Note: Only for Reference
In the first week of our course, we dealt basically with two chapters: “When Leaders are at their Best” and “Credibility is the foundation of leadership”. Along with these various topics like characteristics possessed by a good leader, various leadership styles that are followed by the organization to achieve its short-term and long-term objectives considering into account the interests of every stakeholder have been discussed.
Leadership is the ability to adapt the setting so everyone feels empowered to contribute creatively to solving the problems (SMITH). Leadership creates contribution, which means every member gives something. Sometimes that may be sharing an idea and sometimes that may be holding an idea in reserve and allowing someone else to arrive at the same idea and share it.
Organizational leadership is a management approach in which leaders help set strategic goals for the organization while motivating individuals within the group to successfully carry out assignments in service to those goals. A leadership style is a leader’s method of providing direction, implementing plans, and motivating people.
Learning Outcomes as applied to my Professional Career
The concepts that we learned in the first week of our course related with organizational leadership clarifies that leaders are at their very best when they are raising up leaders around them. Or put another way, leaders are at their best when they are creating a leadership culture. If the management term and leader apply five exemplary leadership processes then it helps them to be great leaders.
- Model the Way: Leaders who model the way exhibit two key behaviors. They “Clarify Their Values” and “Set an Example.” Their actions are aligned with their values.
- Inspire a Shared Vision: Envision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling possibilities. Enlist others in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirations.
- Challenge the Process: Search for opportunities by seizing the initiative and looking outward for innovative ways to improve. Experiment and take risks by constantly generating small wins and learning from experience.
- Enable Others to Act: Foster collaboration by building trust and facilitating relationships. Strengthen others by increasing self-determination and developing competence.
- Encourage the Heart: Recognize contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence. Celebrate the values and victories by creating a spirit of community.
“Credibility is the foundation of exemplary leadership”. According to research, people most want their leaders to be honest, forward-looking, competent, and inspiring. If people don’t believe in the messenger, they won’t believe the message. If you want people to follow you, they must believe that your words can be trusted, that you have the knowledge and skill necessary to lead, and that you are personally excited and enthusiastic about the future direction in which you are headed. Without a firm foundation of personal credibility, leaders have no hope of enlisting others in a common vision.
Along with this the various forms of leadership styles that we have studied during our first week of course helps us to analyze how style of leadership is highly influenced by situational factors and how implementation of leadership style varies from organization to organization on the basis of their business nature, objectives, available resources, technology advancement, etc.
Conclusion
Therefore, the knowledge that we have gained will be beneficial during our professional career while choosing the best leadership style as per the demand of the organization keeping in the interest of all the stakeholders. Understanding organizational leadership in a better way helps to maintain good relations with the employees reduces turnover and increases efficiency and productiveness.
References
SMITH, S. M. (n.d.). What is Leadership? Retrieved from https://stevenmsmith.com/what-is-leadership/