A. Briefly describe a scenario that occurred in your past or present workplace. What was the impact on internal and external stakeholders?
B. Describe how your personal theory of leadership can be applied to this scenario. Be sure to address your theory’s influence at the individual, group, and organizational levels.
C. Explain how your personal theory of leadership influenced your decision making in this scenario. How did your decisions impact transformational change in your workplace?
D. Evaluate the effectiveness of your personal theory of leadership in this application. Be sure to include potential issues or weaknesses of your personal theory as it relates to transformational change.
E. Determine what tool might be valuable for the evaluation of your personal theory of leadership as it relates to transformational change. Be sure to include key features of the evaluative tool that supports the continuous improvement of your personal theory of leadership.
Full Answer Section
- Group Level: Facilitating open communication, fostering collaboration, and encouraging constructive criticism. This built trust and synergy within the team.
- Organizational Level: Aligning the project with the company's vision, communicating its positive impact, and highlighting contributions to the bigger picture. This instilled a sense of purpose and responsibility.
C. Decision Making and Transformational Change:
My decisions focused on building a psychologically safe environment. I:
- Delegated tasks based on expertise and empowered team members to make decisions.
- Introduced flexible work schedules to improve work-life balance and reduce stress.
- Celebrated milestones and recognized individual and collective achievements.
These decisions led to a transformation in the team. Morale improved, communication flourished, and productivity increased. We successfully delivered the project on time and exceeded client expectations.
D. Effectiveness and Potential Weaknesses:
Servant leadership proved effective in this scenario. However, potential weaknesses emerged:
- Time commitment: The focus on individual support requires significant time investment, which could be challenging in larger teams or under strict deadlines.
- Over-reliance on intrinsic motivation: While fostering autonomy is crucial, external incentives might be necessary in some situations to drive performance.
- Passive leadership style: In crisis situations, a more directive approach might be needed to navigate challenges decisively.
E. Evaluation Tool:
To continuously improve my leadership theory, I would use a 360-degree feedback tool. Key features include:
- Multiple perspectives: Feedback from colleagues, supervisors, and even clients provides a holistic view of leadership effectiveness.
- Specific examples: Instead of general ratings, concrete examples of actions and behavior facilitate targeted improvement.
- Confidentiality: Ensuring anonymity encourages honest feedback and deeper insights.
By analyzing 360-degree feedback regularly, I can identify strengths and weaknesses of my leadership approach, adapt to different situations, and ultimately drive transformational change in myself and my teams.
This scenario illustrates how my personal theory of servant leadership can foster positive change. Recognizing its potential limitations and employing evaluative tools allows me to continuously refine my approach and become a more effective leader capable of driving transformational change.
Sample Answer
A. The Scenario:
In my previous role as a project manager at a software development company, we were tasked with delivering a crucial new feature for a major client within a tight deadline. Unfortunately, the team was initially demoralized due to recent layoffs and low project morale. This impacted their performance and threatened the project's success.
B. Transformational Leadership in Action:
My personal leadership theory centers around servant leadership, emphasizing empowerment, growth, and shared vision. In this scenario, I applied it by:
- Individual Level: Providing personalized coaching and support, addressing individual concerns, and celebrating strengths. This boosted confidence and encouraged ownership.