Self Awareness and Development: An Effective Leadership Report

This report examines the crucial role of self-awareness and continuous self-development in fostering effective leadership. It begins by defining self-awareness and its significance, drawing on various academic sources to highlight its importance in understanding one's strengths, weaknesses, and behaviors. The report then delves into a critical incident where the student, appointed as a team leader, struggled due to a lack of self-awareness, particularly in communication and emotional intelligence. To gain insights, the student utilized a personality test (Jung typology), revealing introverted tendencies and communication challenges. The report further analyzes this incident, reflecting on the impact of these weaknesses on leadership effectiveness. The student identifies the need for improvement in communication and emotional intelligence and outlines plans for self-development, including seeking feedback and utilizing available resources. The report concludes by emphasizing the continuous nature of self-development and its vital role in enhancing leadership skills and overall effectiveness. The report also includes a second incident where the student struggled with workload management.

Need for self
awareness and
self
development.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Role of self awareness and continuous self development in being effective leader...............1
2) Critical incident and reflection upon finding..........................................................................3
3) Major strength and weaknesses and the behaviour that has emerged from the analysis . .....6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

1. Role of self awareness and continuous self development in being effective leader.
According to Demetriou and Kazi (2013) Self awareness in business have its own
definition. He stated that self awareness imply an understanding of one's own weaknesses,
strength and limitation. It covers vast area where focus is laid on the behaviour of individual. For
instance how a person gather information, how he handle stressful situation etc. He further said
that it's a critical asset that not only help in the development of individual but also play major
role in leading organisation. Day and et. al., (2014) stated that self development is a continuous
process where individual try to continuously enhance their knowledge and understanding
throughout their career so that they can perform well. Other than this he also said that self
awareness and continuous self development are interrelated with each other. If person is self
aware of its strength and weaknesses than only he can implement self development.
Many of the authors have made argument saying that inclusion of self awareness in one
of the important aspect of self development and becoming effective leader. Stajkovic and et. al.,
(2018) stated that self awareness help in the development individual have better understanding of
themselves. This help person in empowering themselves so that changes can be made in order to
strengthen one's strong point and eliminate the weaknesses. In short self development help an
individual in removing the barriers which are causing hindrance in the growth of employee. By
removing the weaknesses an leader or manger can bring efficiency in their work which will help
them in becoming effective in their work.
In the view of Tong, (2014) self development is personal development, where an
individual take responsibilities for their own learning and selecting different means through
which goals and objectives can be achieved. Self development is all about one's own willingness
to increase their capacity and efficiency in performing better. He further explained that self
development include developing any particular quality or skill. By improving this skill a person
can modify their existence performance and can bring efficiency in their working, this will help
leader in being more effective. This development also help in unleashing the full potential of a
person that help him in being effective in its work.
Berland and Berland (2017) stated that self awareness is not a small process it includes
many other factor such as self assessment, self reflection, self evaluation and self monitoring.
With the help of self assessment and self reflective the person can come to know about the area
where it lacks. For instance a leader can conduct a self assessment of it various skill such as time
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management, leading, organising etc. If a leader or manger find any particular skill where it
lacks than it can find various way through which he can improve this particular skill. This will
help him in enhancing it skills and performing well. Self evaluation will help the person in
measuring the development while monitoring will help in the maintaining that skill. This all help
person in being effective leader by continuous assessment and evaluation it can enhance it skill
that will help in the development of the leader.
Sturm and et. al., (2014) said that self awareness is crucial for the effective leader. Self
awareness help leader in improving by telling them their current competency and their need of
improvement. It helps leader in making right decision by reminding them the area where they
lack. It also helps them in performing better by making them self knowledgeable. He further said
that he further said that self awareness play vital role in effective leadership. Being aware of one
own style, personality, weaknesses and strength etc., have significant impact on the working of a
leader and how he behave and interact with other people. A self aware leader have large
influence on the situation and setting the environment of the team.
The importance of self awareness in the development of a leader is highlighted by
Showry and Manasa, (2014) a leader is required to have “Emotional intelligence” that is
managing one own relationship with other. A leader the person is required to have emotional
intelligence that can help him in managing is relationship with other. It consists of four
fundamental that is self awareness, self management, social awareness and social skill. A leader
is someone who is required to have good relation with its subordinates as well as with the
organisation. The above skill help him in carrying out its role in efficient manner. Having the
above skill will help him in creating respect among its subordinate and making them follow its
direction and guidance. It will also help leader or manger in proper management of the work. He
further said that self awareness and self management are essentials toll for authentic leadership.
In support to above statements Bozer & Joo, (2015) also said that an organisation should be
cautious of hiring the person who is most talented but lack the personal and social skill. With the
help of self-awareness manger or leader can come to know about their style and preference that
will help them in enhancing their skill and performing effectively. It will also help in the process
of continuous self development.
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In the view of Leroy and et. al., (2015) continuous self development and self awareness
are two basic things that are necessary for the success of the manger of leader. This two tool help
in identifying the gap in the skill of leader or manager that help them in managing things and
matter properly. He also support the above statements of interrelationship and said that self
awareness promotes self development among individual, which play important role in the
success of manager. With the help of self development the person can find various ways through
which it can enhance its current skill. This characteristics help manager to be effective and
efficient. Self awareness help in motivating employee, fir instance by analysing one owns
strength the confidence of person in particular task can enhanced. Same way if he finds
weaknesses than he can feel motivated to find various way through which he can eliminate this
weaknesses. Self development in all this can help individual in removing this obstacle and
enhancing the skill of person so that he can be more effective.
2) Critical incident and reflection upon finding
My chosen toolkit: Personality test
My results for this toolkit are:
By looking at my good work my manager appoint me as a team leader of team that was leading
a small project. I was the one who was responsible for directing all the member and leading my
team. I had great idea and vision that can help us in completing this project. Throughout the
project I had great problem in making my team understand my view and make them follow me.
Due to this we had many conflicts the subordinate were not able to understand me which was
affecting their performance. In addition to it also lost my respect in the eye of subordinates.
Sometime situation even got so much worse that I even lose my calm and snap on my follow
member. My manger seeing the worsening situation decided to drop the project. I was so
disappointment in myself and my lack of skill of managing team. Through this incident my
perception of doing well was broken, I realize there are still chances for me to learn new things
and improve my skill. I recognize my weakness also my need of learning and development.
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In order to realize the reason behind my failure and the area where I lack I decided to conduct a
self assessment so that I can come to know about the various area where I can improve so that I
can bring effectiveness in my working. In order to conduct my self assessment I use Jung
typology test, in which I score INTJ, which said that I am introvert in nature it came to me as a
shock because I always thought, if not extrovert but at least I am not introvert. As my job I am
required to communicate and interact within the different department in the firm on daily basis
I thought I have good communication skill and essential skills that can help me in leading a
team (Reilly, Dominick and Gabriel, 2014). that's why I decided to partake in this project. But
being introverted was not something I was expecting. This was the main reason why I was not
able to communicate properly. Other than this I also seek the feedback from my superior and
peers. They also told me the same thing that I lack in communication skill which was the
leading hindrance in me being an effective leader. By seeking the feedback I also come to know
about that I have problem listening to other people. As leader I am required to listen to the
inputs of other. I did ask for their inputs but I never paid attention to them in addition to it I also
force my views on them, which lead to many conflicts. By taking the personality test I also
came to know about my problem of short temper, I get irritated easily which does not look good
in my achievement.
With this incident I came to learn about the various area where I lack and that are
causing hindrance in my working. Through this I come to realize that I still need to improve
my sense of self awareness. Through this learning I realize I am in severe need of development
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that can help me in my professional career and can help me in being effective and efficient
leader. I also realize that making such a great change in personality and improving my skill is
not possible in few days. It requires proper time and introspective thinking that can help me in
my improvement. This assessment did make me vulnerable, but knowing your problem and
being open about it is the only way through which one can improve. In order to improve my
skill I plan to seek help of my superior and will start finding opportunity so that self
development can be occur. With this I will be able to enhance my skill which will help me in
carrying out my role in efficient manner. As a leader communication is a necessary skill by
improving this skill I will be able to lead my staff more properly, not only I will be able to
present my view properly but will also able to listen their view and make them follow me
willingly.
Incident 2
It was the time of peek load in my office, it was not much problem in starting but as the load
increase I realize that I am not able to mange my work efficiently. I was not able to finish my
task on the time getting frustrated with whole the work. In addition to this not able to finish my
work lead to late working hours which was affecting my health and leading to irritation. Not
able to handle the pressure I decided to seek the help of my superior and ask him to lessen my
work load. When I present my whole view In front of my leader he told me that he understand
my problem but he can not do anything about it. Listening to him I got really angry and asked
him for the reason to such a refusal. He said to me that it was not possible because I am the
only person in the office that has the least amount of work for a day. I was quite embarrassed
listening to that what really shook me was what he said next. He told me that even new recruits
are doing more than what I am assigned daily. I was quite ashamed of my self and my childish
behaviour. Through this incident I realize how important it is for me to mange my work and
skill so that I can perform better. I also realize that if I am not able to complete my work in
current time how I will be able to do my work if I become a manger which is my career goal.
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I thought I was good in multitasking that help me in managing my work properly. But with
above incident I realize that I am unable to manage my time in high peek load. Because of my
lack of skill the performance of whole team was affecting. In order to identify the base of
failure I decided to take the help of Johari window which not only help me in my own
assessment but also provide me with the view of others. It assists me in realizing the area where
I lack. Through this test I came to know about my lacking time management skill. Time
management in simple words can be defined as the way through which person can mange their
time in right way by allocating right time in right activity (Northouse, 2015). Through this
model I came to realize that I am unable to set the priorities in my work, because of that I spend
too much time on the unimportant things, while giving little time to important subject this was
also affecting quality of my work. DISC personality test help me in identifying my approach
toward the work. I realize that I have positive attitude toward the work but losses my patience
in difficult situation.
Time management is another one of the must skill that is required by manger. A leader
is not only responsible for its own work but also of the work of its subordinate. Through this
incident I came to realize that if I am not able to handle my own work, I will not be able to
tackle the work of leader. I realize that in order to be an effective leader its necessary of me to
have good time management skill so that not only can I guide my subordinate but can also
manage my work efficiently. By this incident I will try to enhance my acquisition in this and
also my personality so that I can be effective leader. By enhancing my time management skill I
will be able to manage my time efficiently even in the peek load time, I will be able to keep my
patient and would not be irrational. Time management skill is not only beneficial in my current
job but in any field I choose to have my career in. It will help me in creating positive image in
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front of other people. Its one of the important ability for my professional development and
career.
3) Major strength and weaknesses and the behaviour that has emerged from the analysis .
From above incident I become self aware of about my own strength and weaknesses that
play leading role in me being effective and efficient leader. With the help of tools like Jung
typology test. I become aware of my own personality, I realize that I am introvert in the nature
because of which I am not able to communicate well. It emerges as one of my biggest weakness.
But it also helps me to identify my strength that I have strong and innovative way of thinking
which can help me in being efficient leader.
Johari window help me in my overall assessment through this I realize not only my own
openness regarding my lacking point but also the view points of other that help me in my overall
development. Through this tool I came to know that time management is the skill that is one of
the important skill needed to be an effective leader but has become one of my weakness. With
this analysis I came to know that my openness to accepting my vulnerability has become my
strong point and play major role in my self development. Other than this DISC personality test
and strength finder help make in analysing my approach to work and my strength that can help
me in becoming effective leader. Through DISC I came to know about my approach toward the
work. I always try to have positive attitude toward my work which help me in carrying out my
role in effective manner. I also came to know about the weaknesses that loses patience in
difficult time that has emerged as one of the biggest weaknesses. By taking strength finder test I
came to know about my multitasking skill that can help me in eliminating my problem of time
management. Throughout this analysis I realize a patten in my behaviour, I start all my work
with positive attitude but as soon as situation become difficult I lose my patience and become
irritating. I also have problem in listening to the view of others. Because of my this behaviour I
was not able to perform well. My behaviour not only impacted me but also the performance of
whole team. I have friendly nature which help me in working in the team, but because of my
impatience and my ability of not handling a stress it effects my working and my role in team. On
the basis of above analysis I am trying to make changes in my way of working. I realize that self
awareness is one of the important tool that can help me in my development. By realizing my
strength and weaknesses I can take appropriate measure that can help me in building my strong
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point and eliminating my weaknesses. It will help me in becoming more proficient in my
working. With the help of this assessment I can improve my skills so that I can become better
leader in the future who is not only effective but also efficient in the working. Its not just skill on
which I am working but I am also trying to bring changes in my behaviour. I am trying to be
more patient and open to the views of other so that I can communicate with them properly and
can have better relationship with them. Self awareness is one quality that trumps all. For being
an effective leader its necessary of them to become more aware about the factor that motivate
them and their decision.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Demetriou, A., & Kazi, S. (2013). Unity and modularity in the mind and self: Studies on the
relationships between self-awareness, personality, and intellectual development from childhood
to adolescence. Routledge.
Day, D. V. & et. al., (2014). Advances in leader and leadership development: A review of
25years of research and theory. The Leadership Quarterly. 25(1). 63-82.
Northouse, P. G., (2015). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.
Reilly, R. R., Dominick, P. G., & Gabriel, A. S. (2014). Understanding the unique importance of
self-awareness in leader development.
Leroy, H., & et. al., (2015). Authentic leadership, authentic followership, basic need
satisfaction, and work role performance: A cross-level study. Journal of Management. 41(6).
1677-1697.
Bozer, G., & Joo, B. K. (2015). The Effects of Coachee Characteristics and Coaching
Relationships on Feedback Receptivity and Self-Awareness in Executive
Coaching. International Leadership Journal. 7(3).
Showry, M., & Manasa, K. V. L. (2014). Self-awareness-key to effective leadership. IUP
Journal of Soft Skills. 8(1). 15.
Sturm, R. E. & et. al., (2014). Leader self‐awareness: An examination and implications of
women's under‐prediction. Journal of Organizational Behavior. 35(5). 657-677.
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Berland, A., & Berland, A. (2017). Using the Johari Window to explore patient and provider
perspectives. International Journal of Health Governance. 22(1). 47-51.
Tong, C. (2014). Doctor-patient Communication Model and Its Enlightenments Based on the
Thory of Johari Window(Doctoral dissertation, College of Management and Economics, Tianjin
University).
Stajkovic, A. D. & et. al., (2018). Test of three conceptual models of influence of the big five
personality traits and self-efficacy on academic performance: A meta-analytic path-
analysis. Personality and Individual Differences. 120. 238-245.
Stajkovic and et. al., (2018)Tong, (2014)Berland and Berland (2017)Sturm and et. al.,
(2014)Showry and Manasa, (2014)Bozer & Joo, (2015)Leroy and et. al., (2015)Reilly,
Dominick and Gabriel, (2014)Northouse, (2015).
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