INITIAL LEADERSHIP

REFLECTION AND
EXPECTATION

Subject:LB5241 Leadership Futures

Name : Varun Parayil Anil
Student ID:14466554
Subject: LB5241 Leadership Futures
Name: Varun Parayil Anil
Student ID: 14466554

Part 1A: Initial Leadership Reflection and Expectation

1. Discuss your current understanding about what leadership is.

In my understanding, leadership is about influencing people to follow. Anyone who can

influence people to follow them has exemplified aspects of leadership qualities.
The influence of leadership can be observed in different spheres, such as business,
politics, religion, sports, social & community-based organisations, etc. I believe that a
leader plays a pivotal role in the success and direction of an entity. A strong leader is
undoubtedly critical for the survivability of an organisation. Those in the reigns of
leadership positions must make sound and sometimes hard decisions for the success of
the firm.

Traits of a good leader

In my opinion, the best leaders would have some of following attributes: -

Visionaries:

Leaders should be able to foresee and create a vision for the team’s/organisation’s
future. This vision should provide direction, make priorities clear, and set benchmarks
for its success. Leaders should foresee their vision while understanding the reality of
the present. They will then embody their vision in everything they do and transcend it
into their employee’s and the organisation’s performance to make it a reality.

Navigate through Crisis and Changes:

Leaders need to adapt to varying organisational and environmental changes for the
successful implementation of the organisation’s vision. The mindset, tactics, and
approaches of a leader are highly crucial for a company’s sustenance while it navigates
through different crisis points. Leaders should also be able to guide their teams with the
right tools and guidance to navigate changes and crises successfully.

Team Player:

I believe good leaders will be good team players. The leader’s ability to motivate,
connect and collaborate with people helps them to deliver on that vision. Leaders
understand and respect the people in their team as individuals and know how to bring
out the best in them as they work together.

A good leader strive to pay close attention to how people should feel about their work
and what motivates them personally and hence make a proactive effort for better team
engagement.

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 Other characteristics that are crucial for an excellent leader to possess are good
communication skills, the ability to think and operate strategically, integrity, honesty,
high emotional intelligence, and the resilience to overcome setbacks.
The type of leadership approach and the skillsets needed will also depend on the type
of organisation, its aspirations, its work environment, and the relationship between the
leader and his/her team members etc.

2. What do you hope to learn/achieve from this subject?

I intend to learn how to be a better leader by inculcating the ethos of leadership.

Some of the aspects of leadership that I aspire to understand, and master are: -

• Understand the most relevant types of leadership approaches that are effective in the
current business environments. By having a good awareness of the different leadership
models, I hope to build a mindset where I can identify and execute the best approaches
for various business and team needs.

• I also hope to understand how an effective leader can steer through changes within a
project or organisation. Change is inevitable, but there is always a lot of resistance to
change. I want to learn, as a leader, how I can embrace changes and lead my team
through this transitionary phase.

• Teams are comprised of people from various technical and non-technical backgrounds.
Because of the diverse nature of the people within a team, it is very likely that conflicts
may arise. I would strive to learn how, as a leader, I can mediate and resolve conflicts
and maintain a harmonious and collaborative team environment.

• Organisations and teams can go through various crisis points because of adverse
internal or external events. Managing a crisis is a complex process that requires a good
combination of technical, analytical & problem-solving skills. I believe steering
through a crisis is one of the most challenging, and one of the most critical attributes a
good leader should possess. I certainly hope to grasp the critical concepts of effective
crisis management from this learning module.

• Being a leader involves being in constant communication with various stakeholders

associated with the organisation. I believe effective communication skills are key to
excel in such a role. These skills can also enable us to motivate and inspire the team
and create a very positive and effective team environment.

The aspects mentioned above, like Leadership models, conflict management, change
management, crisis management and communication skills, are some of the primary skills I am
hoping to have a grasp on during the length of this course.

3. How do you hope to learn/achieve it?

I believe real leaders are molded through experiences and circumstances. I intend to
participate in constructive programs, workshops and group activities and take initiatives

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to engage and demonstrate leadership qualities through these avenues. I would also
keenly observe my fellow teammates and try to assimilate the positives of their
leadership techniques.

In addition, I will make it a point to read books based on autobiographies and

biographies of famous entrepreneurs and leaders who have succeeded in their life, like
the Late Mr. Steve Jobs, Former President Mr. Barak Obama, and Mr. Bill Gates.

Moreover, I look forward to taking up roles in real-life situations by participating in

local voluntary services, which would motivate me to be a better leader with the right
organisational qualities being engrained in me.

As I progress through this learning module and engage in the activities mentioned
above, I will self-assess my knowledge and constantly evaluate my leadership qualities
to ensure I feel a sense of confidence in the prospect of being an effective leader.

Finally, I believe in finding the right mentor. I am very grateful that I have had the
opportunity to be at James Cook University, a haven of learning and be a muse of Mr.
Boon Lim. I look forward to learning from him based on his vast array of knowledge
and experience accumulated throughout the years.