[Archived] Course 4. Foundational Leadership Principles: (Discussion #1) Understanding your Leadership Style
Please note: In order to successfully complete Course 4, you must respond to this post. Your comment/response should answer the questions/shows that you completed the given activity (if any). Read the post carefully and follow the instructions given. Save your responses to a document that you can later refer to. You will need to copy/paste your response in the course evaluation form at the end of each course to show that you have done the work and to refresh your memory.
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Hello everyone,
If you are reading this, it means you have come a long way in your leadership training. Kudos to you for all the effort and resilience you have shown! It is amazing how you all are open to learning and adapting to new environments: the environment of leadership!
Before we zoom in and talk more about learning and adapting, lets zoom back out first and talk about how you feel about leadership. Regardless of how you see yourself, there is a leader within you. The one who visualizes how things could have run in a better way if you were in the leading spot. Leading spot here means:
A desire for change;
Believing you got the abilities to make it happen;
Visualizing success while keeping in mind the bigger picture.
To lead others effectively, you need a good blend of 4 broad competencies area
If you have a surplus amount of knowledge on how to lead but not a good emotional quotient (EQ), you will find it hard to tackle leadership challenges. Having a good EQ is as important as having the right skills, and if you have skills but not the right attitude and values, you won't be able to achieve your full potential as a leader. Your attitude and values impact how others view you as a leader. We need an alignment in all 4 areas.
You have your very own leadership style based on your competency level. So, the next step is to label your original leadership style. Because you can switch to any leadership style with deliberate effort, thought, and adaptation.
Daniel Goleman categorizes leadership approaches in 6 broad styles. Authoritative, Coaching, Affiliative, and Democratic help one to promote harmony and positive outcomes while Coercive and Pacesetting styles of leadership need to be used in specific situations as they could cause tension.
Your original style could be one of them. So for the purpose of this course, we are going to use a leadership style test to help you identify your core competencies. In brief, we are using the test here to help you identify your leadership approach. So, when you know how you approach an event, you could think and put efforts to bring a change in it. It will allow you to polish your strengths and focus to improve in other different areas as well.
Lets get started!
- Please take the leadership style test here: https://www.energir.com/blogue/en/at-work/quiz-what-kind-of-leader-are-you/
Next step, below in the comments of this discussion, share
1. What is your leadership style?
2. What is one thing you learned about yourself?
3. What is one thing you would like to improve upon?
4. Please reply to 3 of your peers in this thread!
After fulfilling the requirements of this post, please check out the next post here! You must take part in the brainstorming/activities given in all of these posts to successfully complete the program.
This post is brought to you by the Leadership Development Program Team, find out more information about the program here.
@Heather225
1. Communicating Vision 54
2. Even if I have a clear vision for my company, it is not an easy task for me to communicate these plans in a way that excites others. Employees likely won't put a great deal of effort into achieving goals for which they share little or no passion. The manner in which I communicate my vision is essential. For instance, if I present my ideas to others in a manner that sometimes lacks self-assurance, they likely won't go over well. People who excel in this area are innovative visionaries who are confident in their ability to persuade and convince others. They consider it essential to make those they lead aware of, as well as part of, their vision.
3. I would like to iprove my understanding towards other people and finding a way to show to other people that I am capable of being a leader.
1. What is your leadership style?
Authoritative (Visionary) Leader: "According to your answers, you are likely able to envision a clear direction for your company and communicate your plans in a way that excites others. This is an essential skill, because employees will be much more willing to achieve a goal if they are passionate about it. Remember that the manner in which you communicate your vision is essential. For instance, if you present your ideas to others in a confident manner, they will likely go over more easily. People who excel in this area are innovative visionaries who are confident in their ability to persuade and convince others. They consider it essential to make those they lead aware of, as well as part of, their vision."
2. What is one thing you learned about yourself?
The test was not very clear about what it meant to be a visionary leader, so I did get a chance to search more about it <here>. Something I learned about myself was that, well, I am a visionary. I actually never quite thought I would be a visionary because my first impression of a visionary was not quite that. From the link I linked above, it mentioned that "People using the Authoritative leadership style are inspiring, and they move people toward a common goal. Authoritative leaders tell their teams where they're all going, but not how they're going to get there – they leave it up to team members to find their way to the common goal. Empathy is the most important aspect of Authoritative leadership." I suppose I learned that I am more of an inspiring kind of person though I am a bit conflicted on that part. I definitely agree with the whole "leave it up to team members to find their way" and the whole thing about empathy too!
3. What is one thing you would like to improve upon?
Using the same link, it mentioned that the main flaw was that "it's less likely to be effective when you're working with a team more experienced than you are," so I suppose working on my expertise would be helpful. Other than that, I would say that I really need to focus on being more confident in general and being not as flexible because while being flexible is good, sometimes being too flexible can lead to negative effects as well.
@DayDreamWithYou thanks for sharing how strong a leader you are. Part of being a strong leader is gathering consensus so others share your vision. Glad you are here as a leader.
1. What is your leadership style?
Communicating Vision
2. What is one thing you learned about yourself?
That I am always open to communicate not just talk or listen but putting thoughts back and fourth. This is something ive always done but wasn't really aware about it..
3. What is one thing you would like to improve upon?
I would love to handle stress and destress in much better manner
4. Please reply to 3 of your peers in this thread!
Done!!
1. What is your leadership style? Communicating Vision 81
2. What is one thing you learned about yourself? I found some of the questions difficult to answer, as I find things vary for different groups and situations. I think many would feel the same, but this seemed to highlight I vary more depending on the situation.
3. What is one thing you would like to improve upon? Checking in with others more often.
@AffyAvo
Communicating vision sounds interesting that your able to show what you see of things. I wish that was something I scored higher on.
1: My leadership style is to be open to the team and hear everyone's ideas. In my opinion, it's important to be important as then everyone gets heard and doesn't feel left out at all.
2: That communication is important to me in what I do and that has been reflecting in the way I communicate and interact with others. It has been mostly seen more recently in my personal relationships with people.
3: I think learning how to take charge more often as that's something I been struggling on.
@Asherwolfice I think that's great you're open to hearing everyone out!
@Heather225
1. What is your leadership style?
communicating vision 67
2. What is one thing you learned about yourself?
I am able to envision a clear direction and communicate it to my team members.
3. What is one thing you would like to improve upon?
To have a good way of communicating information as this is crucial to how well the team can work.
@Heather225
1. What is your leadership style? The test says I am a "Communicating Vision". While that might be true, I feel I align with a democratic leadership style.
2. What is one thing you learned about yourself? Throughout the course, I've learned that I am good at motivating others and focusing on long and short term goals.
3. What is one thing you would like to improve upon? Clear communication. I need to stop using filler words and be more concise when communicating.
4. Please reply to 3 of your peers in this thread!
@Heather225
1. What is your leadership style?
I couldn't access the snapshot perfectly as there's need to pay to get the full result of the test. Though I saw Communication vision to 57
2. What is one thing you learned about yourself?
I realized that I need to learn how to communicate my vision plainly and accurately for people to understand and support in achieving it.
3. What is one thing you would like to improve upon?
I would like to improve on my ability to communicate my vision effectively and also ability to micromanage.
4. Please reply to 3 of your peers in this thread!
Done!
@Beaconx That's so true! Communication is a major key. Thanks for sharing! 
1. What is your leadership style?
Communicating Vision
2. What is one thing you learned about yourself?
That my EQ is good and hence my leadership style is aligned accordingly.
3. What is one thing you would like to improve upon?
Stress factor when things are too overwhelming.
@peacefulWarrior10
Amazing! You've got this! :)
What is your leadership style? Communicating vision 61
2. What is one thing you learned about yourself? I am confident and convincing, and I present good goals and arguments. I can communicate what needs to be done efficiently and I spread my passion to others
3. What is one thing you would like to improve upon? I would like to not let my negativity get others down and be able to work with the stress and not let it impact my work
@Dinoprincess12
I love that you are confident and convincing - that is really admirable!
@NorahListens awesome!
@Dinoprincess12
I admire being able to communicate so effectivley! Awesome job Dino!
@Dinoprincess12
Effective communication is awesome dino ^^ also managing stress can be some real help in leadership, I’m sure you’ll be able to get better at that *-^
Confidence is such a great thing to have!! It’s something I need to work at @Dinoprincess12
@Dinoprincess12
That sounds like an awesome goal <3 Good luck with the improvements you want to do next
you said that really well. Keep up the good work.b@Dino12
@Dino12
I enjoyed learning about your leadership style. And I also would like to work on not allowing my negativity to bring others down. This seems like a life hack skill in general. I was able to learn from you today.
Best of luck on your LDP Journey!
@Dino12
Very good answers, well done
Wow love to know that you present good goals and arguments!
That's very interesting, confidence is really great!
