Developing Leadership Skills Through Personal Feedback
10 Leadership Principles Assignment
1) Being Dependable
2) Showing Trustworthiness
3) Being Motivational
4) Being Communicative
5) Being a Problem Solver
6) Being Encouraging
7) Being Empathetic
8) Being Positive
9) Being Organized
10) Showing Decisiveness
STEP 1: Identify at least 3 respondents from different aspects of your life (for example, one family member, one friend, and one co-worker). Then ask for feedback about your leadership
• Find people who know you well and are willing to be interviewed by you. Possible categories that these people might fall into include: o Family members/partner/significant other o Friends o Sports teammates
o Club members o Neighbors
o Boss/Supervisor o Co-workers o Classmates o Professors/Teachers
• Ask each of these individuals to tell you how they believe your personality traits influence your leadership style(s), and ask them for EXAMPLES of specific moments when you demonstrated this. You can do the interviews in person, over the phone/video conference, or through email (this option is convenient for keeping track of their responses, but not as fun!). If you are interviewing face-to-face or by phone/video, make sure to write down your interviewees’ responses as thoroughly as possible.
• You are free to go about interviewing in any manner you choose but some sample topics to cover are:
o What they believe your leadership traits are.
o What they believe your leadership style is.
o How they believe you can best develop yourself to reach your fullest potential as a leader.
STEP 2: Recognize Themes & Supporting Behaviors
• Review the feedback from your respondents and identify some common themes (approx. 3-5) regarding your leadership. When doing this, take note of any that relate to the 10 Leadership Principles or MBTI assignments.
• Develop a chart or table to organize the major themes, the specific situations/behavioral examples that show how you demonstrated these, and your interpretation of this information: how do you make sense of this? (Please see the example chart below.)
STEP 3: Plan How to Develop Your Leadership Ability
• Plan how you can use this new information to make changes - now or in the future - by incorporating this information into various areas of your life in which leadership is necessary (i.e. work, school, sport, volunteer activity, home life, personal relationships, etc.).
• Provide examples of how you will develop or use this information by relating it the Beginning to Develop You assignment. Does it match what you had here, does it suggest you need additional development/training? Be as specific and concrete as possible!
Written Paper (contains three parts):
• BACKGROUND. Please provide a brief background based on Step 1 above. This might include details about your interviewees, your relationships to them, how they reacted to the request, where/how the interviews took place, and/or any other information to help set the context for the exercise. (about 2-3 pages, 1 inch margins, double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font) (make up, for names use sister lauryn, friend lorena and coworker Jocelyn)
• STRENGTHS TABLE. Produce a table/chart based on Steps 2 & 3 that organizes the common themes of what your interviewees reported to you. You should have at least three themes in your chart. Ensure you include the examples they provided, as well as your own interpretation. Make sure to utilize terms and concepts from our class materials where appropriate. Most importantly, provide specific action steps that describe how you might incorporate or develop your leadership abilities or styles, now or in the future. Refer to the example chart below for additional guidance. (see example)
• PERSONAL REFLECTION. Please reflect upon the exercise, and write about what you learned; it might include leadership traits or styles you did not know you had, how different people see you, how you plan to develop your leadership based on this new evidence, or even the process of asking someone about yourself. (about 2-3 pages, 1 inch margins, double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font)
Title: Developing Leadership Skills Through Personal Feedback
Background:
For this assignment, I reached out to three individuals from different aspects of my life to gather feedback on my leadership style and traits. The respondents included my sister, Lauryn, a close friend, Lorena, and a coworker, Jocelyn. I conducted the interviews through video conferencing and email, documenting their responses meticulously. I was curious to understand how my personality traits influence my leadership style, what leadership traits they believe I possess, and how I can further develop myself as a leader.
Strengths Table:
Themes Examples Provided Interpretation Action Steps
Motivational Encouraged team to meet deadlines despite challenges Ability to inspire and drive others towards goals Implement regular motivational sessions in team meetings to boost morale and productivity
Communicative Clear communication of project goals and expectations Effective in conveying ideas and ensuring understanding Develop active listening skills to better understand team members' perspectives and concerns
Problem Solver Resolved conflicts within the team effectively Ability to find solutions and mediate in challenging situations Attend conflict resolution workshops to enhance mediation skills and promote harmony within the team
Personal Reflection:
The feedback I received from my interviewees provided valuable insights into my leadership abilities. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my motivational approach and effective communication were recognized as strengths. Furthermore, the examples provided by them highlighted instances where I had positively impacted the team through problem-solving and encouragement.
The process of seeking feedback also made me recognize the importance of understanding how others perceive my leadership style. It has encouraged me to focus on enhancing my skills further, particularly in areas such as active listening and conflict resolution. I plan to incorporate this feedback into my professional and personal life by actively seeking opportunities for growth, such as attending workshops and implementing regular motivational sessions within my team.
In conclusion, the exercise not only shed light on my existing leadership strengths but also highlighted areas where I can further develop my abilities. It has been an enlightening experience that will undoubtedly guide my journey toward becoming a more effective and influential leader.
In summary, gathering feedback from individuals in various aspects of my life has provided valuable insights into my leadership strengths and areas for development. By recognizing common themes in the feedback and reflecting on the provided examples, I have gained a deeper understanding of my leadership style. Moving forward, I am keen on utilizing this newfound knowledge to enhance my leadership abilities through concrete action steps and continuous personal development.