Personal Reflection Paper
Anna Wang
MGT411-1.4.pdf
Lecture 1: Introduction to Leadership
Lecture 2: Overview of the Course
Lecture 3: Leadership vs. Management
Lecture 4: Avoiding Derailment
Lecture 4: Avoiding Derailment Objectives
• Review the four “Leadership Eras”
• Explain the five “Fatal Flaws” (AKA “Derailers”)
• Define “Exceptional Leadership”
• Complete the “Online Check” to earn points
Leadership Evolution – “Eras”
Leadership Evolution – “Era 1”
Leadership Evolution – “Era 1”
• Leadership was conceptualized as a single Great Man who put everything together and influenced others to follow along based on the strength of inherited traits, qualities, and abilities
Great man theories
• Leaders had particular traits or characteristics that distinguished them from non‐leaders and contributed to success
Trait theories
Leadership Evolution – “Era 2”
Leadership Evolution – “Era 2”
• Leaders’ behavior correlated with leadership effectiveness or ineffectiveness
Behavior theories
• Leaders can analyze their situation and tailor their behavior to improve leadership effectiveness • Known as situational theories • Emphasized that leadership cannot be understood in a vacuum separate from various elements of the group or organizational situation
Contingency theories
Leadership Evolution – “Era 3”
Leadership Evolution – “Era 3”
• Examined the influence processes between leaders and followers • Charismatic leadership ‐ Influence based on the qualities and personality of the leader
Influence theories
Leadership Evolution – “Era 4”
Leadership Evolution – “Era 4”
• Focused on how leaders and followers interact and influence one another • Transformational leadership and servant leadership are two important relational theories
Relational theories
Leadership Evolution
Era 4 Needs the “Agile Leader”
A leader who is open to learning and change and encourages the growth and development of others.
Derailment
Phenomenon wherein individuals can’t advance further because of a mismatch between job needs and their personal skills and qualities
Derailment and “Fatal Flaws”
• Failing to meet business objectives because of too much time promoting themselves and playing politics, a failure to fulfill promises, or a lack of hard work
Performance problems
• Being insensitive, manipulative, critical, and not trustworthy in relationships with peers, direct reports, customers, and others
Problems with relationships
• Not learning from feedback and mistakes to change old behaviors • Defensive, unable to handle pressure, and unable to change management style to meet new demands
Difficulty changing
Derailment and “Fatal Flaws”
• Poor management of direct reports • Inability to get work done through others • Not identifying and hiring the right people
Difficulty building and leading a team
• Inability to work effectively or collaborate outside their current function
• Failing to see big picture when moved into general management position over several functions
Too narrow management experience
Fatal Flaws really… “Fatal?”
• Derailment/ “fatal flaws” == Weaknesses
• Leadership can be Learned
Defining “Exceptional Leadership”
Guardian – Establish TRUST
Navigator – Clarify PURPOSE
Coach – Strengthen PEOPLE
Architect – Build the TEAM
Revolutionary – Lead CHANGE
“The Fundamental Five”
Defining “Exceptional Leadership”
“2 of 5 with no fatal flaws”
Defining “Exceptional Leadership”
Guardian – Establish TRUST
Navigator – Clarify PURPOSE
Coach – Strengthen PEOPLE
Architect – Build the TEAM
Revolutionary – Lead CHANGE
“The Fundamental Five”
Video
“Leadership: Weaknesses vs. Fatal Flaws”
‐ Joe Folkman President, Zenger Folkman
Online Check for Module 1
Question #1:
a. Volatile
b. Uncertain
c. Chaotic
d. Ambiguous
VUCA is an acronym used to describe today’s challenge external environment. Which of the following words are not descriptors of VUCA as it currently exists?
Question #2:
Which of the following actions are not typically done by “managers?”
a. Planning
b. Motivating
c. Organizing
d. Controlling
Question #3:
The definition of an “exceptional leader” for this class is:
“3 of 5 with no fatal flaws”
a. True b. False c. True and False
