Identify a person who you consider to be a successful or effective leader. This could be someone you work with or for (for example: business, professional, sport, volunteer work, religious organisationsetc) or anyone who through some association you judge to be a good leader.
Describe in detail what you observe this person doing in their leadership role; what you perceive this person's leadership styles, behaviours, traits, skills and his/her use of power and influence tactics that make him/her an effective leader. You must be able to apply theories/concepts/models in the course to support your observation.
As simple observation will not capture the complex leadership developed by effective leaders, interview the leader. Ask your chosen leader to describe his/her leadership style, behaviours, traits, skills and his/her use of power and influence tactics and see if you can confirm with your observation of what you perceived earlier.
Using the ideas and knowledge you have gained from the course to guide you but keeping it open ended, ask them what they think are the characteristics of a good and effective leader. Encourage them to be specific - a good way to do this is to ask, after their initial responses, that they give examples or stories that illustrate when they felt they displayed good and effective leadership. Then try and get them to focus on the skills, traits, styles, behaviours that enabled them to be an effective leader. Also what they think it takes to lead successfully based on their experience and what not to do.
• What do you learn about the complexities of leadership (comparing between what theory says and what you found i.e. do your findings support the theories in the course?)
• Given what you have found, how might your own leadership practice be improved as a result of undertaking this assessment?
• How has this piece of research helped you gain a better understanding of what it takes to lead well?