MGMT6012: Leadership Skills Assessment and Development Plan Report

This report, prepared for MGMT6012, delves into the essential skills required for effective leadership, particularly within a prominent organization like Google. The author conducts a thorough self-assessment, employing a personal SWOT analysis to identify strengths such as ethical practices and participative management, while recognizing weaknesses in performance evaluation and developmental needs identification. The report further proposes a detailed training activity aimed at enhancing these areas. It provides an analysis of Google's organizational structure, emphasizing the need for strong interpersonal and cultural intelligence skills among leaders. The report also highlights the importance of ethical business conduct and the management of organizational changes. The SWOT analysis evaluates the author's strengths in communication and ethical leadership, and weaknesses in performance evaluation bias and emotional intelligence. Opportunities include fostering innovation and task allocation based on expertise, while threats involve the limited ability to identify employee developmental needs. A continuous development plan outlines specific objectives, activities, success factors, and timelines for skill improvement, including performance evaluation and employee training.

Running head: MANAGEMENT
Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Executive Summary:
The paper discusses regarding the required skills for becoming an efficient leader in a
renowned organization like Google. Along with that, the paper provides an important analysis
regarding my strengths and weakness with the application of the application of the personal
SWOT analysis where my urge towards ethical practices and the application of the
participative management style are recognized as strengths and at the same time, the
inappropriate performance evaluations or the lack of skills in identifying the developmental
needs are considered as my weakness. The paper also formulates an effective training activity
for the much required improvement of mine in these aspects.

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Table of Contents
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................3
Company Analysis and Skill Requirements:..............................................................................3
SWOT Analysis:........................................................................................................................5
Strengths:................................................................................................................................5
Weakness:..............................................................................................................................6
Opportunities:.........................................................................................................................6
Threats:...................................................................................................................................7
Continuous Development:..........................................................................................................8
Conclusion:..............................................................................................................................10
References:...............................................................................................................................11
Bibliography:............................................................................................................................12

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Introduction:
The significance of the leaders in the current business management is increasing in a
notably manner. The companies are observed to face the necessity of managing their business
operations in an efficient manner and there are considerable number of factors that are
influencing the organizations towards the incorporation of an efficient management system
such as the increasing intensity of the business competition, need of conducting the business
operations in ethical manner, necessity of managing the human resources with a precise focus
on the generation of larger profit with the consumption of the least possible amount of
resources (Cascio, 2015). Considering the changing business environment and the variables
of the business market, it becomes important for the companies to have an efficient leader
who has the capability to lead the organization towards the desired objective through
neutralizing the barriers (Cascio, 2015). The paper is focused in testing my capabilities as a
leader, inclined towards the effective management of the business operations of a particular
organization named as Google Inc. The paper analyses my strengths and weakness with a
precise focus on three different corporate artefacts. With a precise focus on the analysis, the
paper identifies some crucial developmental needs of mine and along with that, the paper
includes an important assessment regarding the probable activities which have the potential to
improve my skills.
Company Analysis and Skill Requirements:
For the elaboration of my skills, strengths, weakness and suitability with the
mentioned company, it is important to provide a brief analysis regarding the key factors that
are affecting the business operations of the company. From the Proxy Statement of the
company, it is evident that the company is able to establish an efficient corporate structure
which has the potential to response to the frequently occurring changes of the business

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environment (Sec.gov, 2019). The company is observed to have a flat organizational structure
where the flow of communication is largely informal and the bottom level employees of the
company have the scope to frequently communicate with the senior managers of the
company. This has the capability to improve the involvement of the employees towards the
organizations in an efficient manner. Having said that, the managers of the company have the
required skills for promoting a smooth flow of communication across the various managerial
and employment levels and at the same time, one of the prime skill requirements for the
employees operating in the organization is seen to be the strong interpersonal skills of
communication (Shrm.org, 2019). Other than this, the managers of the company are observed
to have the required competency in promoting the urge amongst the employees and managers
of the company for the creative thinking. With a precise focus on the necessity of injecting
the much required innovation in the products and services, to be delivered by the company, it
becomes important for the line managers and the leaders to improve their ability towards
creative thinking and activities for promoting the innovative thinking amongst the employees
of the company. Being an organization with the application of the cross functional
organizational structure, the company or more specifically the managers of the company are
observed to be competent enough in portraying their skills for the effective management of
the different backgrounds and cultures of the employees (Hrinasia.com, 2019). Hence, it is
pretty evident that the managers of the company have the necessity to have a strong cultural
intelligence (Sparrow, Brewster & Chung, 2016).
With a precise focus on the reputation of the company regarding the ethical practices,
the incorporation of the business ethics in the effective management of the business
operations of the company is pretty prominent. In addition to this, the recognition of the
World’s Most Ethical Company (WME) on multiple occasions reflect the urge of the
managers of the company in conducting their business in an ethical and sustainable manner

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(Boss-digital.co.uk, 2019). The managers of the company are also observed to be
significantly concerned about the proportionate utilization of the energy and that is pretty
prominent with the recognition of the world’s first carbon neutral firm (Yoneda & Yoneda,
2019). Other than this, the managers of the company are observed to be focused towards the
efficient management of the organizational changes which not only helps the company in
tackling the changing business dynamics and modern trends but also in staying relevant to the
business competition. Having said that, the organization faces considerable amount of
problems in the effective management of the operational activities and that is prominent in
the aspects such as the decision making inside the organizations, the training and
development along with the effective management of the operational activities. Hence, for
any aspiring individual for the position of the corporate leader in the organization, it is
important to manage these sets of requirements.
SWOT Analysis:
Strengths:
Considering the strengths, it is evident that I have the skills of establishing effective
communication amongst the employees. I have the tendency of following the participative
management style which provides me added advantage in maintaining an effective bond with
the employees of the companies. I have the capability to communicate the strategic vision to
the employees and provide the much required freedom to the employees for formulating their
operational activities which requires to be in alignment with the corporate strategy of the
company. This ensures a higher degree of involvement between the organization and the
employees. The application of the participative management style inside the company also
plays a crucial role in managing the conflicts, generated amongst the employees in an
efficient manner. Hence, the capability to lead the organization with the active participation
of the employees, can be considered as one of my strengths in being the leader of the

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organization. Other than this, I am more inclined towards the management of my business
operations within the ethical boundaries. I make sure that the business operations of mine and
the subordinate employees is effectively linked with the employment code of conduct and the
framed regulations of the company. This has the capability of increasing the effectiveness of
my business reputation and the effectiveness of the business operations of my team. With a
precise focus on the urge of the managers of Google in conducting the ethical business
operations, my skills of ethical business management places me at the upper section of the
contenders’ list for becoming an efficient leader of the company.
Weakness:
Being a leader of the modern business world, I have the necessity to evaluate the
performances of my subordinate employees. However, I have certain amount of limitations in
evaluating the performances of my employees. The performance evaluations that are
conducted by me, are largely affected by various forms of rater bias such as the central
tendency bias, leniency bias, strictness bias along with the halo or horns effect. The impact of
these rater bias is seen to decrease the effectiveness and accuracy of performance evaluation
that I conduct. Hence, it is one of the areas of improvement for mine in becoming an efficient
leader for the mentioned company.
Other than this, I consider I significantly lack in the aspect of the emotional
intelligence. I am certainly limited in gaining the idea of the emotional status of the other
individuals while dealing with them I also feel that, my ignorance or incapability in
understanding the emotional status has the capability to create considerable amount of
dissatisfaction amongst my employees. Hence, this quite evidently misplaces me from the
requirements of the leaders in the company.

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Opportunities:
Considering the opportunities, I consider that I have the capability to lead the
organization in an efficient manner for the incorporation of the innovative and creative
thinking in the products and services that it delivers to the customers. I am personally pretty
much open towards creative thinking and consider contribution of innovative thinking to be
crucial for improving the effectiveness of the products and services. I, myself, have the
tendency of practicing various creative thinking techniques such as the brainstorming
activities, Osborn Checklist or Six thinking hats. The effective practice of these techniques
improves my skills and interest towards the creative and innovative thinking. Other than this,
I do not influence my subordinate employees for finding out the correct solutions, rather my
approach is to identify a pool of possible solutions that can be applied with a precise focus on
the varying parameters of the business environment.
Though the application of the participative management style in the companies
enables me towards the employee dependent allocation of the tasks, however, I have the
capability to allocate tasks to the employees on the basis of their expertise. This increases my
capability as a leader as the effective allocation of the tasks on the basis of the expertise level
of the employees contributes in the decrement of the number of faults conducted by the
employees. Hence, the opportunistic application of my skills in allocating tasks on the basis
of the expertise of the employees have the capability to increase the service reputation of the
company.
Threats:
With a precise focus on the list of required skills for becoming an efficient leader, I
feel that the lack of required skills for effectively identifying the developmental and training
needs of the employees, is one of the major concern of my leadership. I am significantly
limited in evaluating the performances of my subordinate employees for finding out the

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factors that are affecting their efficiency and growth. Hence this possess considerable amount
of threat for me in conducting my operational activities while managing the position of the
leader of the organization.
Continuous Development:
Objective Activity Success Factor Timeframe
Improvement of my
skills of
performance
evaluations
I would like to
create a performance
evaluation form
which includes at
least 10 performance
indicators. The
formation of the
performance
indicators will be
significant for me in
evaluating the
performance of the
employees from a
multi- dimensional
perspectives and at
the same time, it will
The success factor
for the objective is
the development of
such an ability
which helps me in
evaluating the
performances of my
subordinate
employees on the
basis of the framed
performance
indicators.
The mentioned
objective is expected
to be achieved
within 12 weeks.

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be crucial for me in
avoiding the impact
of the rater bias in
my performance
evaluations.
Improvement of the
skills of executing
the training and
development of my
subordinate
employees.
The required activity
for the achievement
of the objective is
the proactive
creation of the
consultation sessions
with the employees
for identifying the
training and
developmental needs
of the employees.
The success factor
for the objective is
increment of the
interest amongst the
employees of the
company in
communicating their
developmental needs
during the
consultation
sessions.
The mentioned
objectives can be
achieved within 15
weeks.
Development of my
skills for promoting
the creative and
innovative thinking
inside the
organization.
The required activity
for the achievement
of this objective will
be the repetitive
occurrences of
various forms of
brainstorming
activities along with
the practices of the
The success factor
for the objective is
to develop such
skills which help me
in providing the
required space and
motivation to my
subordinate
employees in
The mentioned
objective is expected
to be achieved
within 15 weeks.

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technique such as
the Osborn Checklist
or six thinking hats.
communicating their
innovative ideas
regarding the
existing processes
and products of the
company.
Conclusion:
On a concluding note, it is evident that I have the required skills for efficiently leading
Google towards the desired success. However, I also have certain limitations such as the lack
of skills in identifying the developmental needs of my subordinate employees, promoting the
creative or innovative thinking in a more efficient manner along with the inappropriate
performance evaluations. The success of mine in becoming an efficient leader for the
company is largely dependent on my ability of overcoming these mentioned challenges.

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References:
Boss-digital.co.uk (2019). Google: The World’s Most Ethical Company? - BOSS DIGITAL.
Retrieved 27 August 2019, from https://boss-digital.co.uk/blog/google-worlds-ethical-
company/
Cascio, W. F. (2015). Costing human resources. Wiley Encyclopedia of Management, 1-1.
Cascio, W. F. (2015). Managing human resources. McGraw-Hill.
Hrinasia.com (2019). Google’s Unique Take on Human Resource Management - HR in
ASIA. Retrieved 27 August 2019, from https://www.hrinasia.com/employee-
relations/googles-unique-take-on-human-resource-management/
Sec.gov (2019). GOOGLE INC. - DEF 14A. Retrieved 27 August 2019, from
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1288776/000130817914000114/
lgoogle2014_def14a.htm#x1_lgooa010
Shrm.org (2019). HR at Google: A Q&A with Laszlo Bock. Retrieved 27 August 2019, from
https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/pages/1115-bock-google-hr.aspx
Sparrow, P., Brewster, C., & Chung, C. (2016). Globalizing human resource management.
Routledge.
Yoneda, Y., & Yoneda, Y. (2019). Google Announces That it Has Been Carbon Neutral
Since 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2019, from https://inhabitat.com/google-announces-
that-its-been-carbon-neutral-since-2007/