Foundation of Leadership Essay

How do leaders of today become what they are now? What experiences did they gone through in stabilizing their foundations of good and ideal leadership? There are just too many aspects in life that will mold you to become an efficient leader. Every experience, person you will meet, and their ideals will contribute to create a leader out of you. 1. Create a diagram that demonstrates the interplay of your life. Include the aspects that you think are important. The diagram shows how an individual gain his skills and knowledge through social interaction. Personal experiences teach an individual what to do and what he will become in the future. The relationship and interaction with the people around you mold and stabilize your character. The work and experience that you have or have been engaged in will create the kind of leader you are or can be after surpassing circumstances and pressures. Your goals and desires will determine how far you can go. 2. What principles surfaced to you from your readings of â€Å"Synchronicity†? To what extent have you practiced any or all of the disciplines in the context of your personal life? Synchronicity, a book written by Joseph Jaworski, also discussed about important insights in leadership. He presented the value of servant leadership; wherein in an organization an individual is after the group instead of one’s self interest. Servant leaders should know how to listen, empathize, be aware, heal himself and the members, conceptualize, foresee, persuade, commit, and build his community. Servant leaders should also know how to keep the harmonious relationship among members. From my own experience, I have proven that servant leadership works. A leader who values the group members and their opinion has too far to go in leading. Listening, empathy and awareness are very important. Moreover, respect is also being gained in return. You can also expand and develop ideas through brainstorming. Jaworski also discussed the importance of advance planning and conceptualizing. You will be able to estimate and assume future events and circumstances, enabling you to know what to do or avoid in the future. Learning from the past is also important, past experiences can be one’s pattern in decision-making. Leadership skills can be developed and improved through one’s knowledge and experiences. Different styles can be used depending on the situation for a more efficient results, only proper decision-making should be done wisely. To be knowledgeable and ideal leader, explore the world and learn more things in life. Be responsible. 3. Locate one or more websites and journals that explore leadership traits and styles, and discuss management and leadership. A group of researchers led by Kurt Lewin, conducted an experiment in order to study and identify specific types of leadership. In result, the group established three major types: the authoritarian leadership (autocratic), Participative (democratic), and delegative (laissez-faire). (Kendra Van Wagner) In authoritarian leadership, clear expectations of all the details is provided such as what, when, and where something should be done. Leaders decide independently with a little contribution from the rest of the group, or even nothing at all. In this type of leadership, less creativity in decision-making is being formed by the group. However, it is applicable in situations wherein there is minimal time for group discussion or when the leader is the most knowledgable and reliable member of the group. (Kendra Van Wagner) Participative leadership allows everyone to take part in the discussion and decision-making processes and is guided by the leader. The output of the work lead by democratic leaders is more creative. Members are being more motivated and creative as the leader encourage them to participate, but preserve the final decision to him. (Kendra Van Wagner) Members under delegative leadership work independently with a little or no guidance at all from the leader and leave decision-making to the rest of the group. On the other hand, this style can be useful for members that are highly competent in an area of proficiency, but frequently results into weakly defined roles and lack of enthusiasm. (Kendra Van Wagner) Leadership goes hand in hand with management. Though the two are inseparable terms, it is important to know the distinction between them. Leadership deals with the concept and rationale while management is into the logistic details such as who, when and when. Leaders direct the organizarion while managers handle the process towards a certain goal. Leaders motivate others to go beyond their limit and explore whereas managers make others do what they need to do. Managers are focused on present circumstances; leaders conentrate on conceptualizing and foreseeing. Leaders plan; managers make things done. They have different jobs and responsibillities, yet the two are directly linked to each other. How can you plan for the future and lead if you don’t know how to manage and work things out? (Webb) Works Cited Jaworski, Joseph. Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership . Berrett-Koehler Publishers; 1st ed edition , March 1996. Kendra Van Wagner. â€Å"Leadership Theories. † 2007. About. com. 26 September 2007 . Webb, Bert. My Two Cents: Leadership vs. Management. 26 September 2007 .