Embracing Creativity as a Leader

This assignment details a leader's plan to transition from a rule-driven style to one that embraces creativity. The leader acknowledges the inherent difficulties in changing their approach but proposes a structured plan involving self-learning through books and articles, mentorship from innovative leaders, and continuous feedback from employees. The estimated timeframe for this transformation is 5 to 8 months, with success measured by the implementation of innovative ideas and positive employee feedback.

Running head: EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS
EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Two important leadership styles will be described in the assignment.
The first one is the autocratic leadership style. This leadership style is also called the
authoritarian leadership style. This style is characterized by the leaders taking an overall control
of the decisions and providing little scope to the members of the groups. They make choices
based on their own ideas and judgments (De Hoogh et al., 2015). They rarely invite advice,
suggestions or feedbacks from the followers. They mainly dictate all the work methods as well as
processes. Group members are rarely trusted regarding any decisions or other significant tasks.
This type of leaders highly discourages creative thinking and encourages working styles which
are highly structured and very rigid. This working condition stresses the workers and makes
them feel disrespected and not cared by the company. Some may even become demotivated and
tensed, fearful and resentful. Lack of empowerment in decision-making processes results in
developing low morale and lack of commitment from the employees. However, they also have
certain advantages (Vail, 2014). They bring out positive results when adverse situations arise all
of a sudden and urgency rises to take decisions quickly.
The second type of leadership skill is the transformational leadership skills. This type of
leadership style makes the leaders work in harmony with their followers by setting a clear vision
and guiding them through every path and helping them to align with the objectives of the
organization (Avolio & Yammarino et al., 2013). It is determined as the model of integrity as
well as fairness. This type of leadership encourages others not only to work beyond expectations
but also invites followers with their suggestions, advices and feedbacks. This help in developing
an environment of innovation and creativity. The leaders provide support in innovation and goals
(Kark & Shamir, 2013). At the same time, they inspire and motivate them to look beyond their

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EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS
individual interest and work towards goals. Building stronger and trust based relationship is yet
another attribute of this leadership.
Two leaders with different styles:
Steve jobs had been an American entrepreneur, industrial designer as well as business magnate
who have served the position of the chairman, co founder as well as the CEO of Apple.inc. He
was an autocratic ruler and had received tremendous success with his leadership style.
A very good example of the transformational leader is Richard Branson. He is the founder of the
Virgin Atlantic groups. It is one of the most recognized as well as respected brands that has over
400 companies.
Comparison of the leadership style:
Steve Jobs was an autocratic ruler. Critics are of the opinion that he had a meticulous eye for
every minute detail of the organization. He was extremely demanding form his employees. Many
of his co-followers who has worked under him had described him to show manipulative
behaviour and had even described his behaviour in meetings to be rude, authoritative as well as
obnoxious. Job used to exhibit a domineering presence for which many of his employees used to
fear him and his consideration levels were rather low (Heracleous & Klaering, 2017). However,
his autocratic style helped him for making a quick decision whenever any certain serious
conditions arise and he had complete control over the decisions taken for his company. He was
very demanding not only towards his employees but also towards himself. Some of the deadlines
are so short that it used to become difficult for the employees to achieve. He centralized his
authority in such a way that he never used to give chance to his subordinates in decision making

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EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS
as he had less trust on employees. His conceited and self satisfying attitudes failed to motivate
his employees in many severe situations (Keller, 2017).
On the other hand, Richard Branson was a very famous transformational leader. He
possessed many important characteristics like articulating a vision and also communicating high
performance expectations with the subordinates. Not only that, he always tried to set up a
positive example for his subordinates and often showed sensitivity to individual follower’s
needs. He had provided lot of encouragement in developing a correct team attitude and provided
intellectual stimulation for his employees (Williams, 2017). His high levels of expectations from
his employees gave his subordinates the self confidence to persist in the face of setbacks and
often resulted in exceptional performance. Unlike the employees of Jobs who used to fear him,
the employees of Branson took him as a fun, warm, friendly, risk taking and was competitive but
in a positive way. Unlike Jobs who had highly self-satisfying attitudes, Branson treated his
employees of all levels as equal and considered them as family and treated them with respect.
Unlike job, he also welcomes feedback and suggestions from his employees which made them
feel important and loved in the organization (Lambert, Bassell & Friedman, 2017).
Reflection:
While I was placed as the leader of a team, I experienced a number of events which
reflected both my weakness and my strengths as a team leader. I was appreciated by my team
members due to my multitasking caliber. I was able to effectively handle a large number of tasks
single handedly like guiding the new joiners, completing the report sheet of their performance,
assigning tasks to them, training them about minute skill which enhance their working styles,
conducting meetings with directors and all efficiently. Another strength that I had was my

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EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS
communication skills. Not only I had the habit of active listening skills but also exhibited
effective feedback giving and receiving kills which made the employees comfortable and felt
respected by the organization. The weakness I had was my poor social skills. I was not good at
relationship development and can never maintain an informal relationship. Moreover, I lacked
empathy which made the workers think that I was bossy. Another weakness was my intercultural
communication skills. I did not know how to handle conversations with people from other
backgrounds and often made remark or performed activities that hurt them. Moreover, I also
lacked the ability to implement creativity and innovation at workplace which made the
workplace environment boring and monotonous to the workers and they failed to gather zeal in
their activities. All these affected productivity.
Personal development plan:
Development
al activities
rationale obstacle Strategic
process
Timefra
me
measure resources
I had to
develop my
social skills
which mainly
would be
focusing on
my
relationship
building
skills and
practicing
Proper social
skills help in
development
of strong
bonds and
relationships
which make
the
environment
of the
workplace
My introvert
attitude that I
had practiced
from my very
childhood
may make
me
uncomfortabl
e in trying
out social
skills to
I will try to
engage myself
more in social
networking
sites which I an
easy way of
developing
bonds.
Moreover I can
also go through
business
It would
require
five
months to
eight
months
The
feedback
from my
employees
is the nest
evaluation
method.
The better
informally
they can
open up
Internet
articles,
books of
stalwarts,
meeting
with
mentors

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EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS
empathy in
my working
styles
towards the
followers
less formal.
As result,
employees
work more
freely and
can share
their stress
and concern
easily
(Deming,
2017). They
do not feel
burdened by
work and
hence
productivity
is increased
establish
good bonds.
My nature of
the lack of
adaptability
can also be a
barrier
articles and
read life
experiences of
business
stalwarts which
may help me in
getting tips of
bond
development. I
can also read
internet blogs
and articles
which provide
ready ways of
developing
bonds.
with me,
the higher
would be
my level of
success.
When the
workplace
environmen
t becomes
informal, it
would
automatical
ly be
reflected in
my
employees’
activities
and
attitudes.
I need to
work on my
intercultural
communicati
on skills.
This skill is
very
Improper
intercultural
communicati
on makes
employees of
different
backgrounds
I have often
stereotyped
different
cultures
without my
knowledge
and therefore
I would first
start attending
workshops
which will help
me in learning
the proper body
language and
It would
require 8
months
The
feedback
from such
employees
would be
the best
way of
Expenditur
e on
workshops,
internet
articles.
Some
diagnostic

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EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS
necessary if I
get chance in
working in a
global
organization
in my future
days.
upset as they
feel that their
cultural
preferences
and traditions
are no
respected and
cared for
(Ruben,
2015). this
results in
development
of negative
feeling
overcoming
such
stereotypes
and
becoming
open minded
at once may
be difficult.
Moreover I
also have
biasness
towards my
own culture
and therefore
these would
make it
difficult for
me to
develop my
intercultural
communicati
on skills
overcome the
language
barrier while
treating with
the employee’s
of other
backgrounds.
Not only that, I
have to also go
through
different
internet article
to know about
the cultural
preferences and
traditions so
that I do not
take up nay
activities which
hurt their
emotions.
Moreover, I
will encourage
them to open
up about their
inhibitions and
measureme
nt of
success in
my
initiatives.
Moreover
there are
many
diagnostic
tools as
well which
I can use to
self asses
myself.
tools are
available
for free
and some
require
subscriptio
n.

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EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS
preferences so
that I can
directly learn
about their
expectations.
I should try
to develop
my creative
skills and
innovative
ideas which
are extremely
necessary in
preset day
organizations
Recent
researchers
are of the
opinion that
leaders who
can initiate
creativity and
innovation at
workplace,
can help to
handle many
strenuous
situations
effectively ad
can solve
them such
rapidly and
easily
(Anderson,
Pitonick &
Zhou, 2014).
As I am not
creative but a
leader who
works by rule
book, it
would
become
difficult for
me to change
my working
style. I may
not be able to
cope with it
primarily but
with passing
time, I will
be able to
grasp the
ways.
Moreover,
implementing
I have to
develop a
creative mind
and for that I
have to follow
books and
internet article
which would
provide me step
by step
approach in
developing
creative minds.
I would also
approach
leaders who
implement
creativity and
will learn about
their working
procedures.
This will
take 5 to
8 months
Feedback
from
employees
and success
rates of my
innovative
ideas will
help me to
measure
how much
improveme
nt I had
made
Books,
internet
articles,
journal
articles.
Meeting
with
renowned
leaders and
others.

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EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS
A fresh
creative
approach can
also make the
employees
overcome
their
monotonous
working style
and make
them
enthusiastic
about their
tasks.
innovative
ideas require
risk taking
which might
be another
barrier.
Moreover
recommendatio
ns provided by
researchers in
their journal
articles will
also help
References: