Personal Leadership Journal Enter 1-2

Personal Leadership Journal

Enter 1-2 brief paragraphs about your Most Effective Leader, select 1-2 examples of leadership that person provided, and reflect on what you could learn for developing your own leadership style.

I was once working as a sales agent for a cable provider company and my job was to sign contract with clients. My supervisor was a highly efficient person. He was able to concentrate on numerous issues at the same time and he was always open to talk to the agents and resolve our problems. In addition, he would always let us know we did a good job and encouraged us to increase our efforts even more. He was good with sales and he was good with people - two absolutely compulsory requirements for any leader.

Reflect on Leadership: Why Is it Important?

What did you learn about yourself and others that would help you as a leader?

A good leader is vital for the success of any operation as he will coordinate those involved. But those involved are various individuals, with sometimes opposite view points. The manager must possess technical knowledge of the operation he is conducting in order to make the best informed decisions. He must also possess people skills in order to identify the shortages and core competencies of each individual to whom he delegates responsibilities.

Additional reflection: However the concept of leadership and management are rather modern ones, people have always implemented the procedures. Even the Bible shows proof of leaders and organization. How else would Moses have able to lead the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt? How else would the Egyptians been able to build such impressive pyramids, if not for leadership and coordination?

Personal Leadership Journal, Week 2

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Taking Risks

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All operations are conducted with the implied objective of retrieving a successful outcome, but to ensure it, the risks must be clearly identified, analyzed and limited as much as possible.

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How Flexible Are You?

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Flexibility, adaptability and diversity are all means of reducing risks. But they may sometimes generate additional costs and efforts.

Reflect on the Leader of Choice research - Carly Fiorina and What is charisma and what is the power of charismatic leadership. What did you learn about yourself and others that would help you as a leader?

Directly linked to the capability of relating to people is the leader's charisma. However this is not a compulsory characteristic of the manager, it is good to have. Subalterns find it easier to approach a charismatic leader, to trust him and follow him, or her. Carly Fiorina, former CEO and Chairman of Hewlett Packard Company, is a highly charismatic person. And her charisma kept her in the leading functions of HP for six years. However, her actions were frowned upon and she had to leave her position. "When history looks back on the tenure of Carly Fiorina as the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, the conclusion will likely be that she was a charismatic personality who tried to compensate for the lack of a consistent vision through a lot of acquisitions and management changes."

Cornerstones of Success Dimensions

What information did you learn about yourself from the assessment instruments in Week 2 in the following areas? Not all areas may apply to the instruments(s) you completed.

One-on-one communication don't always pay enough attention to what people around me say, and if I did, I would probably be able to increase my efficiency and reduce the risks of my actions. In meeting new people, I found they respond better to jokes than when I am serious.

Group communication

The most charismatic person in the group, able to relate and entertain all group members is likely to be regarded as a leader. But his charisma will only help him in the short run, and to be a long leader, he must back his friendly attitude with affective decisions.

Feedback

Receiving the necessary feed-back allows the manager to reduce risks, in the meaning that they are able to reduce the chances of a negative situation occurring, or they are able to limit the negative effects of the situation.

Clarity

Charisma has little interaction with clarity, but risks do. As such, prior to making a decision, leaders must clearly understand the risks they get subject to.

Conflict management

Charisma plays a rather important role in resolving conflicts as a charismatic leader is likely to easily approach his subordinates and gain their trust. If he does this, he will be better able to end conflicts.

Open-mindedness

When assessing risks, the leader must keep his mind opened at all times for he never knows what activity may generate risks. In addition, to reduce risks, he must be open-minded and look for a series of new solutions.

Valuing others

It's easier for employees to think that a charismatic leader values them more than an introvert manager. However, this is not always the case, and the leader must prove his appreciation not only through words, but actions as well.

Influence charismatic leader is more likely to have the power to influence his subordinates.

Additional reflection: Charisma is a good quality for a leader, but much preferred are earnestness, correctness and respect for others. The risk of business operations cannot be entirely eliminated, but it can be reduced through proper information and when it can be applied, diversification, adaptability and flexibility.

Personal Leadership Journal, Week 3

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The Least Preferred Coworker

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To have preferences is normal to any human being, but in a business environment, we must all act professionally, based on facts, rather than personal feelings because the well being of the company is at stake, not our personal preferences

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Measuring Your Situational Perspective

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The situational perspective is a highly efficient tool as it understands human factor and its tendency to make the individual less or more objective in a given situation.

Reflect on the assignment about: Leadership Theories and Responsibilities and about ethical decision making. What did you learn about yourself and others that would help you as a leader?

There is a wide set of theories that must be applied into practice in order to retrieve the best results. However, the basic rule is that there exists no such thing as the perfect recipe for success. We must all make do with what we have and adapt the theoretical knowledge to the particular features of our company and team members. Also, we must do this while keeping in mind at all times the moral rules which guide the humanity.

Cornerstones of Success Dimensions

What information did you learn about yourself from the assessment instruments in Week 3 in the following areas? Not all areas may apply to the instruments(s) you completed.

One-on-one communication

It is best to discuss up front all complaints and dislikes in regard to a fellow coworker. We should never talk behind someone's back but tell them face-to-face what we think, what we like and what we dislike.

Group communication

Feedback

The feedback received and offered must be objective and fair even if the one we give to or receive it from is a coworker we do not like Clarity

In resolving a conflict with a coworker, or any other situations of conflict, we must clearly state our stand point and opinion, but we must do this without offending the other parties

Conflict management

This is highly influenced by our personal beliefs but the professional doctrine prevents us from letting our personal likes or dislikes interfere in the way we conduct business, resolve conflicts or perceive the resolution to a conflict

Open-mindedness

We must keep an open mind at all times, we must look at problems from numerous view points and we must remain open to finding solutions to conflicts or other problems, regardless if the situation is a conflict with a disliked fellow worker or other organizational issue.

Valuing Others

Even we have personal dislikes in regard to a colleague, we must value his professional capabilities and respect him

Influence

It's good to have the ability to influence others, but we must never use it in the detriment of others, such as colleague we dislike or disagree with Additional reflection: It's only natural to have personal likes or dislikes, but they should not be revealed in a professional business environment.

Personal Leadership Journal, Week 4

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The Organizational Politics Questionnaire

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The Organizational Politics Questionnaire is an efficient tool to identifying the way people behave and feel about certain organizational aspects.

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The Manager Impression Survey

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It is a good tool to finding out certain organizational aspects the leader is unfamiliar with and also how employees feel about certain activities taking place within the organization. The chances of success of the survey are even higher if the survey is anonymous and respondents do not fear any repercussions.

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Survey of Influence Tactics

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Also a good tool, but most effective if anonymous to identify who has the power to influence others and how do they use this influence

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Measure of Ingratiating Behavior in Organizational Settings

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This is also related to the power of influence certain individuals might have within the organization

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Identifying Influence Tactics

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The tool is good for the overall interest of the organization and it will resolve conflicts and complaints

Reflect on other assignments from the week including the Leader of Choice Carly Fiorina research activity Does her application/description distribute, or hold power? And on Leadership Tactics and Strategies.

What did you learn about yourself and others that would help you as a leader?

Carly Fiorina had seldom delegated power and responsibilities to others. While CEO and chairman of Hewlett Packard Company, Carly decided by herself on most operations and even when she was asked to leave, she refused. Finally, she stated that she would respect the board's decision.

The manager must be able to adapt the theoretical knowledge to the practical tasks in order to retrieve the best organizational results. The power to influence others is a vital characteristic of the manager, but it must not be abused of, for it will cause more harm than good.

Cornerstones of Success Dimensions

What information did you learn about yourself from the assessment instruments in Week 4 in the following areas? Not all areas may apply to the instruments(s) you completed.

One-on-one communication

One-on-one communication is highly important when the leader wishes to influence his subordinates. He can also influence them through group communications, but in order to increase his power, one-on-one communication is desirable

Group communication

Can be used as a means of mass influencing, but it is less efficient that one-on-one communications

Feedback

Limited with the level of influence and politics within an organization

Clarity

Limited if any

Conflict management

Since conflict is likely to arise, an influential manager has extensive power of resolving the conflict

Open-mindedness

Must be present in the case of employees in order for them not be negatively influenced by the leader

Valuing others

Must be shown by the leader or other operational managers to show that they value and respect their employees

Influence

The managers described in this section have great power of influence and they may or may not use to the benefit of the organization

Additional reflection: The capability to influence others, turn them towards the direction desired by the company is a quality for the manager, but he must be aware not to abuse of it. For instance, a good usage of its capability would be to unify the individual goals of the employees with the overall goal of the organization. A negative example would be to pursue subordinates to conceal company records from auditors and state officials.

Personal Leadership Journal, Week 5

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The Teamwork Checklist

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The Teamwork Checklist is a highly valuable tool to measuring the commitment and involvement of each team member in resolving the task.

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Overcoming Micromanagement

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Since micromanagement is dangerous for an organization, it needs to be quickly identified and eliminated.

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Estimating Valences for Applying Expectancy Theory

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The valences differ from an organization to another and can even vary from an individual to another, moreover when individuals have different needs and are motivated by different incentives

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My Approach to Motivating Others

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We have to understand that the various needs of people generate an even grater need for customized incentives. The workers can't all be stimulated through a single incentive, but the incentive must be personalized

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Characteristics of an Effective Coach

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He must know how to motivate his team, how to understand and relate to their needs and how to satisfy these needs

Reflect on: The Solo Leader vs. The Team Leader. What did you learn about yourself and others that would help you as a leader?

Both the solo leaders as well as the team leaders play important roles within organizations. In order to be an efficient leader, one must possess theoretical knowledge, practical training and personal skills

Cornerstones of Success Dimensions

What information did you learn about yourself from the assessment instruments in Week 5 in the following areas? Not all areas may apply to the instruments(s) you completed.

One-on-one Communication

Can be used to identify the particular needs of individuals in order to offer the best incentives

Group Communication

Highly important when it comes to managing a team and motivating its members

Feedback

Clarity

All incentives used to motivate the workers must be clearly and out loud stated as to not create any misunderstandings

Conflict management

Open-mindedness

Given that the people are driven by various needs and wants, the manager must keep and opened mind at all times in order to identify the needs and present the employees with the possibility of satisfying those needs, in the form of incentives

Valuing others

The offered incentives are a sign that the management of the company values their employees

Influence

The manager has little power of influence in these situations since the employee is the one who establishes if the received incentive is the proper one and if it's enough for him to increase its performances

Additional reflection: However it is not expected for a company to come up with as many incentive plans as they have employees, it is important for them to come up with customized incentives, based on the particular needs of the workers. For instance, one might be motivated by more money, whereas another by more flexible work schedule.

Personal Leadership Journal, Week 6

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The Creative Personality Test

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It's a good tool that allows us to see ourselves from another perspective

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Word Hints to Creativity

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Also useful to increase the creativity of the team; gathers more information from several individuals

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Assessing the Climate for Innovation

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Innovation is once again a must for the success of a business, but one must know when to implement it and in what terms, otherwise it could turn out the opposite effects

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Self-Portrait of My Communication Effectiveness

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Also a useful tool that allows us to take another view at our personal capabilities, but from a different perspective

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Cross-Cultural Skills and Attitudes

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Given that a leader has to work with numerous individuals with diverse backgrounds, he must be able to relate to all cultures

Reflect on: Creativity, Innovation and Leadership and Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills. What did you learn about yourself and others that would help you as a leader?

However the two sets are different, they are both equally important within a team and organization. The manager has to be creative and stimulate the innovative spirit of his subordinates, but be must also support good communications and resolve and arousing conflicts