You are on page 1of 6

Deidre Bradley: Final Assignment

Theoretical Foundations in Leadership


Dr. Brent Goertzen
December 8, 2014

Part 01: Current Understanding of Leadership


After looking over my initial CMap of Leadership, my thoughts have not
changed. At one end of the spectrum is leader or leadership and at the
other end is the most important piece of the pie and that is people.

I still believe that leaders who connect with others are true leaders and they
the respect of those they lead. It is imperative that they embody credibility
and integrity. Without these two standards to live by, it is very difficult to
maintain any sense of respectability for the office of leader. I still believe
that all the traits that I put in the initial map are essential for any leader.

Part 02: How has Your Understanding of Leadership Changed?


While the map concept did not change for me on leadership, some of the
elements changed in the context of leadership. There have been a few
things that have changed my understanding on leadership.

I have a different view of a servant leader after this class. Now, I see that
concept as more of caring about others rather than doing for others. Before
this class I linked it more with servitude. Now I view it as being genuinely
interested in helping people and not always with tasks.

Also, I found the followership theories very interesting and this was a new
concept to me altogether. Of course, I have learned through the years that
you have to treat people with respect and fairness. However, I did not
understand the concept of how followers affect their leaders. Now that I am
aware of this, I see how followers can have a major impact on their leaders
and many times it is not in a good way. The theory of followership was
probably the most profound to me.

Finally, the last module about neuroscience blew me away. I was talking with
my seven year old daughter about how we need to let our brain rest. I
explained that doctors now how science to show that many times we are
creative and solve problems when we are not thinking about them.

That same week she wanted to play on her iPad while traveling to see my
parents. I explained that she needed to just look out the window and let her
mind think about nothing. Later that evening, I overheard her tell my mother
that, the doctor says you can solve problems if you just look out the window
and rest your head.

For a long time I have thought that leaders had to be creative and always
thinking about that next big thing. I admit there have been times when I
thought I was not a good leader because I was not creating all the time. The
video was a nice reminder that creative people really do not know how they
create. I was happy to learn that rest and relaxation are very important
pieces to the puzzle. I always feel much better after a week off so it must be
true!

Part 03: Personal Leadership Development Plan

I believe that the leadership strength is working well with others and
connecting with people. Leadership Development, primarily for those who
are moving from a non-managerial position into a supervisory role is one
area that I believe I am most effective. I believe this primarily because that
is how I came up through the ranks. It is with my experience of going
through that period in my professional development that helps me connect
with people. Also, I believe that people can do anything they want. They
truly need a cheerleader, someone who can make them believe in
themselves. Again, through my own experience am I able to relate to those
thirty-somethings who pursue further education. I share those experiences
and am transparent so that people understand I messed up along the way.

A weakness of mine is overreacting or acting too quickly on a situation.


Many times I do not truly listen to someone who has a differing opinion than
my own. I am working on this and this class has helped me in that area.
However, I want to really work on that so I can be an effective listener.

With that, my goals are:

1. Become an effective listener and truly listen to understand.


a. Will work with a coach to help me in this area over the next year
b. Participate in a 360 evaluation so that I learn and develop
through the eyes of my peers and subordinates in the next year

c. Continue my studies in the graduate program to further


understand why I overreact or react too quickly and do not listen
fully to understand.
2. Work on body language
a. Work with mentor at work to tell me when facial expressions may
become a distraction or are projecting feelings that are not in
keeping with the words I use
b. Be conscientious of my facial expressions and work to develop an
expression that makes me approachable even when I am upset

3. Work-Life Balance
a. Develop better time management skills and learn to say no to
commitments that do not benefit me, my work, my family
(without becoming totally selfish!!!!)
b. Plan to leave the office four out of five days over the next six
weeks to establish a pattern
c. Plan to stop checking phone for email/voice messages after 6pm
each evening and not at all on the weekends
d. Module 15s video gave me a whole new perspective on rest and
being creative. For a long time I have felt that I need to be
creative to be a leader. I plan to take more time off throughout
the year to recharge.

4. Exercise and Diet


a. If I develop #3, I should be able to devote time to exercise and a
better diet
i. Exercise: walk two times a week for 30 minutes for the
next 6 weeks

ii. Getting home earlier will ensure that I eat with my family
and have a better meal as opposed to eating on the go

5. Give back to my community


a. In the next year I would like to head up Operation Christmas
Child at my church
b. Work with our local homeless shelter by providing interviewing
skills workshops and potentially help them be placed in a job.
Plan to do this by February 2015

You might also like