Course 4. Foundational Leadership Principles: (Discussion #2) Learning Leadership Skills

1. Are leaders born or made?

To become a leader, we need to learn certain skills, like communication, decision-making, problem-solving, etc. So leaders are definitely made!

2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?

I think I will need to work on
- confidence
- decision-making
- conflict resolution

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 talk to every member involved in the conflict, to understand their point of view. Depending on each person’s abilities and availability, I will assign the tasks and make these tasks very clear to them, so as to avoid confusion in the future

1. Are leaders born or made?

Leaders are made! They learn from others, from their own experiences, and from different learning opportunities, like this one! We are all learning how to become amazing leaders!
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?

I need to work on decision making, clear vision, and emotional intelligence.
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 ask them both to say their frustrations, and then take all of the feedback into consideration while figuring out a solution that would work for all of them. Then, I can utilize the new solution!

@Heather225

1. There are some skills that each one of us has congenially. Charisma is a good advantage, but the most important is to really enjoy what you do and be understanding towards others. Skills as communication, negotiation, clarity, emotional strength, managing conflicts and taking decisions are important to become a good leader. But these are skills that someone can learn when there is the right motivation, empathy towards the team members and sensitized to have a good perception of things and participating with consistency to their roles. Therefore, with the appropriate motivation and empathy a person is able to grow, develop their skills and make good use of their charisma to become great leaders. With just the charisma the person is more likely to rest and not develop as much as they could. In conclusion when a person is really dedicated and working constantly to gain experience, they are able to grow new skills and use their charisma properly, by listening to peers they become stronger and wiser and this can help them to achieve the best results and be their best selves.

2. I believe that I have the skills to move forward but sometimes my anxiety holds me back. This has an impact on my conflict resolution, decision making and resilience skills. There are some days that I feel more confident and some other days that are more challenging. I need to identify what makes me confident these days, identify and keep in mind that I was able to make it to appreciate myself and start trusting my skills to be able to feel more confident on a daily basis and grow through that.

3. If a conflict occurred, I would bring up a more pleasant topic like asking a question about their day or their favorite things to do. If the conflict continues, I would brainstorm with some positivity to calm things down. After the chat, I would reach out to the members personally to ask if they’re in a challenging time and if I could offer some further support. If there’s any rule violation I would kindly remind the purpose of support rooms, call a mod and in the worst case refer the member that’s causing the conflict.

@Heather225

1. Are leaders born or made?

I believe that leaders are made but what makes a leader is more their passion and willingness to the project itself way before their leadership skills or any other principle

2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?

Managing to control my expectations:

I can be a person with really really high expectations from both myself and my team (mostly from myself) at times which I know clearly that are way beyond my capability at least at that given time or the opposite can happen as well, that I might bring my expectations incredibly down at times, because of lack of trust or confidence

Giving feedback:

I usually am not bad at giving feedback but I edit and rephrase every slightly negative sentence a thousand times to make sure it won’t hurt anyone which is problem making when it comes to time management

Being open to weakness and failure and willing to learn and grew through it, I can see the worth of lessons learned by mistakes and can accept weakness in others but I turn out to be really rough on my personal failures

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’d ask everyone involved in the conflict to gather, I’d give them each the chance to tell everyone about their point of view uninterrupted and I’d listen to everyone, then when I had a clear idea of what was the problem I’d make the problem clear to everyone at last we could all think and find a way which would work for everyone while stepping in and putting my pressure in whenever I see someone is using so much of “me decisions” instead of “us decisions”

@Heather225

1. I think leaders are mostly made. There are a few that they can be born with the gift of leadership, but it something that you can mostly learn.

2. Patience, I need to have more patience towards my partners in work. Confidence, I need to be more certain and confident about my ideas and my opinions.

3. I would talk to anyone and I would try to remind them of cooperation.

1. Are leaders born or made?

Leaders are made! I believe research also shows how leaders are made most of the time. I think leadership is one-third born and two-thirds made. You take a ladder and gradually get better at your job and becoming proficient at being a leader. It's definitely a step by step skill to acquire.

2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?

- Decision-making ability

- The skill to be able to take a risk

- My confidence

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 make sure everyone says their views and then approach the situation using their strengths. I would keep my patience and grit.

Next step, below in the comments of this discussion, share
1. Are leaders born or made? Leaders are made although some people are born with natural talents that strengthen their leadership skills
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon? I need to work on time management, coping with emotions and separating that from work, and being my own cheerleader.
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? One thing is to hear both sides of the conversation with an open mind. Try to find a solution which makes everyone a winner. Try to have the parties contribute to the decision so it is theirs.
4. Please reply to 3 of your peers in the 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.

@Heather225

1. Are leaders born or made?

Some leaders are born, especially if they have, for example, the Protagonist personality. However, everyone can become a leader if they set out to do so and work on improving themself as a leader.
2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?

As an affiliative leader, I need to work on resolving conflict in a head-on manner.

Also, avoiding an attitude of complacency.

And, specifically to me, time management.
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 ask each member what roles they prefer to work in to allow everyone to work in an area they excel in.

1. Are leaders born or made?

I believe leaders are made. Some people may be born with some of the skills necessary to be an effective leader, or more likely learn them from their early relationships, but no one has all the skills without working on them. It is also worth noting that because there are different leadership styles that place emphasis on different skills, people with all kinds of different personalities, skills and values can become effective leaders.

2. Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?

Giving feedback, time management (in particular avoiding procrastination) and willingness to take risks/ try new strategies in order to solve problems.

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?

My preferred approach to this situation would be to have a meeting where all team members could share their concerns and as a team we could agree what tasks needed doing and try to share them out equally and according to each member's skill set. My hope would be that everyone felt heard and appreciated and the team would improve their teamwork and communication through this process. Having thought about how I would handle this situation, I can see how I definitely fit into the affiliative leadership style category that was my result in the leadership style quiz.

@Heather225

Are leaders born or made?

Some believe that true leaders are born that way—naturally charismatic, influential, and inspiring individuals who are destined to make a mark. But while certain people may be naturally predisposed to leadership, just as they’re naturally predisposed to athleticism or musicality, others believe it’s absolutely possible to cultivate the characteristics and skills necessary to call yourself a leader. I think that leadership is a gift but you can work on your skills to be a successful leader even if you don’t have it in you.

Identify 3 skills that you need to work upon?

1. Communication.

2. Long-term motivation.

3. Stay on schedule timings.

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?

Firstly, I will make sure sufficient information is recorded that everyone understands their job tasks and the jobs of those they interact with. Then I will de-escalate the situation, referring to this information by giving friendly constructive feedback to the team and remind them with the bigger goal and the importance of the work we do. Finally I will notice everyone’s behavior and take a note of individuals who are not willing to improve or continuously revolutionary for further private 1-1 feedback or actions. Also I will take a note of the areas in my team that need growth and improvements, or maybe some roles changes or new faces to avoid future similar conflicts.