Part 1 Assignment:
What does Part 1 really ask us to do?
Using two different leadership models and/or leadership questionnaires, evaluate your own preferred leadership style. Critically evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of this style and critically discuss in what situations this style might be the most effective and why.
1. Choose 2 models and/or questionnaires (note that usually questionnaires are linked with a specific leadership model/approach )
2. Either complete the relevant questionnaires or compare your skills/experience against a theoretical model - it is up to you how you choose to do this and which questionnaires/models you use. This is part of the evaluation of your leadership style because at the end you will have 2 outputs that tell you what specific style of leadership you have, and the details of that leadership style will be clear. Consider what is similar or different about the 2 outputs - what does this tell you about your preferred leadership style? Which style, out of the 2 you have chosen, particularly resonates with you or seems most appropriate? Choose 1 leadership style to work with, as this will make your life easier when you look at the rest of the assignment. If you have chosen trait, behaviour or competencies these will underpin the other leadership style. Please make sure you use a valid questionnaire to use or the results may not be accurate.
3. Critically evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of this preferred leadership style - Why is it good to have this particular leadership style? What can you do well in this style? What knowledge/skills/tasks might you not be so good at with this style? What impact would this have on your approach to leadership (e.g. Are you not effective at addressing conflict? Are you too nice/sympathetic to staff? Do you prefer to work on your own? Are you so task driven that you forget about 2 understanding/rewarding other staff?) Make reference to evaluations you have read about as well as your own evaluation.
4. Critically discuss in what situations this style might be the most effective and why - think about actual workplace situations in which this style might work particularly well, use those as examples and explain why your style would work well in those situations. So, for example, would you be good at leading project teams at work because you are a good team player and make everyone feel like they are involved, appreciated and can contribute to the team? Are you a visionary/charismatic leader who would be good in entrepreneurial organisations because you have ability to stand out and encourage others to follow your lead? Are you a change agent who is good at transforming organisations through change processes, with clear listening skills, networking skills and ability to work across boundaries to engage lots of different types of staff to get on board with the change? What should we write about for Part 1? - the theories or the questionnaires or both? Should I evaluate the theories for this part 1 assignment? It is your leadership style that needs to be evaluated. It is not an academic essay focusing purely on comparing and contrasting the theoretical models. Through the evaluation of your leadership style, the marker will be able to establish if you have understood the theoretical aspects of the leadership style and can apply them to your own leadership practice.
What does Part 2 really ask us to do?
You have been recruited as a management consultant to analyse the current situation regarding leadership in a dynamic internet business called GeoAnalysis Ltd. The CEO needs better ways of leading this business and wants you to make recommendations. Read through the case study and identify the various leadership issues with the Board members. Critically analyse the issues you have identified, making reference to academic models and research. Clearly state your recommendations for resolving these issues.
1. Read the case study through several times and keep taking notes about what stands out to you.
2. Identify what the leadership issues are.
3. Think about what theories/leadership approaches/leadership skills these issues relate to - this is where you begin to link theory with practice in the case study.
4. Consider what this means - what impact will these issues have on the company and the other board members?
5. Clearly state your recommendations for resolving the issues you identified. As you are providing recommendations, you do not need a summary.
What does Part 3 really ask us to do?
Given your own leadership style identified in Part 1 of this assignment, if you were brought in to lead the team described in the case study (Part 2 of the assignment) how would you adapt your leadership style and why?
1. Go back to part 1 of the assignment and take time to review what you wrote at that point and what your leadership style is.
2. Summarise this preferred leadership style at the start of your answer here (you can cross reference back to part 1, so please do not just repeat everything as you will use up your short word count in a repetitive way).
3. State clearly how you, in the context of your leadership style, would lead this team.
4. Identify how you might need to adapt or change your leadership style to lead this team. There may be instances where you would state that you would find it very challenging with your current leadership style and therefore would need to adapt or learn new skills to address the leadership of the team. Be open about this - no leaders are perfect or immune to learning or development.