Assignment: Strategic Leadership
Topic - Reflect on the assigned readings (Chapter 1 and 2). Respond to the following prompts: "What do I feel are the most important aspects of my learning in the chapters this week?" and "What about this learning was really worthy of my time and understanding?" Then explain how important it is in society or business.
Also, provide a graduate-level response to each of the following questions:
1) Look through recent magazines and newspapers and identify one leader who seems to illustrate the "leader-as-hero" mindset and one who seems more typical of the humble Level 5 leader described in the text. Describe their differing characteristics. Which was easier to find?
2) The chapter suggests that optimism is an important trait for a leader, yet some employees complain that optimistic leaders create significant stress because they don't anticipate problems and expect their subordinates to meet unreasonable goals. Do you agree? Why?
3) Suggest some personal traits of leaders you have known. What traits do you believe are most valuable? Why?
4) Describe the best leader you have known. How did this leader acquire his or her capability?
Refer Chapter 1: What Does It Mean to Be a Leader?
Learning Objectives:
1) Understand the full meaning of leadership and see the leadership potential in yourself and others.
2) Recognize and facilitate the six fundamental transformations in today's organizations and leaders.
3) Identify the primary reasons for leadership derailment and the new paradigm skills that can help you avoid it.
4) Recognize the traditional functions of management and the fundamental differences between leadership and management.
5) Appreciate the crucial importance of providing direction, alignment, relationships, personal qualities, and outcomes.
6) Explain how leadership has evolved and how historical approaches apply to the practice of leadership today.
Chapter 2: Traits, Behaviors, and Relationships.
Learning Objectives:
1) Outline some personal traits and characteristics that are associated with effective leaders.
2) Identify your own traits that you can transform into strengths and bring to a leadership role.
3) Distinguish among various roles leaders play in organizations, including operations roles, collaborative roles, and advisory roles, and where your strengths might best fit.
4) Recognize autocratic versus democratic leadership behavior and the impact of each.
5) Know the distinction between people-oriented and task-oriented leadership behavior and when each should be used.
6) Understand how the theory of individualized leadership has broadened the understanding of relationships between leaders and followers.
7) Describe some key characteristics of entrepreneurial leaders.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
(1) The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
(2) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
(3) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.