Factors For Making a Difference in Peoples Lives and Organizations Success - Essay Example

Running Head: Personal Leadership Development Personal Leadership Development Plan Submission Personal Leadership Development Plan Introduction Leadership is becoming more and more important in the field of management. There are various leadership theories as far as the modern management practices are concerned. However, maximum attention has been there on the transformational leadership theory, that puts considerable emphasis on the leader’s personal characteristics, abilities, and viewpoints (Sashkin, M. and Sashkin, M.G., 2003). In this context, a leader needs to be analyzed in relation to his or her leadership skills that develop around the factors like concentration, communication, risk analysis, respect, and trust. In this paper, I would attempt to create a personal description to evaluate myself as a potential leader. Self Review: Strong Points To begin with, I would focus on my academic and professional educational backgrounds. My approach has been interdisciplinary in this regard. I have graduated in electrical engineering in the year 2006, but I had no difficulty in pursuing information technology (IT) courses during the year 2008. My ability as a learner is testified by the fact that I have successfully completed A+, Network+, and CCNA courses, which give me an industry tested and credible IT orientation. I think this is a trait that makes me capable of confident leadership, where the leader has to make a difference (Sashkin, M. and Sashkin, M.G., 2003). I utilized my ability to develop interdisciplinary skills and apply them to my professional life as well, when I entered the banking sector in Lagos, Nigeria. I have worked in various departments of the banking operations. I also successfully worked in the family and clinical services for a brief period of time from September 2008 to January, 2009. My country of origin is Nigeria and I am successfully working in USA in an ethnically and culturally diversified setting. In the global corporate environment, my intercultural communication and coordination skills enable me further as a leader. Moreover, at Bank of America, Addison (where I am currently employed), I have successfully monitored, developed, and coached the new-hires/ current associates and ensured optimal performance from the trainees placed under me. I think this proves that I am capable of creative leadership, which helps the subordinates to achieve their goals (Sashkin, M. and Sashkin, M.G., 2003). Although I don’t think that there are enough traits of a charismatic leader in me, I believe I am equipped with transformational leadership behaviors. In the recent days, I have learned to grab people’s attention and focus them on the important issues in a discussion. Also, I have effective communication skills, which I have developed through my international career. According to M. Sashkin and M.G. Sashkin (2003: 146), “there is more to transformational leadership than certain behavioral skills and practices.” I agree with this viewpoint and I am enthusiastic to learn and grow in the professional world continuously. I mark this enthusiastic attitude as another strong point that would benefit me when I lead others. Self Review: Weak Points Although till now I have generally been benefited by my knowledge in the diverse fields like engineering, IT, operations, and banking, I have not been able to develop a specialization. I do not have a post graduate or doctoral qualification is a specific field. Hence, at the highest levels of corporate leadership, I may be considered as an under qualified person. I have to overcome this challenge by enhancing my educational qualification, preferably in the field of management. In the context of transformational leadership, my risk leadership skills are yet not testified. My profile does not give a clear idea that whether I can take actions designed to get the individuals completely committed to new projects and ideas, particularly by involving them with key responsibilities. Risk leadership is very important in the context of the dynamic nature of transformational-charismatic leadership. This challenge needs to be overcome. Despite the fact that I have a successful international career till now, my management skills are mainly oriented to the Anglo-American concepts since I have not got an exposure to understand the management practices in Europe and Asia. In today’s global corporate environment, one cannot go too far until she or he has a wide spectrum of international management and leadership experience. I will have to sharpen my management skills by cultural exchange and foreign tours. Areas of Personal Growth In the next 6 – 12 months, I want to remain consistent with my current employer since this is important for my professional consistency and credibility at this stage. This approach will help to detect the specific areas of growth. The area of On the Job Training (OJT) is most important right now. My experience in this department will provide me with a foundation of invaluable practical knowledge in the sphere of leadership. By training and coaching the new hires/ current associates, I can develop ample leadership skills. This will prepare me for the growth opportunities in the department of personnel management, where I may be promoted to a key management position. Since I have experience in banking, I will ensure the future of my personal growth by developing a deeper knowledge about home retention and customer support. In the next 6 – 12 months, I would consider these sub sectors of the banking operations as major area of growth. Further, a timely strategy is to properly prepare myself so that I can attain the position of a manger. In the next 6 – 12 months, I have the realistic opportunity to acquire the basic lessons in this direction. Goals for Improvement 1. Understanding the banking operations deeply with special reference to home retention, personnel development, and customer support. 2. Specifically, I need to retain my position in the OTJ department, which is an attainable goal. I have to sharpen the leadership skills I have displayed so far. 3. I have to develop a measurable leadership profile and take concrete efforts to become a charismatic-transformational leader. In this context, it must be remembered that transformational/charismatic leadership theory is the dominant contemporary view (Sims, H.P. et al, 2009). 4. The post of a manager appears to be a realistic goal. It can be achieved by developing in-depth knowledge in the home retention operations and customer support. Also, personnel management can be a very good option. 5. Another goal is to embark on foreign tours and strengthen my understanding of the European and Asian trends in management. This goal has ample timely implications. 6. Review of existing literature on leadership studies is important for theoretical knowledge and improvement. The goal is to access most up to the date academic and professional materials to learn the various innovative and critical leadership skills. 7. Continuous development of organizational learning skills is crucial in the context of transformational leadership (Zagorsek, H. et al, 2009). Enhancing learning ability through professional education in the field of management is thus another important goal. 8. Manage time from work to take part in the leadership development processes in my country of origin through peer correspondence and academic review. This will help to understand the evolving concepts of management in the developing world. Conclusion The strength and weakness analysis is an imperative to acquire professional excellence and credibility. In my case, I have the benefit of intercultural exposure. But I need to expand the continuum of this exposure so that my perspectives are not confined in the Anglo-American management framework only. By setting off on continuous management studies, I can both enhance my educational qualifications and develop a strong theoretical base of knowledge to understand the contemporary leadership practices. Moreover, I believe that I have set most appropriate goals for myself that can help me to obtain specialization, promotion, and most importantly, knowledge. References Sashkin, M. and Sashkin, M.G. (2003). Leadership That Matters: The Critical Factors For Making a Difference in People’s Lives and Organizations’ Success. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc. Sims, H.P., Faraj, S. and Yun, S. 2009. ‘When should a leader be directive or empowering? How to develop your own situational theory of leadership?” Business Horizons, 52 (2), 149-158. Zagorsek, H., Dimovski, V. and Skerlavaj, M. 2009. “Transactional and transformational leadership impacts on organizational learning.” Journal of East European Management Studies, 14 (2), 144-165. Read More