion means person is too much energetic and talkative, Agreeableness
means he/she is of friendly nature and cooperating behaviour. Lastly, Neuroticism means person
is moody as they mood swings too much (Parris and Peachey, 2013).
On the other hand, Skills Based Model is one of the most appropriate approaches which
is used for developing capabilities that aids in making effective leadership. Some of the major
leadership styles are: Transformational which is coined by Bernard where leadership is fully
based on managing change that might incurred in social system as well as individual personality.
However, main objective of this framework is to convert followers into leaders by driving
positive influence of people just like Maya Angelou.
Another leader whose name is Nicolae Ceauseascu was a rising leader of communist
youth where he get engaged by illegal revolutionary activities and due to which he was
sentenced to 30 months in imprisonment. Basically, he was a Romanian Communist Politician
and was elect as a general secretary started from almost 1965 after that he was became head of
council state. However, he was known for his thirst or hunger for power. Hence, because of his
Autocratic leadership style as well as absence of flexibility he was generally deemed as a
controlling dictator which resultant into conversion of his own people against him. Thus, Nicolae
established his authority over whole Romanian government system which shows that it’s a sign
of great man traits (Ziv, Lehrer and Schmid, 2011).
Consequently, theory of Great Man suits on Nicolae because according to this approach
Great leaders was born with full of confidences, charisma and social skills. In fact, Great leaders

are not made actually they are born by having internal skills which is highlights in their
behaviour and actions.
2. Things which is learnt while working in a group and challenges which is faced
Throughout the presentation, we have gone through number of ups and downs because
we were three in the group which were having distinct opinions and viewpoints towards certain
subject. Actually, our presentation took almost six weeks in completing whole and we three
played our role in distinct ways. However, in initial week till week one of the members worked
with our team and played a major role in the research, data collection and drafting the
presentation but in fourth week due to some communication problems between members she
moved to another group.
We have made this decision by consulting with each other because all these characters
are performing each and every activity in proper manner as well as support in attaining set
objectives in a defined time frame.
We all gathered with each other and come for meeting in order to make collaborative
decision by understanding views or opinions of each and every of group. As a result, this will
help in minimizing conflicting situations from teammates.
For example It was really difficult to communicate with Maria but it didn’t go well and
because the time constrain we decide to talk with lecturer and he advices us to move her to
another group. Along with this, we also consult with other team members for understanding their
opinions in order to minimize the probabilities disputes. In fact, they are suggesting us to act
according to the situation by creating an effective communication with teammates.
On the other hand, our second member was in hospital from first week to third week due
to which he has participated after third week. We have solved this problem by considering
viewpoints of some other person who is present currently in order to involved another person.
Apart from this, we are also contacting with our tutor for understanding the way of resolving
Andrei problems. Whereas, the 3rd member Pilar who plays a major role in supporting because
she is the person who dealt with all the complex situations and contributes majorly in completing
the whole project in proper manner.
Hence, I understood that designing of presentation in a group is a really tough job
because of various reason such as; involvement of large number of people who are having

distinct views and opinions. Secondly, it is hard to judge each other because minds of members
get changed in several situations. For example,
Maria got involved in arguments due to difference in opinion and she has just left out
group but Pilar is a person who supporting too much while facing all challenges that incurred
during presentation designing. Along with this, we have complete entire project by cooperating
with each other in various unusual situations.
Therefore, I came to know that there are number of problems which I have face while
presentation. For example, Time management between our team mates such as: Andrei was in
hospital in the beginning of week, Maria worked hard in the group but unfortunately got engaged
in arguments due to which she left the group in week four whereas Pilar is a most supporting
member in our group who played a crucial and significant role in managing entire activities.
Thus, I came to know that proper management is requisite for completing our whole project in
much better manner. Along with this, we also needed to manage our time for minimizing the
possibilities of mistakes which we have done during project designing and completion. In fact
we need to deal sincerely with several issues which is incurring and requisite to act maturely for
understanding depth of problem for taking further actions.

CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been summarized that leaders are born not made as they are
having internal characteristics such as; high level of confidence, charisma and so on. Therefore,
above project shows various theories of leadership such as; Great Man Theory, Trait approach
and so on. Apart from this, project is also showing the things which is learnt through group
presentation and problems which are identified.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Armstrong, M.., 2012). Armstrong's handbook of management and leadership. London: Kogan
Page, p.4.
Uhl-Bien, M., 2011. Relational leadership theory: Exploring the social processes of leadership
and organizing. In Leadership, gender, and organization (pp. 75-108). Springer,
Dordrecht.
Dinh, J.E and et. al., 2014. Leadership theory and research in the new millennium: Current
theoretical trends and changing perspectives. The Leadership Quarterly, 25(1), pp.36-62.
Parris, D.L. and Peachey, J.W., 2013. A systematic literature review of servant leadership theory
in organizational contexts. Journal of business ethics, 113(3), pp.377-393.
Ziv, A.K., Lehrer, K. and Schmid, H.B. eds., 2011. Self-evaluation: Affective and social grounds
of intentionality (Vol. 116). Springer Science & Business Media.
Softic, S and et. al., 2013. Monitoring learning activities in PLE using semantic modelling of
learner behaviour. In Human Factors in Computing and Informatics (pp. 74-90).
Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.