Write a reflective essay (1,500 words +/- 10%) on a real change situation you are currently facing or have dealt with in the past. The chosen change challenge has to be important to you and needs to involve the execution of your leadership capabilities.
The title here BH6010 Leading and Change Assignment Briefing 1 Intended Learning Outcomes By the end of this session you should be able to: Identify what an academic reflective essay is about Identify the key components of Assignment 1 – Reflective Essay Assess your own level of understanding of leadership theories Create your own reflective essay outline Identify key assessment criteria Session structure 1. Why a reflective essay? 2. Assignment briefing – clarifying tasks and requirements (Part 1) 3. Quizz – your leadership knowledge 4. Break 5. Early module review 6. Assignment briefing – clarifying tasks and requirements (Part 2) 7. Assessment criteria – demonstrating your knowledge and effort 8. Class activity – essay outline Part 1: Why a reflective essay? 4 Module learning outcomes On successful completion of the module, you should be able to: Critically discuss major leadership theories and apply these to practical situations in organisations and other settings. Recognise the importance of leadership and its potential to impact organisational outcomes, processes, relationships and morale. Identify the challenges associated with leading change in today’s complex and uncertain external environment. Evaluate what constitutes effective and responsible leadership. Appraise your own leadership style and capacity to become a successful change agent in different work and social settings. 5 Learning outcomes and your reflective essay Critically discuss major leadership theories and apply these to practical situations in organisations and other settings. Recognise the importance of leadership and its potential to impact organisational outcomes, processes, relationships and morale. Identify the challenges associated with leading change in today’s complex and uncertain external environment. Evaluate what constitutes effective and responsible leadership. Appraise your own leadership style and capacity to become a successful change agent in different work and social settings. 6 Reflective essay Leadership a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. Leadership defined Peter G. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition. © 2016 SAGE Publications, Inc. The introduction or experience of something that is different Making something different, in some particular way An opportunity to become different Difference can be small (incremental) or radical (transformational) Conceptualizing ‘change’ Some definitions view change as: Hodges, J., & Gill, R. (2015) Sustaining Change in Organizations. London: Sage. Assessment 1 (TB1) Reflective essay You will have the opportunity to use your Leading and Change knowledge to evaluate your own leadership capabilities in a change situation. 9 Academic reflective essay 10 An analytical piece of writing Description Set the scene: describe the facts that made up the experience Reflection and Analysis Evaluate the experience using leadership theory + Why is reflective practice beneficial to you “Reflective practice can enable professionals to learn from experience about: themselves; their work; the way they relate to home and work; significant others and wider society… Professionals face complex and unpredictable situations... Engaging in these critically will be reflected in the quality of their work…” (Bolton, 2014, p. 2) 11Bolton, G. (2014) Reflective Practice. London: Sage Part 2: Assignment requirements 12 Academic reflective essay - Task Write a reflective essay (1,500 words +/- 10%) on a real change situation you are currently facing or have dealt with in the past. The chosen change challenge has to be important to you and needs to involve the execution of your leadership capabilities. 13 Choosing your topic (1) Think of a challenge: at Kingston University (e.g. group assignment), in the organisation you work for (e.g. implementing a new process), in the neighbourhood you live in (e.g. creating a mentoring program for the disadvantage), in extra-curricular activities or clubs you participate in (e.g. sports team) 14 Choosing your topic (2) Think of a challenge: at Kingston University (e.g. group project; improving your career prospects), in the organisation you work for (e.g. implementing a new process), in the neighbourhood you live in (e.g. creating a mentoring program for the disadvantaged), in extra-curricular activities or clubs you participate in (e.g. sports team) 15 Ask yourself, did this situation involve influencing others to achieve a goal? Yes – good topic No – reconsider Structuring your reflective essay Your reflective essay should include 3 sections: 1. A brief introduction to the situation you wanted to change (+/-300 words) 2. A critical analysis of your own leadership capabilities in the situation (+/- 900 words) 3. A leadership development plan (+/- 300 words) 16 Part 1: Introduction (+/-300 words) Introduce the change challenge you faced. Include specific detail about the situation: What was the initial situation/problem? Where and when did it take place? What was your role? Who were the key people involved? 17 - where, when, to/with whom, how and why - Example – Introduction "In reflecting upon a time where I have not been successful with influencing a group, I immediately thought of my experience with a FME project. About half way through our spring semester, my company was in a lull as we were getting close to the Business Fair, the main event of the year. We were falling behind in ticket sales and were failing to get vendors to commit to our event…" Note: This assignment asked a different essay question and is based on someone else’s experience. It also corresponds to level 4, not level 6. Do not attempt to use same content/theories in your own essay. 18 Part 2: Analysis of your leadership capabilities (+/-900 words) (1) Focuses on the analysis of your leadership capabilities in the chosen change situation. For your analysis, it is required that you apply TWO leadership theories/topics covered in TB1 TW1-TW12. 19 Part 2: Analysis of your leadership capabilities (+/-900 words) (2) In analysing the situation critically discuss: What exactly did you want to change? Why did you consider the change necessary? What was your goal? What needed to happen in order for the change to take place? (e.g. influence others, find resources, find collaborators/supporters, etc.) Were you successful in bringing about change? If so, what leadership capabilities do you have that were valuable to making change? If not, what leadership capabilities did you lack to make the change happen? What have you learned about your leadership capabilities through this experience? 20 Part 2: Analysis of your leadership capabilities (+/-900 words) (3) In analysing the situation critically discuss: What exactly did you want to change? Why did you consider the change necessary? What was your goal? What needed to happen in order for the change to take place? (e.g. influence others, find resources, find collaborators/supporters, etc.) Were you successful in bringing about change? If so, what leadership capabilities do you have that were valuable to making change? If not, what leadership capabilities did you lack to make the change happen? What have you learned about your leadership capabilities through this experience? 21 Part 2: Analysis of your leadership capabilities (+/-800 words) (4) Were you successful in bringing about change? If so, what leadership capabilities did you demonstrate? If not, what leadership capabilities did you lack to make the change happen? 22 Part 2: Analysis of your leadership capabilities (+/-800 words) (5) You must use leadership theory to carry out your reflection. You must use literature to back up all your claims. HOW???? 23 Part 2: Analysis of your leadership capabilities (+/-900 words) (6) For example, ask yourself: Was I being conscientious, extrovert or open? Trait approach Was I successful/not successful because I exploited /didn’t use my technical/conceptual/people skills? Skills approach Did I focus on people more than on completing the task? Behavioral approach 24 Part 2: Analysis of your leadership capabilities (+/-900 words) (7) For example, ask yourself: Was my intention to serve others? Servant leadership Was I taking others’ opinions and perspectives before making a decision? Authentic leadership Emotional Intelligence What type of power was I using? Power etc., etc., etc. 25 Further recommendations: Do not only describe “what happened” or “what you did”, but critically analyse why and how you behaved or reacted in specific ways, or why the situation unfolded as it did. Focus on your own behaviour and leadership capabilities, not on those of others. Define and apply those leadership theories that are most relevant to the chosen change situation. “Applying theory” requires you to draw out links between theory or academic evidence and your own experiences. Show how theories are linked together. This will make your reflective essay more insightful. 26 Part 2: Analysis of your leadership capabilities (+/-900 words) (8) Example 1 – Analysis of leadership capabilities "First, my self-management was lacking. Self- management is defined as one‘s ability to manage internal emotions through self-control (references here). In this situation, I did not manage my emotions well, lashing out and yelling at... " Note: This assignment asked a different essay question and is based on someone else’s experience. It also corresponds to level 4, not level 6. Do not attempt to use same content/theories in your own essay. 27 Example 2 – Analysis of leadership capabilities “One of the reasons I failed at influencing people in my company was due to my lack of relational power. Relational power is a measurement of the authority an individual has or earns based on the ties he create within his own personal networks with others; whether it is with coworkers, managers, friends, or family (references here)... Since my network was weak, I had few direct contacts with whom I could voice my concerns about the company and try to influence them to get us back on track…” Note: This assignment asked a different essay question and is based on someone else’s experience. It also corresponds to level 4, not level 6. Do not attempt to use same content/theories in