The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership: Self-Assessment & Plan

This assignment presents a self-assessment of leadership practices based on "The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership." The student analyzes their performance across five key areas: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart. The assignment includes graphical representations of self-ratings, reflections on strengths and weaknesses, and identification of areas for improvement. The student discusses confusing or contradictory aspects of their ratings, identifies behaviors to work on, and outlines steps to exhibit these behaviors more frequently. The assignment concludes with a self-description as a leader, identification of leadership strengths, and a personal development plan for improvement, including how the student would like to be remembered as a leader. The student also provides a bibliography of relevant leadership literature.

Running head: THE FIVE PRACTICES OF EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP
The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership
Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author Note

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THE FIVE PRACTICES OF EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP
Model the Way Graphs
What is your immediate reaction to viewing your Model the Way ratings? Why?
The graphical representation of the Model the Way reveal that there is fairly good
responses to people and goals which are to be pursued in life. Model the Way is one of the
leadership practices which enable one to set examples of leadership and excellence which also
help others to follow their goals. The graphical representation reveal that the personal examples
which are set through maintaining standards, principle and understanding of the affects on other
people’s performance can be worked on to enhance the skills of a leader. While commitments
and understanding and communication of values have generated a score which is perfect.
Please describe anything in your Model the Way rating that is confusing or contradictory.
The ratings which I have acquired in the Model the Way rating, has created contradiction
in my understanding as the score I have received for spending time to ensure consistency in
people’s behavior with respect to standards and principles in order to draw mutual agreement is
less as compared to the score I received for the communication I do in order to express the
principles behind my actions. I feel that I communicate and ensure that there is balance between
communication and outcomes for the process.
What is one behavior you want to work toward doing more frequently and what is one thing
you can do now to exhibit this behavior more frequently as a leader?
Understanding how my actions have affect on the people associated with me and their
performance will help me emerge as a better leader. This will help in aligning values within a
group. Better examples can be set, for what are the things I expect from others as well as
reciprocate to ensure the best results.

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THE FIVE PRACTICES OF EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP
Inspire a Shared Vision Bar Graphs
What is your immediate reaction to viewing your Inspire a Shared Vision ratings? Why?
There are ample of scopes for improvement, those which can be addressed by ensuring a
common vision. This needs to be done with the help of imagination of all possibilities and
communicating them well with others who have in the shared aspiration.
There are areas which can be worked on, in order to look ahead and affect in future.
Communication can be enhanced by talking about interests of others and accomplishing the
common goal.
Please describe anything in your Inspire a Shared Vision rating that is confusing or
contradictory.
The scores which I have obtained for describing about the goals to be accomplished, to
others, as well as being positive about them are absolute. This means that the precise efforts to
communicate the needful is flawlessly adequate whereas, it shows contradiction in areas like
looking ahead at the future developments, transparency with others’ interests towards the
common goal and understanding the higher purpose associated.
What is one behavior you want to work toward doing more frequently and what is one thing
you can do now to exhibit this behavior more frequently as a leader?
It is important to introspect and understand the weaknesses which may pose hindrance in
becoming a leader. Observation is also very essential to align the vision with everyone in a
group. This can be done by maintaining transparency and effective communication.

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THE FIVE PRACTICES OF EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP
Challenge the Process Bar Graphs
What is your immediate reaction to viewing your Challenge the Process ratings? Why?
The immediate response after viewing the test results was that it is not disappointing
because all the scores are fairly good but there are room for betterment too. A leader must always
be able to understand the shortcomings and work on them to enhance the ability.
Please describe anything in your Challenge the Process rating that is confusing or
contradictory.
There is difference in scores obtained for looking out ways to implement newer methods
and ideas with others in one hand and the search for ways to improve the existing approaches of
fulfilling the common goals on the other hand. These two aspects require almost the same
initiative to improvise and innovate techniques to be more effective at the work that is to be
done.
What is one behavior you want to work toward doing more frequently and what is one thing
you can do now to exhibit this behavior more frequently as a leader?
There can be subsequent changes in approach if there are ways to address the changes
and enough room to accommodate the suggestions which will collectively be good to bring
positive change to the functioning of the group. It is important to challenge and assess the
efficiency of the existing ways in order to incorporate newer ways to seize opportunities at
achieving success.

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THE FIVE PRACTICES OF EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP
Enable Others to Act Bar Graphs
What is your immediate reaction to viewing your Enable Others to Act ratings? Why?
The graph for enabling others to grow show distinct positive results in the leadership
practices. This instills a sense of positivity about the qualities and leadership in me and
encourages me to foster collaborative approach to build trust and act towards it. There are
opportunities for significant improvement in areas such as competence development and
inclusivity in decision making.
Please describe anything in your Enable Others to Act rating that is confusing or
contradictory.
I always prioritize cooperative attitude over competition, even though they are healthy for
making constructive changes. There scopes reflect that I treat people with the respect they
deserve, support their decisions and provide opportunities for leadership. Whereas, the
contradiction lies at this point that more cooperative behavior and approach should be promoted.
What is one behavior you want to work toward doing more frequently and what is one thing
you can do now to exhibit this behavior more frequently as a leader?
A leader should be able to include everyone in the process of reaching the goal. It is
important to include people and encourage them for fair amount of participation in the process.
This can be ensured in many ways and not just by merely talking to them. Something which will
be more suitable must be found out to help them feel connected to everyone.
A leader should also treat everyone equally and engage in activities to spend time with
them. This is something I would like to ensure to emerge as the leader who sets example by
action.

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THE FIVE PRACTICES OF EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP
Encourage the Heart Bar Graphs
What is your immediate reaction to viewing your Encourage the Heart ratings? Why?
I am thoroughly overwhelmed to see the ratings in the Encourage the Heart Bar Graphs
as I have acquired perfect scores in all of the categories. This suggest that I have suitable attitude
towards recognizing people’s contribution in works and appreciate their excellence which
collectively help in developing a sense of belongingness.
Please describe anything in your Encourage the Heart rating that is confusing or
contradictory.
The rating in the Encourage the Heart Graph is clear in its understanding and does not
create confusion as the results are encouraging and reflect on the ways how to the attributes
which help in acknowledging people’s efforts and contributions to develop values and success
within a group.
What is one behavior you want to work toward doing more frequently and what is one thing
you can do now to exhibit this behavior more frequently as a leader?
Small and significant gestures of acknowledging the differences created by one’s
contribution encourage them to do better work. They also become efficient leaders which set
examples by motivating their peers and others associated with them. The values which are added
to the collective object by an individual can be made part of the values of the group in order to
make it celebrate the positive flow of values and spirit.

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THE FIVE PRACTICES OF EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP
Concluding Questions
How would you currently describe yourself as a leader?
I would describe myself as a leader who challenges the process and tries to enable others
to act. I always try to encourage the heart because that is paramount in the process of being a
leader. We are motivated to do things in life only when we want to do them earnestly by heart.
Doing anything half-heartedly reduces the chances of success. A leader must be able to
encourage followers to listen to their heart.
What types of leadership and/or leadership practices would you say are your strengths?
The leadership practice which I would say, is my strength is, to try out newer ideas and
encourage others to put in their viewpoints which often differ from mine, This ensures better
chance of accommodation of ideas and evaluation to check the efficiency of plans.
Which areas (identify at least two) do you really want to improve upon – and how will you
do it?
I would like to improve areas such as taking feedbacks from others and giving people the
freedom to take decisions when necessary. These can be done by being flexible and
approachable. The outcomes which can be generated with these changes and efforts will be
positive and help in emerging as a better leaders whom people can look up to.
Finally, assume you are currently a top leader, employed in an organization that you really
like and care about. Today, is the day you retire. How do you want to be remembered as a
leader in the eyes of your followers?
I would like to be remembered as a person who inspires people to pursue what they
ardently want from heart and aspire to materialize the dreams they see. A leader should inspire

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others to pursue what others wish for and be confident about the same. Efforts of others should
be acknowledged and they should be encouraged to make positive changes. I would aspire to
become a leader as such who is remembered for positivity and encouragement which motivates
one only to be better than themselves and set examples for others to follow.

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Bibliography
Conger, J. (2015). Charismatic leadership. Wiley encyclopedia of management, 1-2.
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2003). The leadership practices inventory (LPI): Self instrument
(Vol. 52). John Wiley & Sons.
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2011). The five practices of exemplary leadership (Vol. 225).
John Wiley & Sons.
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2014). The leadership challenge. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2016). Learning leadership: The five fundamentals of becoming
an exemplary leader. John Wiley & Sons.
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2017). A coach's guide to developing exemplary leaders: Making
the most of the leadership challenge and the leadership practices inventory (LPI). John
Wiley & Sons.
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2018). The student leadership challenge: Five practices for
becoming an exemplary leader. John Wiley & Sons.
Landis, E. A., Hill, D., & Harvey, M. R. (2014). A synthesis of leadership theories and styles.
Journal of Management Policy and Practice, 15(2), 97.