A511.9.3.RB - Course Reflections

A511.9.3.RB - Course Reflections

     In my original definition of leadership, I was on the right track, but it was clear that my idea of leadership more resembled that of a manager instead of a leader. I used phrases like, “make people” and “influence” to describe the actions of a leader. I was confronted with my choice of words with my professor, who informed me that my words “implied a degree of coercion” that would not be associated with a good leader. Of course, when I was confronted with those implications, I definitely did not want to admit those were my ideas of a leader. But if I am being honest with myself, those words were not accidents at all. That is what I thought it meant to be a leader. That there was an element of having some sort of “power” over people that you could somehow coerce them to do what you needed them to. I am astonished as this realization about myself. I had a completely different idea in my head about what a leader should look like and I really did think that I would be a good leader because I would put people first. I was all wrong.

     After nine weeks in this course, I would now describe a leader as someone who helps a group of people to decide what goal they are trying to achieve and then put them into positions of being able to motivate themselves to take the actions that they need to in order to reach those goals. A great leader is decisive, great at prioritizing, clarify expectations by communicating, encouraging, authentic, and persuasive. If a leader can influence you to want to take action, then he is doing a great job at leading. 

 

     Learning about the different leadership theories has changed my views on myself as a leader. Before taking this course, I was under the assumption that my ways of leading were great and there was no need to change them, because they have worked in the past. I really thought by taking the courses designed for this degree was only going to teach me how to “fine-tune” my skill. Instead, it has taught me that there is a whole lot more to leading a team of people in a company than just being a great motivator. 

     I have also learned that there is room to interject many different style of leadership into my own personal style. I just have to learn how to analyze the situation and the team members that I am working with to determine what is needed.

     As for what type of leader I am, I would have to say that I followed the path-goal theory type of leadership before. But now, I would say that it will be a mixture of different kinds of leadership theories. Although, the primary styles would follow that of path-goal theory, adaptive, and servant leadership style with aspirations to be more transformational.