Leadership in Organizations: Self-Reflection and Developmental Goals

This essay explores the author's journey in developing leadership qualities through past experiences and role models. It reflects on the influence of teachers and their emphasis on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in shaping leadership skills. The essay evaluates the author's leadership skills, highlighting achievements and areas for improvement, while emphasizing the importance of confidence, honesty, positivity, and decisiveness. The author expresses a preference for transformational leadership and outlines three developmental goals—strategic thinking, coaching, and listening abilities—aimed at enhancing their leadership capabilities. The essay concludes by reiterating the significance of these goals in molding a better leader and reflecting on the gradual transition in leadership qualities.

Running head: LEADERSHIP IN ORGANIZATIONS
Leadership in Organizations
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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Introduction:
The essay is a discussion on past experiences and role models. There is discussion on
the on how I describe myself taking into considerations my past experiences about people
whom I considered as leader. There is discussion how their experiences have helped in
shaping my views on leadership. Then there is an evaluation of my own leadership skills
from the recent past and the instances that make me either proud or force me to make certain
changes. The essay also discusses about the aspects of leadership that is most valued along
with a discussion the kind of preferred leadership. The essay also puts forward discussion on
three developmental goals.
Discussion:
Presently I describe myself as a leader. The past experiences with my teachers whom
I considered as my role model have played a key role in helping me develop the leadership
qualities. Their guidance has been really positive which made me value kindness and
generosity. My teachers always encouraged me for working in team projects that not only
helped me in learning to confront ideas but also in resolving conflicts. In fact, they always
encouraged Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) (Weissberg et al. 2015). The SEL process
adopted by the teachers helped in improving my leadership skills through development of
better social awareness, communication, emotional management, decision making and self
awareness skills (Humphrey 2013). Social awareness skills refer to situations when I am able
to consider the opinion of the people and thereby show empathy. Communication skills
included learning how to cooperate, listen and solve problems and accordingly deal with
various conflicting situations. I was also able to develop the skill of emotional management
that refers to the better management of stress and development of necessary motivation for
working towards specific goals. Self awareness, one of the skills of leadership also developed

2LEADERSHIP IN ORGANIZATIONS
through the process of learning where I learnt to express and identify my own feelings.
Working in a group also helped me in developing my decision making skills where I was to
make reasonable choices in favour of everyone.
I attempted to influence others by supporting their point of view. I have also tried to
be flexible and make use of logical arguments that helped in making an influence. My
interactions and capability of demonstrating my expertise has also contributes in influencing
others. To support my proposal I have always made use of data and facts that helped in
generating a better influence. I have also ensured influencing others through active listening
thereby ensuring a two way communication process.
Evaluation of my own leadership skills involved reinforcing achievements and
contributions thereby ensuring positive, timely and specific feedback. Evaluation further
involved, providing encouragement to people for the development of professional and
personal goals. This also involved ensuring opportunities for the enhancement of desirable
skills, abilities and knowledge. I have also tried to encourage a two way communication
process and act as a role model aimed at spreading positivity. In addition I have also tried to
display emotional intelligence and ensure means of encouraging interactions between people.
I have also delegated my authority effectively and tried to maximize the performance of the
people.
I am proud at ensuring good job related to the control, coordination and the direction
of any assignment. However, certain things that I would like to change involve acquirement
of better motivation, development and encouragement qualities.
The current leadership abilities that I value the most include confidence, honesty,
positivity and decisiveness. There is sufficient passion for the work that I do. As a boss I
would like them to follow transformational leadership. Transformational leadership

3LEADERSHIP IN ORGANIZATIONS
represents the leadership approach where leaders work with the subordinates for identifying
the needed change (Avolio and Yammarino 2013). They also help in creating vision thereby
executing and bringing in change by working with the committed group members. Thus,
Transformational leaders possess certain behaviour and traits for motivating and inspiring an
organization or team for rallying around a common goal. However, the traits possessed by
these leaders include intellectual stimulation, charisma, inspirational motivation and
consideration of each of the group member (Zhu et al. 2013). They also refuse the traditional
rules or confines and attempts to explain newer ideas. This kind of leadership approach also
has certain advantages since they easily accept newer ideas and acts as a motivating factor for
other people. They also possess the ability for promoting free thinking and disciplined teams.
The three developmental goals that will help me in becoming a better leader include
strategic thinking, coaching and listening abilities. Strategic thinking will help in seeing a
bigger picture and thereby taking up a broader perspective (Dragoni et al. 2014). Improving
the listening abilities will help me paying attention to others through eliminating of
distractions that gets in the way of active listening. Coaching refers to the development and
guidance provided to others and also assists them in formulating a development plan
(Theisohn and Lopes 2013).
Conclusion:
The essay ends with a discussion on three development goals that helps me in
moulding into a better leader. The essay primarily reflects on my past experience that helped
in development of my leadership qualities and its gradual transition.

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References:
Avolio, B.J. and Yammarino, F.J. eds., 2013. Introduction to, and overview of,
transformational and charismatic leadership. In Transformational and Charismatic
Leadership: The Road Ahead 10th Anniversary Edition (pp. xxvii-xxxiii). Emerald Group
Publishing Limited.
Dragoni, L., Oh, I.S., Tesluk, P.E., Moore, O.A., VanKatwyk, P. and Hazucha, J., 2014.
Developing leaders’ strategic thinking through global work experience: The moderating role
of cultural distance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 99(5), p.867.
Humphrey, N. ed., 2013. Social and emotional learning: A critical appraisal. SAGE
Publications Limited.
Theisohn, T. and Lopes, C., 2013. Ownership leadership and transformation: Can we do
better for capacity development. Routledge.
Weissberg, R.P., Durlak, J.A., Domitrovich, C.E. and Gullotta, T.P., 2015. Social and
emotional learning: Past, present, and future.
Zhu, W., Newman, A., Miao, Q. and Hooke, A., 2013. Revisiting the mediating role of trust
in transformational leadership effects: Do different types of trust make a difference?. The
Leadership Quarterly, 24(1), pp.94-105.