Course 4. Foundational Leadership Principles: (Discussion #2) Learning Leadership Skills
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Hello everyone,
Welcome back to the second discussion of the course!
John C Maxwell defines leadership as, a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
Effective Leadership starts with utilizing skills to guide your team. There are different research and studies that show that to be a good leader, one would require a blend of some key skills like communication, problem-solving, decision making, conflict resolution, clear vision, integrity, emotional intelligence, listening, empathy, adaptability, resilience, etc.
Behavioral Theories believe that people can become leaders through the process of teaching, learning, and observation. Leadership is a set of skills that can be learned by training, perception, practice, and experience over time. Leadership learning is a lifetime activity.
Everyone holds his fortune in his own hands, like a sculptor the raw material he will fashion into a figure. But it is the same with that type of artistic activity as with all others: we are merely born with the capability to do it. The skill to mold the material into what we want must be learned and attentively cultivated. -- J.W.V. Goethe
The same is true with leadership. You may or may not have all the required ingredients of becoming an effective leader. And, thats totally okay. You can acquire them by learning. Taking small steps every day. That is how one learns, practices, and masters skills.
Next step, below in the comments of this discussion, share
1. Are leaders born or made?
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?
3. Imagine, you are a project lead and there is a conflict among your team members over responsibility share. As a leader, how will you approach the situation to resolve the concern?
4. Please reply to 3 of your peers in the thread!
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1. Are leaders born or made?
Definitely made! You don't have to be born a leader in order to hold a leadership position or to be a leader throughout life!
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?
Decision making for sure! I'm terrible when it comes to decisions because I've always been afraid I was going to offend someone or my crew won't like the decision made.
Communication- While I'm very blunt and I make my point, it can sometimes be seen as disrespectful or rude because I don't always know how to phrase my words correctly.
I'm not sure about the 3rd one. I am usually pretty good about the rest of the ones on the list :P
3. Imagine, you are a project lead and there is a conflict among your team members over responsibility share. As a leader, how will you approach the situation to resolve the concern?
I would talk to everybody and take everyone's thoughts into consideration. Depending on where we need responsibility and the specific strengths of each team member, responsibility and management would be given out.
@smolecho
That s a really amazing answer!
@smolecho
Once again great replies!!! I think we all need improvement right so it is not only you and again with being blunt still believe sometimes we need too be , depending on how we use the Bluntness and where.
You are a great leader!! I believe !!
Tye
@smolecho
Superb answer
@smolecho I agree that you don't have to be born a leader in order to hold leadership positions
@smolecho
Communication, particularly with regard to feedback, is an area I want to work on. I want to be clear without hurting someones feelings.
@smolecho
wonderful feeedback echo .
@smolecho Decision making is SO difficult! I definitely feel this. It's hard to make decisions sometimes - especially when they effect others!
@smolecho
Very honest answers, smolecho I wish you the best in your endeavour to improve yourself upon the areas you have decided I think your answer to the last answers is really great
@smolecho
Good job! I loved your answer for #3 
@smolecho
Self-made success sounds very gratifying indeed. I appreciate your thoughtful responses.
@smolecho
Great, great answer, thanks for sharing!
@smolecho
You sound like a great leader :) well done!
@KindnessMatters2020
agreed, great leader
@smolecho
I like your concise and clar strategy for solving conflicts among team members
@smolecho I really agree with your third answer! It can be hard to organize responsibilites while making everyone happy at the same time!
@smolecho
Nice answer. Decision making is critical and hard ( I know it because I can't even decide which outfit for today 
) .
Taking a team member into consideration is an amazing step to be a great leader.
@smolecho
I like how you'd give responsibilities according to one's specific strengths. All the best :)
@smolecho Great answer! I totally agree that leaders are mostly made! I understand how decision making can be challenging as I wish to improve on it too, I'm sure you'll do great after gaining some experience!
@smolecho Amazing answer! Keep up the good work leader!
@smolecho
I love your approach to solving the conflict between teammates.
@smolecho
Amazing answer <3 well done!
Amazing answer <3
@smolecho
Great answer! Loved reading it.
@smolecho
I agree with you an so many points, for example that leaders are made! I also agree with how you would deal with the conflict as a project leader. I would follow a similar path. I would also like to work on my communication abilities and hope we can both take head after this discussion.
Best of luck on your LDP Journey! I learnt a lot from you today :)
@smolecho
I love the honest answer!
Keep up the good work!
@smolecho
@smolecho I agree!
Even I lack qualities such as Decision making and communication. Good luck to you! I hope you getting better at these two! ❤
@smolecho
Yes! Taking everyone's thoughts into consideration is highly important!
@smolecho
Great insights!! Woahh!
@smolecho
I also have problems communicating with others, sometimes I don't explain myself very well, but I think you can always learn to be better, :)
@smolecho
great response!
@smolecho Amazing answer. Great to see you so concerned about the wellbeing of your peers
Good answer🌻
@smolecho
Definitely , nobody borns as a leader . One becomes a leader in the process.
Time management skills , introductory skills and I am not sure about another one , these are the two skills that I can think of improving.
I would understand the problem , try to calm down the situation and let each member speak in turn about their individual opinions and together I would try to sketch a plan in which all of their opinions are giving equal importance . I may also create a contribution slide for the project in which the contributions of all memebers will be stated so that my teammates can feel heard and important.
@PhoenixTears5972
Well said!
@smolecho
Q: Are leaders born or made?
A: leaders are definitely made, the way the leadership work is learned and it comes with big practice, some people have it naturally but it does need a lot of practice to be a good and strong leader
Q: Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?
A: I want to work on multiple skills of mine but the three skills that I need to work on are: 1: communication, 2: making important decisions and 3: I’m pretty good at problem-solving but I want to work more on this one.
Q: Imagine, you are a project lead and there is a conflict among your team members over responsibility share. As a leader, how will you approach the situation to resolve the concern?
A: I would talk to everyone on the team and I would ask everyone why their thoughts are on this but I will also ask them to name strengths about the other team members on the team.
I would take everyone’s comment in consideration and from there I will handle what is best for the situation and team.
- lena
@Heather225
Hi! How are you?
Made! We learn and cultivate the leadership.
I need to work on my confidence, my boundaries, and my decision-making. That s all because I fear failure.
I would use my active listening skills, and use everyone s strenghts to better aproach the situation. Everyone would work smarter and happier!
@Daf8 Great replies !!! I think we have some fears if we didn't then we would not be human .. we need fears they help us sometimes but I do get what you mean !!
Keep up the awesome work you do here and I am sure in llife !!
Tye
@Daf8
Good one
@azuladragon34
Thank you for that!
@Daf8 Well said Da. Active listening is applicable even outside of 7cups.
@Daf8
well said Daf, its important to be aware of our areas needing improvement . Best wishes
@Daf8
I feel like there is something within all of us that is afraid of failure. It's scary to think about times. However, failure can be a good thing. It helps us realize something isn't working and gives us an opportunity to tweak it until it works!
@Daf8
You sound like a fantastic leader and don't worry, we all fear failure, but I really admire that you push yourself to achieve great things! I am so glad you are part of the LDP :)
@Daf8
Daf:
Buenas respuestas, y hermosamente decorado post !
Me alegra que nos encontremos aquí nuevamente !
Cariños,
Marcelo
@Daf8 I really need to work on my confidence as well! It can be so hard to be kind to yourself when you want everything to go perfectly. Good answers!
@Daf8
I think that it’s great you would focus on the strengths of everyone!
@Daf8 Loved your answer and I agree with you! Confidence is something that's built overtime and I believe that it affects most of other factors too. I believe that after practicing you'll manage to gain confidence and become a great leader!
@Daf8
You're right. Active Listening is essential to resolve conflicts. Bets of luck :)
@Daf8
great, recognizing ourselves is a big step, I'm not very good at making decisions either, but teamwork makes me feel much more secure
@Daf8
i always love yo read your replied their wonderful
@Heather225
1. Are leaders born or made? I am gonna say that we are made into better leaders over time ..But as usual I am gonna against the grain here and say I do believe some leaders were born to be leaders and grow to be even better ones and help others become leaders.. I can use examples within families or no leaders at all in a family but yet they were born to lead . You can have siblings and 1 may not be leader material but try and try to be but they just never make it.. You can have another sibling who has always been a leader in their friends group or club schooling churches whatever etc.. and continue to grow and age and be leaders . so some I do believe are born leaders .
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?
1, Sometimes I am too Open and say what I think and what needs to be done or should be done ..Maybe zip my lips more and use some retraint. I am just not one to set and watch things go down the tube tho.
2. Stop Observing others so much and trying to figure out why they act like they do. Just watch and learn and grow from seeing what they are doing right and wrong.
3.Believe in Me and others more.
3. Imagine, you are a project lead and there is a conflict among your team members over responsibility share. As a leader, how will you approach the situation to resolve the concern?
I would call a team meeting and brain storm with the team and ask what is that we need to work on as a team not as individuals .Ask how we can resolve the conflict and get the projects done and be a team and think of the company . We want to make sure everyone is involved and onboard and feels they are needed and wanted. Working together and feeling as a team and heard and make sure that everyone is understanding is so needed. Keep the lines of communication open always.
4. Please reply to 3 of your peers in the thread!- Will do !!
Thanks Tye
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
Amazing answer! Keep it up
@Daf8 Thank you !!
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
Thank you, really
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
Lovely answer Mom :)
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
Amazing answers. A team meeting is an excellent idea.
@Tyedyedbutterfly65 What a great answer! I thought your idea on focusing on what people do and why was really insightful!
@CompassionateDreamer8522 Thank you so much !
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
Great answers, Tye I really like your answers to the first and third question
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
Great answer!
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
Thanks for sharing this. It's insightful
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
I absolutely love that you are putting more confidence in yourself. It's important. If you believe in yourself, others may follow!
@shiningDay80 Thank you very much !
Tye
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
I love your responses -- I can relate to the part where you can't just "zip your lips and watch everything go down the tubes" !!
I am the same way and the world is a better place because of people like you <3
@KindnessMatters2020 Thank you so much !! I am just me for better or worse ! lol
Tye
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
I loved all 3 of your answers :) Watching and growing and learning sounds like a recipe for life, not just leadership :)
@electricPoetry61 Thank you very much, so appreciated !
Tye
@Tyedyedbutterfly65 thanks for sharing your great ideas. From what I have seen you have a lot of leadership abilities and I am so glad you are sharing those with the community.
@soulsings Thank you so much , coming from someone i really admire means allot !!
Tye
@Tyedyedbutterfly65 thanks for your kind words.
I am inspired by you and how much you give back to the 7cups community. Thank you for your service.
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
I appreciate your take on the first question, regarding whether leaders are born or made! I think that you bring up some really great points.
@Dinohorus Thank you very much so kind of you.
Tye
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
1. Are leaders born or made?
I think leaders are made. Somehow someway each individual is a leader in their own lives owing to the situations and circumstances.
One important factor according to me is the experience with the domain an individual has had. Moreover, it's not the quantity but the quality of experience an individual has had.
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?
1. I need to work on efficient management of my time and energy
2. Growing more and more open in mind to incorporate new things into my life.
3. Drawing lines between various levels of relationships.
3. Imagine, you are a project lead and there is a conflict among your team members over responsibility share. As a leader, how will you approach the situation to resolve the concern?
In such circumstances, its important to put on the table the goal of team, the services which need to be fulfilled. I would help them understand this. I would provide them a sense of ownership which in turn brings in a sense of responsibility.
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
Thats a wonderful articulation.
@wishfulMoment42 Thank you, greatly appreciated !
Tye
@Tyedyedbutterfly65 great response!
It's always a pleasure reading your answers. Makes us think about everything and helps all of us alot. All the best to you! ❤
I like answer
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
i loved reading your reply
@Heather225
1. Are leaders born or made? : I believe leaders are made. They learn the tools of the trade to become amazing respectable leaders
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon? : Communication, Decision making and empathy
3. Imagine, you are a project lead and there is a conflict among your team members over responsibility share. As a leader, how will you approach the situation to resolve the concern?: I would call the team for an emergency team meeting and allow them to voice their concerns. I will carefully listen to them and provide a solution or multiple solutions for them to muse over and agree to what it is suitable for them
@azuladragon34 Awesome replies well done keep up the amazing work !!!!
Tye
@azuladragon34
Loved your answer!
@azuladragon34 Great response Azula
@azuladragon34
very well replied, i hope u make good improvements on the areas u find needing and keep on doing amazing work
@azuladragon34 Well done - especially on giving them multiple solutions to choose from!
@azuladragon34
Great answers, azula I wish you the best in your journey ahead!
@azuladragon34
This is so awesome! Thanks for your insight!
@azuladragon34
That is a very good conflict Management response.
@azuladragon34
your reply was awesome i loved reading it a lot
1. Are leaders born or made?
I think both! But leadership skills can be learnt and enhanced, and improved upon too
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?
Patience, Delegation, and Trust
3. Imagine, you are a project lead and there is a conflict among your team members over responsibility share. As a leader, how will you approach the situation to resolve the concern?
The first thing I would do is to look at all aspects of the problem and do a little research so I understand exactly what is happening and why there is a conflict. Then I would talk to each privately before trying to find a way forwards and have a meeting with all to discuss options.
4. Please reply to 3 of your peers in the thread!
Will do!
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@MistyMagic
I like your answer and I agree with you that understanding the conflict is the first thing to do to better management of the situation. I wish you all the best in improving the areas you have decided!
@MistyMagic
Nice and succinct response
@MistyMagic
Thanks for illuminating the topic, your response is the great. Wish you the best
@MistyMagic
Great response. Understanding and digging deeper to manage the problem will have a more positive outcome.
@Heather225
Hello everyone,
Welcome back to the second discussion of the course!
John C Maxwell defines leadership as, a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
Effective Leadership starts with utilizing skills to guide your team. There are different research and studies that show that to be a good leader, one would require a blend of some key skills like communication, problem-solving, decision making, conflict resolution, clear vision, integrity, emotional intelligence, listening, empathy, adaptability, resilience, etc.
Behavioral Theories believe that people can become leaders through the process of teaching, learning, and observation. Leadership is a set of skills that can be learned by training, perception, practice, and experience over time. Leadership learning is a lifetime activity.
Everyone holds his fortune in his own hands, like a sculptor the raw material he will fashion into a figure. But it is the same with that type of artistic activity as with all others: we are merely born with the capability to do it. The skill to mold the material into what we want must be learned and attentively cultivated. -- J.W.V. Goethe
The same is true with leadership. You may or may not have all the required ingredients of becoming an effective leader. And, thats totally okay. You can acquire them by learning. Taking small steps every day. That is how one learns, practices, and masters skills.
1. Are leaders born or made?
Leaders are definitely born, not made.
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?
Patience, Communication and Decision making
3. Imagine, you are a project lead and there is a conflict among your team members over responsibility share. As a leader, how will you approach the situation to resolve the concern?
As a leader, I would call my team members in for a meeting and that meeting will address how responsibility will be shared for the project that needs to be completed. I would go around the room and ask each person what they are comfortable doing and what they are not. After getting the feedback from everyone, each person has the choice to choose what task they want to take on and they know will be their best work. Whatever is left to complete, can either be taken on by me or worked on as a team projecr
@CheeryMango
Effective and clear communication is one of my goals, too.
@CheeryMango Hi Mango! Our answers are different for the first question, so I'd love to know more about your thought processes behind why you think leaders are born! Do you think people are just born with the skills necessary to be a leader? Great job!
@Heather225
1. Are leaders born or made? Leaders are made!
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon? Giving clear feedback, delegating responsibilities, and being mindful of my own American-centricity
3. Imagine, you are a project lead and there is a conflict among your team members over responsibility share. As a leader, how will you approach the situation to resolve the concern? I try to avoid this scenario as much as possible by making sure everyone is on the same page regarding responsibility before the project begins. If this situation were to arise, I would reach out to the team members in conflict individually to hear their concerns and thoughts. Getting to the root of the conflict would be the first step I would take.
@Heather225
1. Are leaders born or made?
Leadership qualities can be acquired thru learning and leaders can be Made
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?
Delegating, Conflict resolution, Giving feedback
3. Imagine, you are a project lead and there is a conflict among your team members over responsibility share. As a leader, how will you approach the situation to resolve the concern?
I will call a team meeting, discuss the technical and emotional requirements needed for the project and brainstorm with them to delegate rt responsibilities
1. Are leaders born or made?
Leaders are made! It takes work and sacrifice, but they are made.
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?
Group communication - not just sitting in the back, but making sure that I'm communicating ideas I have.
Following-up - I've been actively working on this, but I struggle with following up on things I've thought I've "finished"
Thinking outside the box - I tend to shoot down my own ideas that are out of the box, and I'd like start working on that.
3. Imagine, you are a project lead and there is a conflict among your team members over responsibility share. As a leader, how will you approach the situation to resolve the concern?
It would require transparency and honesty. Meeting with everyone, and figuring out who's strengths play best to the role, while also making sure both roles are clarified, to avoid this in the future. If one role seems to be "losing" and the other seems to be "gaining" trying my best to use the strength of the other manager to take on some other responsibilities that play into their strengths so nobody feels like it was a "loss".
@Heather225
1. Are leaders born or made?
Leaders are definitely made. Although some people are natural leaders, leadership is all about stepping up, making clear strategies, leading people and learning.
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?
stress-tolerance, organzation skills and problem solving skills.
3. Imagine, you are a project lead and there is a conflict among your team members over responsibility share. As a leader, how will you approach the situation to resolve the concern?
I would start with an open communication among all the members of the group and come up with ways to solve the situation in hand.