To understand my personal leadership capacity, I have derived a personalised SWOT to help me identify how I can leverage my strengths to win opportunities and overcome my weaknesses to minimise threats.
Throughout the course of my studies and learnings from BUSS4921 my leadership legacy statement has developed to account for my ambitions, values and future development. At the start of this semester, I found my leadership statement to be influenced by my past experiences which led to:
“I aspire to become a leader who is able to drive growth through fostering effective relationships with all people. I believe that I will be able to instil core values that I possess alongside those of my organisation in my team by leading from the front and holding myself accountable. I will ensure that I am able to influence and motivate others to strive for success”.
BUSS4921 influenced me to go outside my comfort zone, where I was unaware of how the topics of action research and leadership will combine to give holistic lessons. However, through the unit, I was empowered to develop my perception as a leader not just for an organisation, but as an individual. Throughout the action research project I undertook with three other peers (Charlie, Ben and Jason) I acquired key skills which will influence my future journey through understanding the need for adaptability, accountability and flexibility. Throughout the project, we had to account for each other's busy schedules and make time to account for the schedules of of our participants - the backbone of our research. Through this project I learnt the need to take ownership of tasks, whilst mending ways and plans to reach a desired outcome, whether that be through completing interviews, surveys or putting the assessment together. This allowed us to strive together as a group, which allowed us into fostering relationships and networks that we can carry on post-university.
Throughout undertaking BUSS4921 across its various modules, AR and LPC workshops and assessments, my perception of effective leadership has changed. In module 11, Professor Peter Bryant effectively emphasises reimagining post-crisis, where he explores the need for effective leaders to leverage resources in crisis to reimagine the future for all those around them. This explores the need to build resilience around constantly changing environments, where as leaders we should not consider disruption as anti-agents, but as drivers for effective change. Further, I was heavily influenced by Rob Galford's comments in module 12 where he states that to be an effective leader means to be proactive where “You’ll be a better leader tomorrow if you think about this today”. This has greatly influenced me to believe that some characteristics of leaders are inherent and are formed before problems, which makes an effective leader during and post-crisis. Studies alongside experiences this year have allowed me to reflect thoroughly on my perceptions of where my leadership statement is now:
“As a capable leader, my role is to guide my team and myself to succeed by achieving our utmost potential by utilising and evoking all capabilities. I strive to lead by example, where I can demonstrate key skills and attitudes required, such as work ethic and resilience. I hold myself accountable to understand people's strengths and weaknesses where I can inspire and motivate others, whilst encouraging their professional and personal development. I will influence and lead others to overcome challenges to meet designated goals"