Self-Reflective Journal on Leadership for Managers

This self-reflective journal focuses on the leadership module 'Leadership for Managers' and explores key concepts, personal experiences, and future applications of leadership.

Running Head: SELF-REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
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Self-Reflective Journal
Leadership for Managers
(Student details :)
5/29/2019

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Contents
Leadership for Managers............................................................................................................2
Introduction to Leadership.........................................................................................................2
Introduction- why I chose this topic.......................................................................................2
Definition/Description............................................................................................................2
Key concepts..........................................................................................................................2
Examples-personal and practical knowledge or experiences.................................................3
Reflection on concepts which have been used or discussed in class.....................................3
Leadership for future..............................................................................................................3
The personal side of leadership..................................................................................................3
Introduction- why I chose this topic.......................................................................................3
Definition/Description............................................................................................................4
Key concepts..........................................................................................................................4
Examples-personal and practical knowledge or experiences.................................................4
Reflection on concepts which have been used or discussed in class.....................................5
Use of chosen topic in future.................................................................................................5
The leader as a relationship builder...........................................................................................5
Introduction- why I chose this topic.......................................................................................5
Definition/Description............................................................................................................5
Key concepts..........................................................................................................................6
Examples-personal and practical knowledge or experiences.................................................6
Reflection on concepts which have been used or discussed in class.....................................6
The usefulness of chosen topic in future................................................................................6
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................7
References..................................................................................................................................7

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Leadership for Managers
This self-reflective journal is aimed at deepening my learning acquired during leadership
module ‘Leadership for Managers’. Here, the reflective journal is containing a regular
reflection on the useful concepts used as well as discussed in class. I will demonstrate the
applications of those learnt concepts to my personal, practical knowledge and future
experiences (Faozanudin, 2014).
Introduction to Leadership
Introduction- why I chose this topic
This topic has been selected from the chapters include 1, 2, 3 for the reason that without
leadership quality no one can get success into their professional as well as personal life. I
chose this topic because knowing the leadership concept and significance of the concept for
my future life is important for my career development (Hoch & Kozlowski, 2014). I learnt a
lot about this topic during week-I, and also studied chapter 1, 2, 3 during this week. Chapter 1
taught me what it means to be a true leader. Chapter 2 taught me about traits, relationships as
well as behaviours of a great leader. Later then, while studying chapter 3 I learnt useful
contingency approaches to leadership in this modern era.
Definition/Description
To me, leadership is a positive impact based relations among leaders as well as followers who
are intending real changes and results which considerably reflect their mutual purposes. In
this context, while studying the chapters 1, 2, 3, I learnt about what leadership really
involves. In addition to that, I can now define leadership as an inclusive effect of 6 main
components includes influence, change, intention, personal responsibility and integrity,
shared purpose and followers (Lunenburg, 2012).
Key concepts
During week-I, when I was studying chapters 1, 2, 3 then I learnt some useful concepts like
management, vision and theories of leadership. The three types of leadership roles have been
learnt by me in week-I of the leadership module. Besides, I learnt the concept of leadership
continuum where two concepts of leadership include subordinate-centred leadership and
boss-centred leadership have been explored by me (Nohria & Khurana, 2010). Apart from

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this, the leadership grid has been learnt by me along with the themes of leaders’ behaviour
research in detail. Subsequently, the concept of the situational framework of leadership has
been learnt during the first week during chapter 3. In addition to that, my learning of
leadership suggests that Fiedler’s classification concept taught us about how leader style fits
in any situation. Besides, key concepts of leadership like the Path-Goal Model have been
learnt by me in the context of leading roles. Likewise, the concept of five leader decision
styles also taught me about styles such as decide, consult individually, consult group,
delegate and facilitate (Hogg, 2010).
Examples-personal and practical knowledge or experiences
My personal experience on personal characteristics of great leaders suggests that I need to
have a social background, personality and work-related characteristics out of those six
personality traits of great leaders. I learnt the themes of leader behaviour research with the
two examples of true leader behaviours. The two examples of leader behaviours are task-
oriented behaviours and people-oriented behaviours.
Reflection on concepts which have been used or discussed in class
My self-reflection over the leadership module suggests that leadership traits and attributes are
those qualities which are essential for future career development and growth in professional
life. I was feeling blessed to have an opportunity of learning the leader’s traits and various
key concepts over modern leadership. This week’s learning gave me the essence of
responsibility for my own career and future from a professional perspective (Maas, 2014).
Leadership for future
I realized that by evolving my personality for good I will be able to become a good leader in
the future workplace. Introduction to leadership workshop will aid to my career growth and
goals achievement in an effective manner. I will utilise all basic concepts of true leadership in
my future work in order to demonstrate effective leadership practice for my subordinates
(Goldman, 2012).
The personal side of leadership
Introduction- why I chose this topic
This topic of the personal side of leadership was specifically taught within chapters 4,5,6,7
mainly. I chose this topic for leadership learning because I got an opportunity to know the

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leader as an individual with the help of this particular topic. In addition to that, this topic
during week-III made me learn about leadership mind as well as emotions so that I can
become a good leader in future. To become an effective leader in future, I learnt key learning
related to courage and moral leadership into chapter 6 during week-III. Apart from this,
during week-IV, I got an opportunity to learn about followership for efficiently managing
both up as well as down the hierarchy in an institution or workplace.
Definition/Description
I learnt that every leader has a personal side which he or she needs to be aware of so that
leadership style can be identified for further growth. According to me, being aware of the all
internal aspects of an individual’s nature will reveal personality traits, values, emotions,
attitudes and perceptions. My evolved opinion post this reflection suggests that knowing the
personal side of leadership can be useful for appreciating how one’s patterns impact other
subordinates.
Key concepts
With the help of this leadership module during week-II, week-III and week-IV, I learnt
concepts like self-awareness; big five personality dimensions, locus of control, theory X and
Theory Y. Apart from this, the theory of social perception taught me how to make sense out
of the surroundings through choosing, organizing, managing and interpreting information. I
also learnt perpetual distortions along with Hermann’s whole brain model. Besides, the MBTI
concept made me learn the measures of how people differ in collecting as well as evaluating
info for resolving issues to make effective decisions. In chapter 6, I learnt three levels of
personal moral development model. Moreover, the servant leadership concept of leadership
taught me how to effectively serve the professional needs of followers at the workplace.
Examples-personal and practical knowledge or experiences
For example, after learning the servant leadership concept I can apply this practical
knowledge onto my past experiences. It means that my tutor in class demonstrated servant
leadership while teaching all of us efficiently (Hales, 2018). On the other hand, while
learning how courage does apply to moral leadership practice, I learnt that everybody should
act as a moral leader and it is a basic requirement of true leadership. For instance, when I read
case studies about ethical and unethical leadership through academic journals, I got to learn
practical knowledge about whistleblowing.

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Reflection on concepts which have been used or discussed in class
While I was learning concepts related to identifying personal sides of leadership, I felt the
importance of effectively managing up as well as down hierarchies to be an effective leader
into modern organizations. Learning followership made me recognizes my followership style
as well as allowed me to take steps for becoming a more effective follower. After learning on
personal sides of leaders and leadership, I understood the leader’s role while developing
effective followers. Now, I have identified my personal traits and attributes which will allow
me to find personal courage through believing in a greater purpose. I learnt the concept of
drawing strength through the people around us.
Use of chosen topic in future
With the help of learning acquired through chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7, I will:
 Apply courage for being unconventional as well as doing what is correct
 Take steps up for taking responsibility at my future workplaces
 Balance profit from people and self-interest with my services
 Act always as a moral leader
The leader as a relationship builder
Introduction- why I chose this topic
I chose the topic of leadership as a relationship builder so that I can learn motivation and
empowerment. Leaders through being relationship builder can effectively recognize as well
as apply the difference amid intrinsic and extrinsic rewards within modern organizations.
After learning this topic I will be able to motivate others through meeting their greater-level
requirements (Hales, 2018).
Definition/Description
A leader as a leadership builder applies need-based theories of motivation as well as
understands how the key concepts of equity apply to organizational motivation. To me,
without building relationships a leader cannot be effective at their leadership style because
relationships allow leaders to know their subordinates well (Maxwel, 2011).

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Key concepts
While learning to be a relationship builder among others, I learnt various useful concepts like
a circular framework of interpersonal communication in the context of effective
communication skills. I also learnt the concept of effective listening (Grint, 2010). Besides,
my learning during week 5, 6, 7 and 8, I learnt about dialogue and discussion while also
exploring the differences between the two (Goldman, 2012). Concept of the continuum of
channel richness has been explored by me during this leadership module. In this way, these
key concepts of leadership made me learn a lot which is useful for my future.
Examples-personal and practical knowledge or experiences
From the perspective of real-life examples, I learnt that by judging content irrespective of
delivery I can be an effective listener while building relationships during my leadership
practice. For an example, I personally experienced that showing respect to others, listening to
their ideas, holding one’s fire as well as through working at active listening skills; anyone can
become a good relationship builder which ultimately helps them to become a good leader
(Denehy, 2010).
Reflection on concepts which have been used or discussed in class
I found all of the concepts highly useful those I have learnt during week- 5, 6, 7, and 8 on the
topic of leaders being relationship developers (DeRue & Ashford, 2010). While I was
learning these concepts and frameworks related to leadership for managers then I realized
that being a manager can only effectively work when he or she is a good leader. Contrary, my
learning also depicts that a leader can always become a manager while vice-versa is not true.
Thus, all concepts related to leadership for managers offered me life-long learning for future
career development (Bolman & Deal, 2017).
The usefulness of chosen topic in future
With the help of learning acquired through chapters 8, 9, 10 and 11, I will:
 Take all possible small steps for becoming a good leader
 Apply the values of effective followership like challenging authority, participating in
change and knowing when to stop
 Implement the leadership strategies for demonstrating effective followership at work
or school (Alvesson & Sveningsson, 2003).

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Conclusion
In conclusion, with the help of writing this reflection, I could easily understand the key
concepts as well as useful theories of leadership by applying them into real context and
experiences. Besides, identification of various leadership styles has been demonstrated with
this reflective paper. In addition to that, I also identified the importance of leadership
qualities for global modern managers. After reflecting on the leadership module, I can now
effectively understand how leadership gets applied within the practice in teams as well as in
an organisation. Apart from this, this reflective writing has enhanced my skills for developing
leadership within any future organization from the perspective of career development and
growth.
References
Alvesson, M. & Sveningsson, S., 2003. The great disappearing act: difficulties in doing
“leadership”. The leadership quarterly, 14(3), pp.359-81.
Bolman, L.G. & Deal, T.E., 2017. Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership.
London: John Wiley & Sons.
Denehy, J., 2010. Leadership characteristics. The Journal of School Nursing, 24(3), pp.107-
11.
DeRue, D. & Ashford, S., 2010. Who will lead and who will follow? A social process of
leadership identity construction in organizations. Academy of management review, 35(4),
pp.627-47.
Faozanudin, M., 2014. Role of Local Leadership in Providing Quality of Basic Education.
US: Atlantis Press.
Goldman, E.F., 2012. Leadership practices that encourage strategic thinking. Journal of
Strategy and Management, 5(1), pp.25-40.
Grint, K., 2010. Leadership: A very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hales, J., 2018. THE PROS AND CONS OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP. [Online] Available at:
http://blog.zingtrain.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-servant-leadership [Accessed 10 December
2018].

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Hoch, J.E. & Kozlowski, S.W., 2014. Leading virtual teams: Hierarchical leadership,
structural supports, and shared team leadership. Journal of applied psychology, 99(3), p.390.
Hogg, M., 2010. A social identity theory of leadership. Personality and Social psychology,
5(3), pp.184-200.
Lunenburg, F.C., 2012. Power and leadership: an influence process. International journal of
management business and administration, 15(1), pp.1-9.
Maas, W.G., 2014. Leadership styles and organizational commitment: literature review.
Bachelor Thesis Organisation & Strategy, pp.1-21.
Maxwel, C., 2011. The 5 levels of leadership: Proven steps to maximize your potential.
London: Center Street.
Nohria, N. & Khurana, R., 2010. Handbook of Leadership Theory and Practice. Harvard:
Harvard Business Press.