Leadership Reflection
Personal My whole life I’ve been fascinated with great leaders and had been fortunate to be in close proximity with some of the people leaders of my country at a very young age. You see, my family’s business is politics or public service as it is often referred to in the United States. My grandfather was among the very few that had the opportunity to get a college education in the U. K. in the 1940s before we gained independence in 1961. They were trained as leaders to run the country when the British left.
As a kid growing up I watched many of the leaders in my country including my mother and father, uncle and aunts, interact, nurture, motivate and empower their people. All these people have had an important role in shaping my life and helped me develop my own unique leadership style. Leadership is define as “the process by which individual exerts influence over other people and inspires, motivates and directs their activities to help achieve group or organizational goals. (Contemporary Management P317) When I think of great leaders that I try to emulate, I always think of people like Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Colin Powell to name a few. These three are not only transformational leaders but they transcends race, culture and boundaries in their leadership roles. I would characterize my leadership style as that of transformational leader, because I nurture, inspire, motivate and empower my people not only to get the best out of them but to also put them in positions to achieve self-actualization according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
I have had some leadership role working with a diverse group in terms of age, race and gender, and they appreciate my down to earth and very approachable style with everyone I deal with. I engage in transformational leadership by being attune with our industry and leading my people with a bold vision that inspires and challenge them to be creative and bold while nurturing their talents. I would not be the kind of leader I am today without the help of aforementioned individuals.
Whenever I see someone in a leadership position, I try to learn from him or her. Whether the example is positive or negative, there are lessons I can learn and apply (or not apply) to my own leadership style. I will build upon this foundation by listening and staying attune with the rank and file even as the organization grows. I am currently working on improving my communication of expectations for my working relationships.
I will ask specific questions to best understand the working environment within the organization. Leaders set the example. I will be honest with myself and with others. I will seek feedback and utilize this information for personal improvement. Leaders are also dedicated and hardworking and I will continue to work hard because my people deserves it. These are all influenced in some way by my ethnicity, national culture and maybe my gender as well.
I am remembered by people I worked with previously as someone who is knowledgeable and who cares, someone who always did his best. I will not accept the status quo when the status quo can be improved. I will continuously push myself to learn and observe so that I can remain a highly effective leader who supports others and myself in all that I do. My leadership style will continue to evolve and show up in who I am and how I am in both personal and professional relationships.
