How would you describe your experience in participating in this
course? How has your experience shaped your intention of
how to participate in future MBA courses?
My experience participating in this course has been like
that of other SNHU online courses. Though this course is
the beginning of the MBA curriculum, I have taken a few
classes a few years ago. What this course offered
differently than I remember are the resources. I do not
recall having digital resources listed or available for every
module and there was not any additional certification
offered with the course material. What was most
surprising about this course is that it was strictly focused
on interpersonal leadership and not management. Though
this was a welcomed distinction in the course, it did make
the course more difficult for me.
What were some of the challenges you faced in this course, and
how did these challenges help you prepare for challenges in
today's VUCA world of work? How do you think future courses
will help you deepen your ability to work in the VUCA world?
During this course, I experienced two large events. First, I
got covid which was unexpected. Two days after being
discharged from the hospital with Covid, and two weeks
sooner than planned, I delivered my third child.
Experiencing these events while in the middle of a class
was tough. In this specific class, we are learning that
today's workforce requires managers to have empathy
and understanding for the circumstances of their
employees. This lesson allowed me to have compassion
for myself and push through and not quit the course. This
is a lesson that I will take with me in the future.
Sometimes, inconvenient circumstances stack themselves
upon an individual, but as long as that individual is willing
to try to push through them, the opportunity should be
there. This time, it meant not giving up on myself, next
time it'll mean working through difficulty with an
employee.
The fourth industrial revolution has introduced early advances
on the internet of things; artificial intelligence (AI); and the
production of smart equipment that can analyze, diagnose, and
fix issues without the need for human intervention. How do
these complex technological developments challenge leaders to
adapt their leadership styles and behavior?
Because of the advancements of technology human
beings are faced with excelling at the aspects of humanity
that cannot be automated or genuinely duplicated by
artificial intelligence. This means that we will be utilized
less for the doing of things and more for the feelings of
things. Artificial intelligence is challenging human beings
with being better humans to each other in many ways
across a number of forums and leadership is no different.
Currently, AI customer service reps aren't perfectly
equipped to handle nuance and regional slang or sarcasm
but eventually, that will change. When it does, human
leaders will be responsible for taking action when they
feel the shift in motivation or enthusiasm.
Considering those challenges, what do you want to learn to
help prepare you to lead more effectively? How will your future
work in this program benefit you and the people you lead?
To be an effective leader, this course has taught me that I
need to improve my ability to inspire others to work for a
shared vision. I want to learn how to motivate teams
confidently. Learning these things will help me to be
pulled more often to lead the people mission and not just
the technical or operational mission. As I learn more about
people management and work through this program, I feel
I will learn the techniques needed to better display my
preparedness for the roles that I'd like to have. For my
business, this course will allow me to fill in my blind spots
with team members that display the characteristics that
are missing from my leadership and/or leadership team.
