This paper is the reflective writing paper which discusses the approach related to the leadership and management. It is necessary to understand the relationship between the two and also the difference between the two. This reflective paper is based on the “THE SHEEP AND SHEPPARD TASK”, and made after considering the elements of the Gibbs Reflective cycle. It is mainly helpful for those people who learn from their situations on continuous basis, and especially when situations are not right (Gibbs, 1998).
Description:
The Sheep and Sheppard task: Recently, I had visited to the Lake District with my classmates, and this trip was the part of my course leadership and management in context of the master of business administration.
This Journey was organized for 3 days, and it included number of tasks which were conducted on daily basis. I participated in each and every activity, and in one task, I got the opportunity to become the leader and lead the team. The task which impressed me the most was “The sheep and shepherd” in which I got the chance to become the leader.
In this task, I performed the role of the Shepherd and my role was to guide the bundle of the sheep’s into the pen by using the whistle, and the roles of the sheep’s were played by my five other group members. We completed this task successfully in the given time frame. Both Shepherd and sheep’s were not allowed to express the word, and all the sheep’s were blindfolded.
As the shepherd, it’s my responsibility to direct all the sheep’s towards the pen. After few attempts, I got the success in directing the 4 sheep’s towards the pen. For performing this task, I consumed almost whole time in directing that last sheep towards the pen and this happened because of the wrong indications given by me. Because of all this we take almost full time to complete the task, but any how we managed to perform this in given period of time.
Feelings:
I had mix feelings related to the task performance. It was the first time, when I performed the role of leader, and this made me feel more anxious and excited at the same time.
Anxiety is the concept which is used to define the feelings related to the nervousness, fear, worry, unease, etc. and it includes both emotions and physical sensations (Smith & Cooper, 1994).
Role of leadership includes different responsibilities such as dealing with productivity, budgets, policy, design, implementation, etc. (Milano, 2012). Working at the first leadership position brings new challenges and different responsibilities (Hader, 2007). In my case, high number of challenges and too much responsibility made me more anxious. I personally feel that this feeling of anxiety reduced my confidence level, and it was the only reason because of which I failed to perform my task and lead my team in effective manner.
However, at some point of time this feeling helps me in performing the role of the good leader also. As stated by the Bendrskey & Shah (2012), those people who are more anxious, actually work in more attentive way and achieve better results. As I was not over anxious, because over anxiousness was considered as the weakness and can results in the negative approach. I feel that anxiety was appeared from different factors such as genetics and environmental. Somehow, I am able maintain the balance between my confidence and fear.
Through my experience, I am able to understand one thing that anxiety is good for achieving the goals, but such feeling must not overlap the confidence of the person. While directing the last sheep, I become more nervous because I already committed the mistakes and time was slipping from my hands. At that time, I feel more nervous, but I control my feelings and perform my task with full determination.
Evaluation:
This task taught us number of things, and as the leader, it was completely an excellent experience for me. While performing as leader, I am able to discover my hidden talent and also my ability to direct other for achieving the particular goal. This task also increased my confidence level, and improves my ability to deal with new challenges. As stated, an effective leader is the person who motivates the other members of the group for the purpose of achieving any target and also directs them in achieving that target (CCL, 2014).
In context of my group members, we all understand the importance of effective communication for achieving any objective. Effective communication is considered as the key to achieve any specific target, and it is not possible to achieve any target without the effective communication in the organization.
While performing this task, we made number of mistakes such as before initiating the activity, we fail to read and understand the instructions related to the tasks in well manner. Confidence level of the team is not up to the mark, and we also fails in making the effective planning for performing the task.
As a leader, it is my responsibility to ensure that before performing the task all the members of the group including me understand the rules and instructions related to the task in well manner. Lack of effective planning reduce the confidence level of the team, and as a leader, I am accountable for this.
This task highlight my number of weakness on which I need to work for ensuring the effective leadership in future such as lack of confidence, clarity on goals, effective planning, etc. My fear behavior after committing the mistake also makes me realize that I am a person who cares more for results instead of actions. I got fear that in case we lose the game, then as a leader, I held been accountable for everything which makes me more anxious. Later, I control my fear and manage to win the game. I never forget this experience in my whole life, and this experience help in future situations.
Analysis:
As stated above, there was lack of effective leadership and this happens because of number of reasons. Some of these reasons and their impact on leadership performance are discussed in this section (Doyle, 2018). It must be noted that all the good leaders required number of soft skills for the purpose of ensuring the effective leadership and strong bonding with their team members. Some of these skills are defined below which are also become the barriers for me in effective leadership while performing the role of leader in the task (Jayatilleke & Mackie, 2012).
As a leader it is necessary to focus on the communication skills, which means leader, must ensure that goals are explained to the team members in clear manner, and all the instructions to perform the task are well explained to the members before initiating the task. Leader is also under obligation to ensure that all the members of the team understand all the instructions and there is no confusion (Agric, n.d.).
Leaders must ensure the expertise in each and every form of communication such as one-on-one, communication through telephone, mail, etc. It must be noted that, ability to listen others is also the most important component of the effective communication skills. This ability ensures that leaders listen the issues of their members properly and try to resolve them.
Therefore, it can be said that leaders must ensure the proper flow of communication with their team members, wither with the help of open-door policy or by regular conversations with the team members. It is responsibility of the leaders to be always available for the purpose of discussing the issues and concerns of the team members. Some others skills related to the communication include active listening, articulating, clarity, transparency, etc. (Anthony, 2018).
Leaders must inspire the workers for the purpose of contributing their best in context of achieving the goal. As stated above, there is lack of confidence level and motivation in the team members while performing the task. There are number of ways through which leader can motivate their team members such as members can be motivated by rewards and recognition or also by making members more responsible for increasing the investment of team members.
Therefore, it is necessary for the leaders to understand the motivators which work best for the team members, and such motivators must encourage the productivity and passion of the team members. Skills in context of the effective motivation include mentoring, reward, recognition, etc. (Nader, n.d.)
Another important component of the effective leadership is responsibility, as leader is responsible for both success and failure of the task. Therefore, it is necessary for the leaders to accept the accountability in case of failure, and it is also necessary for the leaders to share the credit with their team members in case of success. Accountability is the approach which is necessary for the effective leadership.
When leaders ensure the personal accountability while performing any task, then it means that they are personally liable for their choices and actions and also for the outcomes of the task. Those leaders who accept the accountability does not blame the others when things go wrong. Instead of blaming the other, they try to fix out the things by conducting right actions, as they are fixers.
Accountable leaders possess the proper understanding related to their organization, and where it shines it has the opportunity. Accountable leaders also accept the tough opportunities and make their hundred percent in getting the success. Accountable leaders also impose questions on the decisions and process that shape the organizations future. These leaders try to ask questions and also find best answers in context of their questions (Brandon hall group, 2014).
In case leaders blame others for the failures and highlight the member’s mistake, then members definitely lose the respect for their leader. Therefore, it is necessary for the leader to accept their mistakes and ensures proper solutions for the same. Some skills related to the responsibility must be inherited in the leaders of the organization such as acknowledgement of mistakes, open feedback from members, ensure best solutions, forecasting, etc. Lack of effective planning reduce the confidence level of the team, and as a leader, I am accountable for this.
The most important element for the effective leadership is the self-confidence, and when I talk about the self-confidence, it does not mean the arrogance and over confidence. I am talking about that self-confidence which is required to believe in one’s-own skills, target, and ability to achieve the goal. Following are the reasons because of which self-confidence is important:
Conclusion:
After performing the role of leadership in this activity of the sheep and Sheppard task, I firmly understand the importance and contribution of the leaders in the success and effective performance of any task. This reflective writing clearly stated the importance of different skills and abilities for becoming the effective leaders.
As stated above, there was lack of effective leadership and this happens because of number of reasons. It must be noted that all the good leaders required numbers of soft skills for the purpose of ensuring the effective leadership and strong bonding with their team members.
Action Plan:
As a leader, I failed to provide proper indication to my teammate and this happened because of the ineffective communication skills and also lack of confidence. My Self-confidence was completely missing at the time when I was directing the last sheep. That time I lost my ability to direct and made some mistakes, but as the leaders I accept the accountability.
Action plan defines the components which required developing for becoming the effective leaders and the first and foremost step includes the development of confidence and communication skills. As stated above, these two components are the most important component.
Communication skills can be developed by indulging in different communication programs and also by joining different study channels. Person must involve in communication with other persons.
On the other hand, confidence can be improved by regular participating in these types of activities.
References:
Agric. Effective Leadership.
Anthony, L. (2018). Effective Communication & Leadership.
Bemdersky, C. & Shah, N. (2012). The Downfall of Extraverts and Rise of Neurotics: The Dynamic Process of Status Allocation in Task Groups. Academy of Management Journal, Volume 56(2).
Brandon Hall group, (2014). The Buck Stops Here: A Culture of Accountability Drives Effective Leadership.
CCL, (2014). Five advantages for leaders in a networked world.
Doyle, A. (2018). Top 10 Leadership Skills.
Gibbs, G. (1988). Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods. Oxford: Oxford Further Education Unit.
Hader, R. (2007). Leadership anxiety? Choose courage over complacency. The journal of nursing management, Volume 38(5).
Jayatilleke, N. & Mackie, A. (2012). Reflection as part of continuous professional development for public health professionals: a literature review. Journal of Public Health, Volume 35(2), Pp- 308-312.
KCL. Using Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle.
Mino, C. (2012). Overcoming Anxiety in Your First Leadership Role.
Nader, R. Leadership and Motivation.
Smith, M. & Cooper, C. (1994) “Leadership and Stress”, Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Volume 15(2), pp.3-7.
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