Milestone Three

docx

School

Southern New Hampshire University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

670

Subject

Management

Date

Jan 9, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by kcolon85

Milestone Three Katie Colon Southern New Hampshire University OL-670 Organizational Leadership Dr. Barbara Alston November 5, 2023

Application of Personal Theory of Leadership Scenario Upon starting at my current employer, I quickly noticed a lack of understanding regarding basic HR practices, which resulted in managers not being able to hold employees accountable. As a unionized organization, we frequently received grievances regarding violations of our contracts. It was at this time that I discussed with my co-workers the importance of teaching managers some of the basic HR principles. I volunteered to create an HR 101 training program where we would have a 90-minute monthly training session on various topics. I sent a survey out to the management group with topics and utilized the results on which topics to cover first. I conducted training sessions on basic HR practices, such as tracking employee attendance records in compliance with the Massachusetts Statutory Sick Law. During another training session, the focus was on role-playing to learn how to have difficult conversations. During this interactive training session, I purposely selected individuals I knew could play a “tough” employee who would not make a conversation easy. I followed up by identifying a manager that I knew stumbled through these conversations. We randomly selected conversation topics and used a dry-erase board to track their pros and cons for discussion. Additional training sessions covered topics like FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act), PFML (Paid Family and Medical Leave), interviewing dos and don’ts, and Union Basics to Know. At our initial training session, it was noticeable that the participants were hesitant and felt uneasy when it came to asking questions. It was important to acknowledge that stepping outside their comfort zones can be difficult. Still, these sessions are designed to provide individuals with the necessary tools to navigate difficult situations. We understand that these situations can be

uncomfortable, and we aim to support you in managing them effectively. Utilizing this approach the managers became more engaged and eager to participate. Personal Theory of Leadership In this scenario, I incorporated all three personal theories of leadership that I have previously identified. The majority of my scenario focuses on utilizing transformational leadership. Transformational leaders are typically characterized by their high energy, enthusiasm, and passion (Cherry, 2023) . They can inspire and motivate their followers, instilling in them a sense of purpose and direction. Additionally, they tend to have a strong vision for the future and are adept at communicating it in a way that resonates with others. Managers who consistently came to these trainings found that it was easier for them to handle situations on their own without needing to call HR first. They also became more confident in their approach to various situations. The trait theory focuses on identifying leaders that have specific personality characteristics that great leaders possess. According to the theory, some people are born with these traits, but most are not. Each of these unique traits contributes to the development of particular patterns of behavior that can be observed and analyzed. The development of these particular behavioral patterns then becomes consistent across different situations (Cherry, What is the Trait Theory of Personality?, 2023) During the training sessions, I identified managers who felt confident in various topics and asked if they could provide mentoring to others who needed it. These sessions helped create an environment that inspired individual development but also created teamwork. Situational leadership theory highlights the importance of leadership styles that are used. These styles include team members' developmental level, the leader's adaptability,

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

communication with group members, and achieving group goals (Cherry, Situational Leadership Theory, 2023) . I was able to effectively lead the group utilizing three important steps to evaluate the situations, adapt as needed, and communicate the necessary steps with the group. During this training, managers could identify that they are not the only ones who struggle in certain areas and that it is okay to ask and accept help. Additionally, as an organization, we began to see a decrease in the number of grievances that the unions were giving us. This was due to the managers having a better understanding of basic HR practices and their contracts faster. Impact on Decision-Making My personal theory of leadership influenced my decision-making in this scenario because it first set the tone for the training sessions. It was important that I was able to give the right balance of each leadership style that worked for each particular topic we were reviewing and the various levels of understanding that each manager had. During the training sessions, I provided guidance and structure to help the group determine the best way to handle each situation. Providing this guidance and structure ensures that each manager works towards the common goal and creates a positive and collaborative work environment. These training sessions were created to make a transformational change within the organization. The focus was to develop the management group further so that they became more confident in their roles. The purpose of these training sessions was also to help create a significant improvement in accountability issues with employees and decrease contract violations. Effectiveness By successfully implementing my personal leadership theory, I was able to see that it had a positive impact on multiple leaders. During every training session, a great deal of careful planning went into ensuring that all aspects were thoroughly covered. I focused on addressing

necessary corrections, engaging in role-playing exercises for practical application, and actively working through current situations to provide a comprehensive learning experience. Managers were engaged in each session and came prepared with examples for the assigned topic Several managers improved their understanding of basic HR practices. As a result, HR was not bogged down with minor employee relations issues. This enabled HR to prioritize immediate hiring needs and complete other employee relations tasks. However, being a strong leader requires you to understand your own strengths and weaknesses just as acutely as you understand those of the team you lead (Indeed Editorial Team, 2023) . During each session, I encountered leaders with different experience levels and expertise. As a result, I made it a priority to ensure that even those with the least experience could fully comprehend the topic at hand. I used various teaching techniques and approaches, such as breaking down complex concepts into simpler terms, providing real-life examples, and encouraging questions and discussions. However, due to the varying levels of experience among managers, it is possible that some may have identified certain areas as being redundant. These areas could have been ones that were already familiar to those with extensive experience in the field and, therefore, did not require as much attention. Evaluation Tools By using self-assessment tools to evaluate your own performance and leadership style, it's possible to improve your leadership skills and guide your team more successfully. Using self- assessment tools to measure your abilities may help you understand your strengths and weaknesses as a leader and discover what type of leadership style you follow (Indeed Editorial Team, 2023) . A 360-degree feedback system fosters constant improvement and growth for individuals and teams. This assessment is a feedback tool that gathers evaluations from multiple

sources to assess an employee's performance. It comprises four assessments to be completed by yourself, peers, subordinates, and supervisors. This evaluation tool allows for multiple sources of feedback which will result in a well-rounded perspective of your performance. With the additional feedback from various individuals, you are able to acquire a more in-depth perspective of your strengths and weaknesses. Conclusion My personal theory of leadership consists of three well-known leadership theories: trait theory, situational leadership, and transformational leadership. The trait theory focuses that some individuals possess biological qualities that help them become effective leaders. I was able to learn from Rob that identifying potential leaders based on natural qualities helps build the talent pool for the organization. Additionally, some individuals were unaware of their potential and lacked guidance to develop productive skills. This resulted in several lacking the self-confidence they needed to advance their career growth. Training and development of others became a passion that I utilized within my personal leadership theory. Like Oprah Winfrey, I feel that I lead with empathy and have an awareness of emotional intelligence which helps me connect with each member of my team. Utilizing my connection with each team member I am able to help guide them in using their own strengths and weaknesses to help contribute to the overall organization. My overall goal is for each one of my team members to have the same level of knowledge as I do. By sharing my knowledge, we are able to collectively create ideas and solutions for each given situation. Working in the human resources field requires that individuals are able to adapt to any given situation quickly and effectively. Therefore, utilizing situational leadership theory helps me provide leaders with guidance on how to utilize their emotional intelligence to understand and

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

adapt their approach accordingly to their current situation. Queen Elizabeth demonstrated that to effectively lead an organization you do not need to change your vision, but you have to be able to adapt and evolve your vision by carefully listening. A leadership role within an organization can be complex but also requires flexibility and adaptability. If a leader is struggling with these two traits, they will slowly see that their vision no longer aligns with what is needed to be successful. No two individuals will have the same personal leadership theory, but they will often reflect on someone who influenced them and strive to integrate that individual's traits into their own leadership style. This is one of the first steps in how a leadership theory can be taught to others. When I am working with a new leader, it is important for them to understand how their leadership theory will impact others. I like to ask them to create a list of traits based on a leader that was impactful to them and then a leader that was not. Together we review their list and I ask them to identify what traits they want to include in their style and what traits they want to exclude and to keep that in mind while they are working with their team. One of the easiest ways to teach others my personal leadership theory is by mentoring them. Mentoring new leaders allows me to work side by side with them to introduce my personal leadership theory and then explain the importance of developing their own.

References Cherry, K. (2023, February 24). How Transformational Leadership Can Inspire Others . Retrieved from VeryWell Mind: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is- transformational-leadership-2795313 Cherry, K. (2023, March 10). Situational Leadership Theory . Retrieved from Very Well Mind: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-situational-theory-of-leadership- 2795321#:~:text=An%20example%20of%20situational%20leadership%20would%20be %20a%20leader%20adapting,and%20capable%20of%20working%20independently. Cherry, K. (2023, February 27). What is the Trait Theory of Personality? Retrieved from Very Well Mind: https://www.verywellmind.com/trait-theory-of-personality-2795955 Culter, A. (2014). Leadership Psychology: How the Best Leaders Inspire Their People. London: Kogan Page Limited. Indeed Editorial Team. (2023, March 29). 9 effective self-assessment tools for leadership roles . Retrieved from Indeed: https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/self- assessment-tools-for-leadership

Milestone Three

Related Documents