Homework: Leadership Strengths
Complete a SWOT analysis of yourself, and write 3 to 5 pages about how the results of your SWOT analysis might be used in both a workplace setting and in the community.
Effective leaders are those who can scan the environment, who are willing to receive feedback from others about their own performance, and who are willing to try new things; hence the emphasis on integration with self-discovery and ongoing learning.
Perhaps one of the most common concerns of aspiring leaders is about their skill sets and competencies. What does someone need to do in order to be a successful and effective leader? More and more, research findings are providing support for a model that embraces self-awareness, self-reflection, and emotional intelligence.
Toggle Drawer
Questions to Consider
As you prepare to complete this homework, you may want to think about other related issues to deepen your understanding or broaden your viewpoint. You are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional community. Note that these questions are for your own development and exploration and do not need to be completed or submitted as part of your homework.
i. Bill Gates said, "As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others" (Sources of Insight, 2011). What does that mean? How might it influence the way you view leadership power and authority?
ii. How do effective leaders empower and support those around them?
Reference
Sources of Insight. (2011, January 19). Lessons learned from Bill Gates.
For this homework, consider you were recently promoted to an executive level position in your organization. The organization has a highly regarded management training and development program led by its human resources department. As part of that, the HR team works individually with each new executive to create a customized development plan. One component of that is that the HR team asks each new executive to create a personal SWOT analysis. New executives are typically familiar with a SWOT analysis (analyzing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) from their past educational and professional experience, but typically think of that tool as applied to an organization rather than applied personally.
Preparation
You too are probably already familiar with the business practice of conducting a SWOT analysis, but you are encouraged to conduct independent research on this term as necessary. Complete an abbreviated version of a SWOT analysis on your own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Use the criteria below as a guide for your analysis. You will use your SWOT analysis results to complete this homework.
Strengths
Briefly identify and describe your top five strengths. When you think about your areas of strength, be sure to consider:
o Advantages (skills, education, experience) you have that others do not.
o The achievements you are most proud of.
o Things you do better than anyone else.
o Special connections you may have.
o Resources that are available to you.
Be sure to consider how others see you as well as how you see yourself.
Weaknesses
Briefly identify and describe three areas of weakness. Some things to consider might be:
o Tasks you avoid doing because you do not feel confident doing them.
o Negative work habits, such as often being late, disorganized, or easily stressed.
o Your level of confidence in your skills, education, or experience.
o Personality traits that might hold you back. For example, do you have a fear of public speaking, yet work where you are expected to conduct meetings regularly?
Just as with your strengths, be sure to consider how others see you.
Opportunities
Briefly identify and describe at least two opportunities for growth. It may help you to think about:
o Do you have a network of influential contacts?
o Is there a need in your company or industry that no one has been able to fill?
o Are there trends in your company that you could use to your advantage?
o Can you offer solutions to problems within your company?
Threats
Briefly identify and describe at least two threats you are facing. These may be in the form of:
o Obstacles you are facing at work.
o Competition for positions or projects.
o A major change in the nature of your job.
Requirements
Determine how the results of your SWOT analysis might be used in both a workplace setting and in the community and complete an analysis paper describing that. Be sure to address the following:
i. Analyze the leadership style or characteristics you see reflected in your strengths.
ii. Analyze how you can apply the leadership style or characteristics to overcome perceived weaknesses.
iii. Analyze how you can use the leadership style or characteristics to explore opportunities.
iv. Analyze how you can use the leadership style or characteristics to overcome threats and provide specific strategies to accomplish that.
v. Evaluate the relationship between individual strengths, leadership style or characteristics, and workplace setting. As part of that, associate the leadership style or characteristics represented in your strengths with the type of work you believe would best support them.
vi. Analyze how well your current career fits your leadership style.
Format your homework according to the following formatting requirements:
i) The answer should be typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), double spaced, with one-inch margins on all sides.
ii) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
iii) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references must follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.