University Leadership and Management Reflection Writing Assignment

This essay presents a student's reflective analysis of their leadership and management skills, developed during a university trip. The student employed the Gibbs reflective model to examine their experiences, focusing on communication, team management, and conflict resolution. The essay details the student's role as a communicator, facilitating interactions between tutors and students. It discusses the application of transactional leadership and the use of Belbin's personality assessment. The student reflects on personal strengths, such as decision-making and emotional intelligence, and identifies areas for improvement, including over-optimism and assertiveness. The essay highlights experiential learning and the development of practical leadership skills. The student also discusses the use of theoretical evidence to support their reflection, and concludes by outlining their personal development goals.

Running head: REFLECTION WRITING
REFLECTION WRITING
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1REFLECTION WRITING
Task B:
Skills and Competencies in the areas of Leadership:
Once reaching to Wales, we aimed to enjoy ourselves with involving a lot of travelling in
the whole trip, and since I had voluntarily taken a pivotal role of managing the entire team along
with the tutors to help them out, and thus, communicating to everybody in an effective way to
everyone, I had to be very careful about everything. I had, therefore, tried to maintain between
my role as a student and my responsibilities as a volunteer for the mode of communication
between the tutors and the students.
In the following reflective essay, I wish to discuss the trip that I had undertaken along
with all my fellow batchmates of my MBA School. The sole purpose of the trip was a
recreational excursion; however, along with that, we had also attended a seminar. However, for
myself, the trip was more than a recreational excursion, as I had voluntarily involved myself in
the management of the team along with enjoying myself.
Experience:
We reached, in the late hours of morning, and upon grabbing the lunch, we had left for
mountain hiking. Our tutors had planned for the entire day, once we had reached, were asked to
get freshen up, and then meet at the hallway. We all met at the hallway, and had our lunch, and
upon having lunch, we were taken to visit and hike the nearby mountain. It was peaceful and
adventurous. The mountain hiking was much enjoyed, and we had played a number of games.
While walking up the mountain, we played a fizzle games, in order to know all of us better. The
purpose behind this game was to get us introduced to all of us properly. During the classes, we

2REFLECTION WRITING
only sit with our friends or our group, and therefore we do not have much knowledge of the other
members of the batch. Thus had initiated a communication amongst all of us.
The next day, within the residence, the seminar and the evening activities were held. The
auditorium of the residence was huge and our tutors had planned for the entire seminar and the
sitting area and the podium was nicely placed so that it is perfectly audible to everyone. Since it
was a good numbered group, therefore, the participation of each of the group member was
essential, by asking questions, the seminar was more of a discussion amongst all of us, where our
knowledge regarding our course syllabus got revised and along with that we had learnt certain
new things. After the seminar a session of games and activities were planned. We played blind
fall, black sheep, and a lot other games. All these games were played in order to make us
involved with ourselves, and at the same time, to develop an understanding of how to resolve the
conflicts, that had arisen in the course of time.
Observation:
Therefore, if I consider and review the entire trip, then I can say that there had been a
number of situations that had arisen in the entire trip, where we all were getting first hand
experience of leadership class, but unknowingly. Since I had decided to help out the tutors with
the management of the team, therefore I believe that I had been observing this small aspects
more than my other friends. For example, in almost, during all the conflict situations the tutors
asked us to resolve it amongst us, and on the other hand while, being faced with any problem
situations, the tutors had always asked us fir help, or to come up with a solution.
Development of Ideas:
Since the trip had started I had felt the need of helping out my tutors because there
were many of us, and it was being a little difficult for them to manage all of us. Therefore I had

3REFLECTION WRITING
taken, voluntarily the role of the mode of communication between the teachers and the students.
Initially I thought that the job would be comparatively easier as it is very strategic, but once I had
aimed at executing the plan, I could understand the complications and the complexities
associated with the same. Therefore, the leadership approach that I had followed is the
Transactional Leadership, involving the role of the communicator. I felt that this particular
leadership aims at promoting compliance, to the trip that we had been initiated and to the varied
opinions and suggestions. Since a lot of people were involved and since the tutors were to some
extent playing the role of the Laissez Fare leadership, and Transformational leadership,
therefore, I felt that there is a need of establishing a strong and effective communication within
the entire team. Also, during resolving a conflict situation I found myself to be the one to
communicating with everyone and then reaching to a conclusion which was acceptable for all of
us.
Testing the Ideas:
When I realized after coming back that the role that I had played in the entire trip
involved the role of a leader as a communicator, and since I had understood the underlying
intention behind the entire trip was to give us a first had knowledge of leadership in practice, I
had decided to take up a test of leadership, which is discussed in the following, along with
evaluating myself. I have sensed that I have done fairly well, and there are certain drawbacks
which I am aiming to develop with time.
Task C
Potential Areas:
If the entire trip is considered, then it can be seen that the entire trip was planned by our
tutors who had effectively managed the entire trip, and I had played the role of the

4REFLECTION WRITING
communicator, for the entire trip. Therefore, even if, my teammates were there, it was me who
had to take care of most of the things, and it was me who voluntarily had taken the responsibility
of resoluting the conflict situations. Therefore, I needed to practice a good communication skill.
I had essentially included the roles and the responsibilities explained by the Belbin Personality
Assessment. From the test, that I had taken and the feedback that I have got upon the completion
of the trip, I found that I have performed extremely well in the team management aspect. The
team management was one of the most important aspect of the job. On one hand I as managing
the team helping my teachers and on the other hand I was trying to enjoy with my friends. I
almost felt to be carrying out the role of the co-coordinator, as I had been commutating with the
students and between the students and the tutors and thus, coordinated between all of them.
However, during the planning of the seminar as well, I had fund myself to be helping out the
tutors. Since they found me to be interested in managing the team and helping them out,
simultaneously, therefore they had asked me to help them out in the planning for the seminar and
to plan for the trip to Snow Dale the next day, and I was more than happy to have agreed. When
my tutors had asked me for my help, I sensed a surge of confidence within myself, along with an
excitement to take on some responsibility.
I believe, in this case, my extraversion, or my extrovert nature, had been much of a help.
My personal characteristics of being an explorer myself, and finding the right opportunities, at
the right time, had become very useful in the entire trip. O had been very proactive in the entire
trip. While mountaineering I was coordinating among all of my friends and had made an
impression upon many of my fellow batch mates and on my tutors. Also, being an explorer I
already had a lot of knowledge about the country, which helped me to initiate conversation with
many of my batchmates. Another important feature that was needed in the successful completion

5REFLECTION WRITING
of the role of a coordinator, is my decision making abilities, according to the rest, I had scored
81, and this proves that I have a very good sense or understanding of decision making, which are
in general very effective, however there is always a room for one to grow and learn more, and I
had understood this when we had went for the trip to Snow Dale to canoeing. I had voluntarily
made teams within ourselves and therefore managed the entire team to make the experience of
canoeing a successful one.
I have also understood that I am quite practical in my ways. Since, I have scored 89 in my
emotional intelligence test, therefore, I can state that I have a good understanding of the actions
that are to be taken and along with that, I have a good understanding of the consequences of
these actions or decisions. This score on the emotional intelligence also refers to the fact that I
am usually calm and composed even at the most severe situation, and I always strive to look at
the positive aspects of the deeds. In case of the changes, as well, I remain calm, and try to
acknowledge it in a very strategic, positive and calmly manner. Such a high score on emotional
intelligence, also depicts that, I have complete understanding of myself, and along with that, I
can very well understand the mindset and the thinking process and the needs of other people, and
this is very true, which I have understood while talking to the delegates. Therefore, I can judge a
situation or a person accurately.
I am also very efficient in my own ways, and this I have known from my ability to
resolute a problem situation. During the gaming session and during our visit to Snow Dale, we
had come across a number of problems like not being able to find the way, and also problems
and ego clashes among ourselves, and during all these time, I had found myself to be very calm
and resolute all the situations in a very positive, practical, strategic and calmly manner.

6REFLECTION WRITING
Theoretical Evidences:
In this notion, it is important to mention that, I have learnt a lot from the experiential
form of learning. The experiential form of learning involves learning through the forms of
experiences, here, knowledge is gained through the forms and transformations of experiences.
Therefore, considering the present experience it can be said, that I have learnt a lot though this
experience of managing the trip. I had not only understood and developed a perception regarding
myself, but at the same time, I had gained an experience about maintaining and implementing
strategies. Also, I had learnt a lot about the country, and I could understand in what ways I will
be able to channelize my understanding of the handing situations and managing teams in the
future.
Personal Development:
Along with this, I must also mention about the drawbacks or the lagging areas that I have.
Upon taking the test I have understood that there are certain areas where I need to focus more.
Firstly, I am very much over optimistic, about the things, I am given the responsibility of. Since I
have already mentioned that I find opportunities in everywhere therefore, I tend to become over
optimistic, and this is both a positive and a negative aspect. Also, one of the most important
things is, I often tend to forget about the things once they are done or completed, but the
learnings learnt in one experience might be very effective in the other, and hence, I must practice
to remember and the strategically put these experiences into use.
Another important aspect that I must work on, in my way of assertion. Often I tend to
speak in a manner which can come across as very manipulative, and I am working on this aspect.
In this trip, there had been times when I had come across as a person who is with the tutors,
managing the trip, and not a student, this could have affected many of my batchmates and helped

7REFLECTION WRITING
them to gain a misconceptions regarding me. According to the personality test, I must take care
of this aspect in an effective way. Another important thing that I must take care of is that, I must
never include the offloads of personal work between the professional conducts. This is just an
insight which I had learnt form the trip and from my behaviour in the entire trip. However, one
of the major drawback that I have realised upon the Belbin Personality Test, is that, I am quite
rigid in my approaches, and since am very organized, in my personal life, therefore, I am much
disciplined in my professional life as well. I want everything to go completely according to the
strategy or the plan that have been developed, and I am not very flexible about even a little
deviation from the plan. Therefore, I must change this aspect.

8REFLECTION WRITING
Bibliography:
Avolio, B.J., 2010. Full range leadership development. Sage Publications.
Brockbank, A., McGill, I. and Beech, N., 2017. Reflective learning in practice. In Reflective
learning in practice (pp. 18-28). Routledge.
Brookfield, S., 1987. Developing critical thinkers. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.
Cottrell, S., 2017. Critical thinking skills: Effective analysis, argument and reflection. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
Gibbs, G., 1988. Learning by doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. Further
Education Unit.
Gill, R., 2011. Theory and practice of leadership. Sage.
Hardy, L., Arthur, C.A., Jones, G., Shariff, A., Munnoch, K., Isaacs, I. and Allsopp, A.J., 2010.
The relationship between transformational leadership behaviors, psychological, and training
outcomes in elite military recruits. The Leadership Quarterly, 21(1), pp.20-32.
Leary, M.R., 2007. The curse of the self: Self-awareness, egotism, and the quality of human life.
Oxford University Press.
Levi, D., 2015. Group dynamics for teams. Sage Publications.
Moon, J.A., 2013. A handbook of reflective and experiential learning: Theory and practice.
Routledge.
Northouse, P.G., 2014. Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice. Sage.
Wolfe, D.M. and Kolb, D.A., 1984. Career development, personal growth and experiential
learning. Organizational Psychology: Readings on human behavior, 4th edition, eds D. Kolb, I.
Rubin and J. Macintyre, Prentice-Ha.

9REFLECTION WRITING