Leadership

Abstract

This assignment is based on the characteristics and behaviors connected with successful leadership. I have chosen Arthur Reynolds who is the managing director of SOME, a leading charitable organization and provider of a wide range of social services. With his tremendous contributions and humble and altruistic nature, Reynolds has been a source of inspiration for all the employees working at SOME. I have personally been inspired by the sheer charisma, dynamism and leadership qualities that he exhibits. Over the course of time, it is really fascinating how a successful leader like Reynolds has adapted his values according to decisions that have a positive affect on the organization. Even when other employees are uncertain and skeptical about the decisions being taken by the organization, he acts like a true leader and confidently takes decisions in highly risky environments.

Leadership

Introduction

This assignment is based on the characteristics and behaviors associated with effective leadership. I have chosen Arthur Reynolds who is the managing director of SOME (So Others Might Eat), a leading charitable organization and provider of a wide range of social services. The assignment is divided into various sections that systematically conduct a critical analysis of the leadership characteristics of Arthur Reynolds. Additionally, I will reflect upon his leadership qualities of Reynolds and compare it with my own leadership strengths. This practice will help me to determine the specific areas in my personality that need improvement.

Context

As stated earlier, I am using the case of Arthur Reynolds as a leadership example. The term 'leadership' refers to the processes that a leader carries out for the purpose of impacting or persuading others to accomplish a set of predefined goals. Hence, rather than an interaction, leadership can be described as a transaction where the task of the leader is to influence the needs and tasks of the follower. The ability or power to influence others is the essence of leadership and is an essential feature of the leadership process. In this context, I am reminded of Reynolds who has been the single-most important driving force that has steered SOME to new levels of success over the years. He can be safely called the most creative business leader to have worked for the organization, also because he has introduced and implemented new and innovative approaches in charity and social services. However, a leader is also a person who foresees the events of the future and, keeping them in mind, devises innovative strategies to steer the business towards greater success. Reynolds has great creativity and vision and he has made tremendous contributions to the company.

Theoretical Framework

The primary source for the theories and ideas relevant for this assignment are those summarized by Colquitt et al. (2013) in Chapters 13 and 14. There is much that one can learn cimply by looking at the example of Reynolds. The most important lesson, perhaps, is that the example can encourage positive changes in one's approach to thinking. For example, it is imperative that a leader is practical rather than realistic while also being innovative, ...