Leadership Critical Reflection

Throughout my leadership experience during this class I have learned a lot about myself
in terms of taking the lead and being in charge. Not only am I leader at work, I have taken on
responsibility as an intern working for a nonprofit and am assisting sister in the planning of her
wedding. Throughout life we are presented with different situations where we can sit back and
let others take control or we can take the control ourselves. I pride myself in knowing I am
independent and in different situations a leader. This class has taught me a lot about myself and
what it takes to be a leader. All of the discussion boards, chapter readings, application of the
different leadership models, and the self-assessment questionnaires provide some insight to what
leadership requires and helps highlight the qualities I possess and the qualities that I could use
some improvement on.

With the different models of leadership I find very interesting especially the
transformational leadership theory. I know I touched on this theory in my midterm but I think the
fact that this model involves the leader and the follower provides great opportunity for both the
leader and follower to learn and grow from each other while improving on leadership and
teamwork skills. Transformational leadership is the process whereby a person engages with
others and creates a connection that raises the level of motivation and morality in both the leader
and the follower (Northouse 186). Morale when it comes to leadership and team building is
necessary to learn and grow and this theory helps provide that connection and facilitate a
productive environment for all involved.

I found the discussion time out on the dance floor a very inspiring article and I would
hope that more people find this article as interesting and inspiring as I did. I think its important
that Heiftz makes it a point to acknowledge the fact that leadership can be a dangerous task and
although you are in a higher position of power it is important to take a step back and take a look
at the bigger picture. Often in life we get too caught up in the day to day to take a step back and
realize that one person cant do it all, leader or not. Many people who are in a follower role dont
often realize what it requires to be a leader and the huge amount of responsibility and load that
the leader must deal with. It is important for people in a position of lesser power to be grateful
for the leaders because not everyone takes the initiative and the work load serious enough in
order to take on that role. When I think about leaders I think about parents, teachers, managers,
business owners and many other people without, we wouldnt be thriving in our daily lives. The
leaders are the people who help set us up for success but often many forget that they too need
support and teamwork effort in order to carry out their role as leaders.
The discussion boards provide students a chance to interact with each other and help
students think about what they read and apply it which is what I find so beneficial about them.
The fact that we are required to read and then respond in terms of where we see ourselves and
what our passions are require us to look beyond what we are doing right now and think about the
future. Heifetz also advises: In order to generate the energy to keep ourselves going, we must
also repeatedly enjoy the fruit of success from our work (Heiftz 3). I think that Heiftz does a
great job of explaining that life must not be all work and no play. I wanted to highlight this
article because throughout my college career I have yet to read something that really jumps out
and says work hard but make sure you get the right perspective and dont forget to enjoy life
along the way. Throughout the day/week with multiple things going on at once it is important to
make it a point to take a mental break so you can clear your head and focus on the important
things which is what I think Heiftz was saying in his article.
They questionnaires after each chapter not only helped with learning the material it
helped me realize leadership traits I possess, leadership traits I can improve on and things I can
improve on in my daily life. The core values assessment was the first questionnaire I completed
but also a favorite of mine. I find it interesting when you have a list of important things that
ultimately you wouldnt want to have to choose only two from, you find out what you really
value most. After having taken this questionnaire I was so curious to know what other people I
value in life would choose. These types of questionnaires are great for getting friends and family
involved and it provides them to think about you in ways they may not normally or have never
thought about before. When taking these questionnaires I often found myself referring to
situations in my internship and my current job. My manager values team work and leadership
which is why I think I possess many leadership qualities. The reason why I am more likely to
lead with emphasis on relationships is because I have to work closely with people every day and
those relationships are important. I dont like when people feel uncomfortable in situations
because I know I personally dont enjoy the feeling of discomfort. Throughout the questionnaires
assigned from the readings I continued to show high scored in leadership particular in the
Leader-Member exchange theory. I think the strong leader-member exchange is a result of my
experience of team work learned and practiced at work and my desire to complete tasks
successfully on time. I am a firm believer in servant leadership because leaders put their
subordinates first being honest with them and treating them fairly. Servant leaders make it a
priority to listen to their followers and develop strong long term relationships with them
(Northouse 233). After have taking the questionnaire on servant leadership I did find areas where
I have room for improvement and intend to work on those areas. This theory is one of my
favorites because it extends to serving the have nots in society. This theory model in my
personal opinion can be similar to a young adult having a mentor, whether it is a professor,
someone who has experience in a special field or someone who has a wealth of knowledge in
many different areas. I believe that in order to grow we need people to help mentor us and help
us achieve a great path to success.
The text book along with assigned readings for the discussion boards assignments and the
questionnaires have helped me learn a lot and better understand leadership. I have learned many
strengths I possess in terms of leadership and also plan on working to improve upon some of the
areas I struggle with. The many different types of leadership apply to my personal and
professional life and I look forward to applying them as I develop and continue my education
and my path to a successful career after college. The case studies that apply the theories help
demonstrate situations where the theories are used best and provide great examples for everyday
use. I am pleased to have gained so much knowledge in leadership because it will help me in
furthering my experience as a leader.

Northouse, P.G. (2013). Introduction to leadership: Theory and practice. (6th
ed.)Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc

Heifetz, R. A. & Linsky, M. (2002). Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers
of Leading. Harvard Business School Press.