Leadership for Managers: Reflective Journal on Leadership Theories

This reflective report, prepared by a student, delves into the core concepts and theories of leadership as presented in the "Leadership for Managers" course (LEMT305). The report covers various leadership theories, including behavioral, great man, contingency, relational, trait, and influence theories, and their practical applications. It explores the importance of self-awareness, personality dimensions, and emotional intelligence in effective leadership. The student reflects on the application of these theories and concepts in their personal and professional experiences, discussing topics such as motivation, empowerment, communication, team leadership, diversity, and the use of power and politics within an organizational context. The report highlights key learnings and insights gained throughout the course, including the application of Fiedler's contingency theory, the significance of emotional intelligence, and the importance of building relationships within teams. The student also discusses the application of different leadership approaches like theory X and Y, and the significance of mental models and mindset in leadership. The report concludes with a reflection on the student's personal development and how they plan to apply these leadership principles in their future endeavors.

Running head: LEADERSHIP FOR MANAGERS
Leadership for managers

LEADERSHIP FOR MANAGERS 2
Introduction
This reflective report focuses on different concepts and theories that I have learned from
attending the lectures about background of leadership, theories of leadership as well as, ways of
building relationship through leadership.
Chapters 1, 2, & 3: Introduction to leadership
In classes of some chapters, it was taught that leadership is used for developing liaison between
followers and leaders and they want actual transformation hence, results should reflect their
shared purposes (Northouse, 2017).
During first chapter, I enhanced my learning related to different leadership theories such as
behavioral, great man, contingency, relational, trait, and influence theories. For example, when I
was working in my previous organization, I have team-building skills that distinguished me from
others and contributed to the development of success. From this chapter 1, I have learned that
under great man theories, leadership is illustrated as an individual great man who consider each
element together as well as, persuaded others for following along with, relied on competencies,
strength related to inherited characteristics as well as, qualities (Antonakis and Day, 2017). This
leadership theory would be applied by me in the future.
During chapter 1 classes, it is pointed that relational theories emphasized on how a leader and
follower interact as well as, persuades one another. I learned that servant and transformational
leadership are some relational theories that would be applied by me for developing liaison with
my team member. It would be advantageous to improve not only my personal but also
professional career. This lecture was supportive as it enables me to comprehend application of
influence theories (Riggio, 2017). It was observed that influence theories could be applied by me
to influence the processes between followers and leaders. In this theory, charismatic leadership
could be applied by me for influencing according to personality and qualities of a leader.
It is noticed that there are different things that I need to focus on becoming a leader. These are
leadership activities that could be applied in daily routine, selecting good mentor for obtaining
feedbacks, follow to victorious leader, and works for creating personal traits related to patience
and empathy (Landy and Conte, 2016).
From chapter 2, my learning was related to traits, behaviors, as well as, relationships. It is
pointed that there are different individual traits in the context of a leader such as personality,
social and individual traits, personal and professional traits, and intelligence and competencies. It

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was taught to me that some characteristics must be owned within a leader such as sincerity,
positive, assurance, reliable, and optimism (Komives, 2016). At the time of this chapter, it was
addressed that some kind roles are performed by a leader such as advisory, operational, and
collaborative role. For example, I seen that division president works as an operational role in a
vertical management position, project manager acts as a collaborative role, and human resource
manager acts as an advisory role for providing support and guidance. I would like to act as an
operational manager (Braun, Kark, and Wisse, 2018).
I also boosted my understanding that some kinds of behavioral approaches could be used by a
leader such as autocratic and democratic. I have also enhanced my learning that autocratic
leadership is used for centralizes to authority as well as, derives power from positions, coercion,
as well as, controlling rewards (Saleh and Hu, 2016). It was pointed that democratic leadership is
implemented for delegating the authority, motivating participants, relies on subordinate respect
for influences, and dependency on subordinates for the attainment of tasks. It could be significant
for me to make a feasible decision. It would be also applied by me when there are high
differences between subordinates and leaders (Sendjaya, 2016).
During the tenure of chapter 3, it was taught to me that contingency approaches are focusing on
outlining the characteristics of conditions and followers. It was addressed that situational
leadership theory is implemented by a leader to deal in different situation. This lecture would
enable me to implement Fiedler contingency theory for developing association between leaders
and followers. It was also addressed that group task performance, leader style, as well as,
situational favorability could be used to become a good leader (Haynes, Hitt, and Campbell,
2015).
Chapters 4, 5, 6 & 7: The personal side of leadership
In this lecture, it was observed that some chapters such as 4, 5, 6 & 7 has developed critical
knowledge related to leadership. During tenure of chapter 4, my learning was improved in the
context of significance about self-awareness and recognizes the blind spot of an individual. I
have enhanced my knowledge that there are different personality dimension that could be used
by a leader to address their individuality. It is evaluated that conscientiousness, agreeableness,
openness to experience, extroversion, and stability of emotion (Pandit, 2017). It was pointed that
there is a difference between internal and external behavior. The lecture related to values and
attitudes was beneficial for me to enhance my leadership skills. Before attending the lecture

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related to chapter 4, I have lack of understanding regarding theory X and theory Y. But after that,
I am able to apply these theories in my personal and professional life. It is pointed that theory X
could be used for developing assumptions regarding individuals such as most of person are lazy
as well as, they could be not encouraged for working since they naturally involve in avoiding
performing their responsibility (Arif, 2018).
I have also observed that theory Y illustrated those individuals who do not intrinsically loathe act
as well as, always willing for performing that they want to perform. I would like to use theory Y
for becoming a good leader. During this lecture, it was noticed that Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
personality could be used for assessing the personality (Davis, 2017). After attending the
lectures, I realized that I have extroverted, sensing, feeling, and perceiving. Consequently, I
would be able to become a good leader due to understanding about own personality and how I
can react with others. I would be also able to work with different personality type people
(Skålsvik, Adriaenssen, and Johannessen, 2016).
From fifth chapter, it was taught to me that leadership mind and emotion are two broader aspects
that should be considered by an individual to become as sound leader. After reading this chapter,
I have observed that mental model could be practiced by a leader for making an assumption
about situations, events, circumstances, and people. It was learned that changing and expanding
mental model should be practiced by a leader for effectively leading an individual. It is
illustrated that leader’s mindset is related to contextual mindset and a global mindset (Davis,
2017). I have perceived that contextual intelligence demonstrates competencies related to a
leader competency such as social, political, economical and technology concepts. I have also
learned that the adoption of the mental model enables a company to responding significantly
(FitzGerald and Quiñones, 2018).
I have also enhanced my understanding that global mindset illustrates the manager's ability for
persuading individuals, organizations, as well as, system that depicts distinct kinds of traits. In
this chapter, it is pointed that different factors should be considered in mind of a leader such as
systems thinking, independent thinking, and personal mastery as well as, open-mindedness
(Wallace, 2016).
The understanding about emotional intelligence was developed by me during this chapter. It was
pointed that emotional intelligence is competency for identifying, perceiving, understand, and
effectively manage emotions of an individual. I have perceived that there are different kinds of

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positive and negative emotions. In this way, positive emotions are enjoyment, love, relief, and
pride. Negative emotions are anger, fear, sadness, guilt, disgust, and envy. This chapter was
significant for me as it has enhanced my understanding related to the importance of emotions
that lead to me for becoming a good leader. It was illustrated that there are some components
related to emotional intelligence such as social awareness, relationship management, and self-
management as well as, self-awareness (Guinalíu, and Jordán, 2016). I have also learned that
modern approach is about leading a person through love while, traditional strategy is about
leading through fear. I would like to apply modern approach in order to direct my team members.
This would be beneficial for enhancing my personal and professional career.
During tenure of sixth chapter, it was taught to me that courage and moral leadership practices
help an individual to direct their team members. This chapter was beneficial for me for
recognizing guts among others and unlocking own prospective for living and acting boldly. After
attending this chapter, I am able to apply principles for Stewardship leadership within an
organization in upcoming period. It was noticed that a leader should implement partnership state
of mind such as providing authority and decision making right to an individual who are
approximate to customers. I have also observed that leaders should address core working team in
developing firm. I would apply this learning within an organization in the future (Northouse,
2017). During tenure of chapter 7, it was taught to me that there are some personal aspects of
using leadership. I would apply my knowledge and learning in performing leadership practices.
Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12: The leader as relationship builder
After attending chapter 8, I was able to deeply understand motivation and empowerment. I was
also able to address distinguishes among rewards related to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. It was
pointed that different need-based motivational theories could be used by a leader as learning
about these theories would be supportive for me to satisfy the needs of followers and motivates
better work performance. These theories were acquired needs, two-factor, and hierarchy of needs
theory (Riggio, 2017). It was also taught to me that some elements of empowerment is practiced
by a leader. These elements include employee receives data about firm performance and
knowledge and skills for contributing to company goals. Furthermore, learning about job design
for empowerment and job enrichment would be beneficial for me to become a good leader. This
chapter has gained my insights regarding new ideas for motivation. It would be beneficial for me
to motivate employees within an organization (Landy and Conte, 2016).

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Throughout chapter 9, aspects related to leadership communication was learned by me. I also
enhanced my learning about listening. I have also perceived that there are different factors that
should do and don’t in electronic mail. For example, leaders should use e-mail for conducting
meetings as well as, sending agenda materials. Leaders should also not use email for discussing
something with colleagues who sit across the aisle. This chapter has focused on non-verbal
communication as depth understanding regarding this aspect was developed by me. It is also
learned that the message could be transmitted through actions and behaviors. It was noticed that
social media is highly practiced for leadership purposes (Sendjaya, 2016).
During chapter 10, understanding about leading teams was increased by me. It was also taught to
me there are some challenges and benefits of virtual teams hence team leader behavior can
improve the effectiveness of a virtual team. It is learned that there are five stages of team
development. It is also illustrated that different rules could be implemented for reaching win-win
solution. It is learned that negotiation could be used by a leader to negotiate with team members.
It is pointed that the individual would be engaged in giving and takes discussions. I would also
consider several alternatives for making mutual judgment that could be satisfactory for both
parties (Braun, Kark, and Wisse, 2018).
From chapter 11, I have developed my learning regarding reducing complexities faced by
minorities within an organization. After attending the lectures on this chapter, I am able to apply
awareness about the dimension of diversity in everyday practices. Furthermore, chapter 12 was
beneficial for increasing my knowledge regarding the application of politics and power for
attaining company goal. It would be applied by me to take ethical actions (Pandit, 2017).
Conclusion
Through the above interpretation, it could be concluded that there are some theories that could be
applied by a leader for leading the team members. These are great man theory and democratic
leadership theory. After attending the lectures, it is observed that I have a lack of listening and
emotional intelligence skills. Hence, I would focus on these two areas for making improvement
by application of feasible strategies.

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