Successful Leadership: Portfolio

This portfolio explores various topics related to successful leadership, including introduction to leadership, leadership styles, leadership environments, and power and influence. It includes a personality test, speech analysis, self-rating and challenge-control matrix grid, and self-assessment activity on power and influence. Gain insights into leadership models and strategies for becoming a strategic leader.

SUCCESFUL LEADERSHIP
(Portfolio)

Contents
Topic 1: Introduction to Leadership................................................................................................1
Topic 2: Leadership Styles..............................................................................................................3
Topic 3: Leadership Environments..................................................................................................4
Topic 5: Power and Influence..........................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

Topic 1: Introduction to Leadership
Definitions of Leadership
Leadership is an art of motivating the personnel in order to direct them towards effective
attainment of organisational goals and act towards a common goal. Leadership includes
encouraging the team members so that every activity can be performed which can lead to
effective and efficient operations and management of the business (Mielach, 2012).
Leadership is an ability of a leader to lead and motivate the personnel of a business
organisation so that team members can follow the directions towards varied actions. It is ability
of making decisions, guide and influence people so that a clear vision can be shared between
employees.
Portfolio activity – Personality Test
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Reflection
As seen above, a personality test has been taken by me in which various question were
asked and according to my responses various attributes are presented in above results of the
test. According to the above test, an analysis to my strengths and weaknesses is developed
below in which areas are identified where I feel, I need to develop my leadership skills.
Strengths Weaknesses
Observant – By taking the test, the key
strength which I have seen is that I am
observant. This means I believe in first
analysing and observing the whole situation
and then work on that situation. This
strength can help me to first evaluate the
issue between my subordinate and then
resolve that situation using my observant
skills which will result in effective
leadership.
Social awkwardness – By taking the test, it
has been analysed that I am an introvert and
I feel awkward when I am around strange
people. This trait of mine is a huge weakness
for a leader as primary task of leader
involves influencing and manipulating the
team members to direct them towards
attainment of goal.
Technical – It has been analysed that my
decisions are based on logics and
technicalities and not on emotions. This trait
of mine will help me to being a good leader
as it is essential for a leader to take non
biased decisions which must be based on
logics and not on emptions.
Less emotional – Being a less emotional
person can affect my abilities of developing
as a leader. It is important to have emotions
when an individual is interacting with the
team members. Having a less emotion
personality can make my team members to
think that I don’t care for them which can
ultimately impact on my skills of being a
leader.
Quick decisions – From the test, I have
ascertained that I can make quick decisions
which can help me in controlling contingent
and aggressively situations effectively.
Irrational – Due to make quick decision
making skill, I sometimes result in making
irrational decisions which are based on
perspectives of only one side of the coin.
According to Sveningsson and Alvesson
(2003), being rational and emotional is
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important and due to my trait of irrationality
it is my one of the biggest weakness.
Confident – I am confident enough to make
decisions and lead a whole team which is
great strength that will help me in enhancing
my ability of being a leader.
Prospect planning – The another weakness
which I have analysed is that I plan for
future with only single perception of mine
which can result in future contingencies and
risks.
After taking a personality tests and classifying my traits into strengths and weaknesses, I can
reflect that I am able to of being a leader. It is evident that I need proper training of managing
and leading a team which can be gained by me with an internship program in which I can face
real life situations. This test has persuaded me to analyse my weakness areas from which I can
ascertain tactics by which those weaknesses be evaded and turned into strengths.
Topic 2: Leadership Styles
Leadership styles
There are various leadership styles such as authoritarian and participative which provide
assistance to leaders to make decisions in a certain way that it can result in effective achievement
of organisational goals. There are various leadership models which are studied in the module.
These models are Fiedler’s contingency model, The Normative Decision model, Path goal
theory, Substitutes for leadership and leader – member exchange (Nahavandi, 1997). All these
models include few guidelines which assist budding leaders to make reliable decisions.
Portfolio activity – Speech
A charismatic speech is delivered and recorded in order to articulate the ideas and vision
in an inspiring manner. This speech is uploaded at <https://streamable.com/wlao5>.
Reflection
After reviewing my speech, I can say that my speech was considerably clear as I repeated
the objectives twice so that audience can get my intention of influencing on the goals. The only
drawback in terms of clarity I see in my speech is the metaphor of garden and flowers as this
metaphor cab easily result into giggles among the audience as this metaphor is more a cliché
phrase. I can see that from my speech I have reflected the personality exactly what I wanted to
reflect which is an overenthusiastic leader who believes in his team.
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My aim while delivering the speech was to reflect a charismatic personality so that I can
compel my audience so that they can believe in my vision and provide their best efforts for
fulling the goals. After watching and re watching my video speech, it has been seen by me that I
have delivered the exact personality what I wanted. The only drawback I noticed that there were
low usage of gestures and hand movements which I will consider for future purposes. According
to Crowley, (2013), charismatic speech captures imagination and inspirations which I have
successfully delivered by my speech.
The tactics which worked for me the most was the repetition and rhythm. I ensured to
repeat my goal twice so that it can be cleared that I am emphasising over the goals. Along with
the repetition, I can also see that rhythm was my speech was a hit; especially the slogan which I
created instantly and stressed that it must be repeated by my audience. According to Levay,
(2010), appropriate use of rhyme, rhythm and repetition of key words or phrases can make the
vision clearer and compelling and by uses these tactics I over emphasised my goals so I can say
that these tactics were most effective for me.
The speech delivered by me in last is good in nature which provides the information about
goals. The acceptance of this from the listeners is anticipated good. It is felt by me in last that
deliverance of goal alone is not sufficient in nature as nothing is provided in respect to
achievement of the same along with the formulation of specific strategies and objectives. The
overall need in future while presenting the speech is about inclusiveness of the specific
objectives and tactics which are needed to adhere in effective achievement of same.
Topic 3: Leadership Environments
Leadership models
Leadership models are the frameworks which assist in becoming a strategic leader.
According to Pearce and Manz (2011), strategic leaders are the individuals who shape the whole
organisation. These individuals have the ability to consider both internal and external affairs so
that flexibility can be maintained in operations of the organisation in a view perspective of long
term management.
Portfolio activity – Self rating and challenge-control matrix grid
The two leaders which are considered for this activity are Bill Chang and Tim Cook. Bill
Chang is the Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel). Bill leads
infocomm and technology team in this company and believes in innovation. On the other hand,
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Tim Cook is the Chief executive Office of Apple Inc. Tim leads sales and supply team of this
company and believes in flexibility in organisation.
Using the exercise of Self rating, these two leaders and I are assessed below:
0=Never
1=Sometimes
2=Often
3=Always
Questions Bill Chang Tim Cook Me
1 I enjoy working on
routine tasks
3 2 2
2 I am always
looking forward for
new ways of doing
things
2 3 3
3 I have trouble
delegating tasks to
my subordinates
1 0 1
4 I like my
subordinates to
share the same
values and beliefs
2 3 3
5 Change makes me
uncomfortable
1 0 3
6 I encourage my
subordinates to
participate in
decision making
1 2 3
7 It is difficult for me
to get things done
in situations with
many contrasting
1 0 2
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opinions
8 I enjoy working on
new tasks
2 3 2
9 I feel comfortable
giving power away
to my sub ordinates
3 2 3
10 I consider myself to
be a risk taker
3 3 1
Challenge seeking
score
9 13 7
Need for control
score
7 8 5
Reflection
It is important for an inspiring leader to conduct a self rating activity so that the position of
control-challenge can be ascertained. In this portfolio activity, self rating test has been taken by
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me. In order to effective compare myself with well known leaders; two leaders have been
selected which are Bill Chang and Tim Cook. These two leaders are well known for their vision
and efforts towards the success of their organisation. From the above activity, it has been
ascertained that how selected leaders and I, use challenge control position.
Bill Chang has scored 9 in challenge task and 7 in control task due to which he has been
plotted at the 2nd quadrant of the matrix which reflects that the personality and leadership style of
this leader seeks high challenge but has low control over organisational affairs. This position is
effectively used by Bill, as he stresses over brining innovation in the company but make sure to
overlook only technology department which can be effectively controlled. Singapore
telecommunication organisation is one of the most growing company and due to the efforts of
Bill, this company is continuously innovating its services by seeking high challenge.
Speaking about Tim Cook, he is the CEO and leader of Apple Inc. which has been plotted at
1st quadrant of the matrix which implies that he has a high challenge and high control position in
the organisation. Tim Cook has effectively used this position and has ensured that the products
and services of Apple are highly innovative and the organisation must adapt challenges to
innovate their services. Tim Cook has created a balance of taking high challenges by highly
controlling his organisation’s affairs.
After the analysis of Tim Cook and Bill Chang, it is evidently proven that I require a whole
lot of practice and experience of being a leader. From the matrix developed, it is evident that I
have been plotted at 4th quadrant; according to which I have low control over the affairs and I
seek low challenges. With the current position of mine at control challenge matrix, my
personality as a strategic leader will bring out as an immature and uncontrollable personnel. With
my current personality, I will not be able to either effectively control the affairs of the
organisation or not be able to seek challenges by which obviously I will save my organisation
from contingent losses but the growth of my organisation will also be restricted. So, I think I
have to work over my skills and must grab some experience of being a leader.
Topic 5: Power and Influence
Power and Influence
Power and influence are the elements of authority which enables a leader to control and
take responsibility for the activities of their organisation. The power and influence are acquired
by various sources which are required to controlled in to order to gain power over the operations
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of an enterprise. Power and influence impacts the behaviour and attitudes of the people. Power is
an opportunity which is provided along with a title of being accountable for a task in
organisation. In order to analyse the impact of power and influence, an activity is being
performed.
Portfolio activity – Self assessment activity of understanding power and influence
Nine tactics of power are assessed in this activity which are Personal Appeal, Consultation,
Inspiration, Rational persuasion, Coalition building, Exchange, Ingratiation, Legitimate tactics
and Pressure. These nine tactics can be used by a leader in order to gain power in an organisation
These tactics are sometimes used individually and sometimes in combinations. A total of 31
affirmative statements are judged by me in order to self assess my personality about my
preferences of selecting the tactics. After judging all the 31 statements and allocating marks to
each of them according to the scale of 1 = Strongly disagree, 2 = Somewhat disagree, 3 = Neither
agree or disagree, 4 = Somewhat agree and 5 = Strongly agree. All the marks are then added
together to score all nine tactics as:
Tactics Score
Personal Appeal 1, 10, 19, and 28 4+5+3+2 14
Consultation 2, 11, 20, and 29 5+4+5+2 16
Inspiration 3, 12, 21, and 30 4+3+3+4 14
Rational persuasion 4, 13, 22, and 31 2+3+5+4 14
Coalition building 5, 14, 23 3+1+4 8
Exchange 6, 15, 24 1+2+2 5
Ingratiation 7, 16, 25 5+5+5 15
Legitimate tactics 8, 17, 26 5+5+4 14
Pressure 9, 18, 27 3+1+1 5
Reflection
Tactics for power and influence are just the techniques by which a leader acquires power in
an organisation. After conducting self analysis, it has been observed that I use each and every
tactic which can provide power. The only difference is that few tactics are more widely used than
others. Tactics such as Pressure, Exchange, Coalition Building and Inspiration are few tactics
which are averagely used by me as in the situations when I require to pursue my subordinates or
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colleagues to perform their best. These four tactics are used by me to gain the power in situations
in which I have to convince personnel to work harder in order to achieve organisational goals.
There are also few tactics which are highly used by me in order to gain power. These
tactics are Ingratiation and Consultation. The reason behind using these two tactics more
frequently than others is the situations I face in my workplace. Ingratiation is a source which I
use to pretend to do some acts so that my subordinates can like me as a mentor by which I can
gain their respect and can ultimately acquire power to control and order them. This source is
highly used by me in which I pretend to be a role model so that I can have the key to make
decisions in my workplace. Another tactic which is highly used by me is Consultation. This
tactic is a source of power in which I allow people to come up to me in any organisational issue
and I will do my best to resolve their problem. This tactic is widely used by me as it is a
continuous process by which I gain trust of people and acquire the power to make decisions for
them as well.
There are various ways by which I can even expand my sources of power. These ways are
to attend seminars and workshops which can teach me how to be a successful leader. Another
way is to acquire consultation from my seniors who are obviously more experienced than I am,
so that I can learn from their mistakes and can learn few more tactics to source the power and
influence.
Topic 6: Developing Leaders
Developing Leaders
Leadership is not a destination; it is a life long trek which allows a leader to learn from
life experiences. In the course period of developing leaders, the fundamental premise is the
development and enhancement of individual characteristics and traits which can transform an
individual into a leader. In this portfolio topic, various reflective questions are answered so that a
mission statement can be developed along with personal development plan.
Reflection
I am an entrepreneur by profession and chemical engineer by qualification. The aim of
my life is to start a venture which can produce such communication devices which can actually
benefit its target market. I objectify to achieve convenience of people so that my business can be
an ideal for future entrepreneurs. I want to be known as a leader who is capable to manage the
team and as manage the operations of the organisation as well. I want to be known as the leader
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who considers the team workers as a family and considers all their issues so that their best
potential can be reflected in their work.
If there would be only one thing for which people could remember me, so I want that
thing to be my contribution towards the society. Even after having the qualifications of a
chemical engineer, I aspire of an entrepreneur. I want to establish a venture which can facilitate
the people by its operations. By earning high profits, I want to facilitate people of society and
want to contribute towards people health and education. I want people to remember me for my
excellent approaches of corporate social responsibilities.
My epitaph should say “this life isn’t practice for the next one”. This phrase can reflect
my personality of not giving up and try until the goal has been attained. This epitaph can reflect
my personality effectively and also can reflect my aim in life.
After my retirement, I desire to see the world but till than I want to achieve whatever I
aspire from life. I want my biggest accomplishment to be my memory as a great leader and
entrepreneur. Obviously I want to earn millions and desire to live a luxurious life. But the most
prioritised achievement of mine is to be a great leader so that I can live forever in the memory of
people.
Portfolio activity – Creating mission statement and development plan
Mission statement
“To serve as a leader, live a balanced life, and facilitate society by providing them basic
amenities which they require”
In order to achieve the above mission, it is important to create an effective development plan
Priority Skill Current
ability
Target
ability
Development
opportunity
Criteria to
judge
success
Time
frame
1st Communication
skill
5 9 It is important to be
good at
communication, if I
want to be a leader.
Attending group
discussions and
seminars are the best
To be able to
pursue and
compel
people
around me.
2.5 years
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communication skill
opportunity.
2nd Brainstorming 6.5 10 To be a scalable
entrepreneur, it is
important to use
effective ideas for
business proposal. The
skill of brainstorming
can help in identifying
effective ideas.
Workshops and
internships are the
perfect development
opportunity of me.
To have a
strategically
effective
idea to start
my own
venture as an
entrepreneur.
3 years.
3rd
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Nahavandi, A., 1997. The art and science of leadership (pp. 4-8). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall.
Pearce, C. L. and Manz, C. C., 2011. Leadership centrality and corporate social ir-responsibility
(CSIR): The potential ameliorating effects of self and shared leadership on CSIR. Journal
of Business Ethics. 102(4). p.563.
Mielach, D., 2012. Gen Y seeks work-life balance above all else. Business News Daily.
Sveningsson, S. and Alvesson, M., 2003. Managing managerial identities: Organizational
fragmentation, discourse and identity struggle. Human relations, 56(10). pp.1163-1193.
Levay, C., 2010. Charismatic leadership in resistance to change. The Leadership Quarterly,
21(1). pp.127-143.
Crowley, M. C., 2013. Not a happy accident: How Google deliberately designs workplace
satisfaction. Fast Company. 21.
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