5 1 Reflection Blog: Two-Way Street Name OBLD 511 Organizational Leadership School

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Reflection Blog: Two-Way Street

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OBLD 511 Organizational Leadership

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Two-Way Street Reflection Blog

Influence is a two-way street where both parties participate in their respective obligations to accomplish the desired outcome. Achieving the above goal requires people to understand the meaning of influence. For this discussion, influence is a verb to describe the idea of openly or indirectly affecting change. I have been privileged to work with and influence a leader with my actions and attitude in every aspect of life

I influenced my leader with my personality. Northouse (2018) depicts how leadership can be defined and conceptualized using a personality perspective. In this case, a person’s traits, character, and attributes can be used to determine their leadership style (Northouse, 2018). My previous project manager was one leader I have worked for and influenced. I worked with the leader on several occasions, including a corporate social responsibility project that targeted environmental sustainability. I noticed the leader was impressed by my work ethic, considering that the project was voluntary and unpaid. For example, the leader noted that my approach to the work humbled him compared to other team members. I arrived to work promptly and handled every responsibility like any other paying job. I involve people in decision-making rather than enforcing the authoritative leadership style. Overall, my boss was impressed with my personality and choice of leadership style because it reflected the expected outcome and the mood at work.

Another way that I influenced the leader involved balancing autonomy and authority. I was assigned the team leader role and reported to the project manager. According to Indeed Editorial Team (2021), good leaders inspire and instill confidence in their members to gain more respect from the team. I implemented this knowledge when coordinating the team of volunteers who chose to work with me.

Additionally., I noticed how motivated the team was whenever I instilled confidence in them, such as by reinforcing how I valued and trusted the quality of their work. I received the same treatment from my boss, who believed in the quality of my work. For this reason, my boss gave me the autonomy to plan the duties assigned to my role. Therefore, I learned the importance of reliability, credibility, respect, and trustworthiness when working with a leader. Such attitudes inspire leaders to believe in their team, allowing them autonomy to make decisions where needed.

Teamwork played a significant role in building the relationship between my boss and I. Leaders convey their vision to their followers in a way they understand (Winston & Patterson, 2006). In this case, my boss was intentional and precise when giving instructions. Eventually, I was able to progress effectively with all the responsibilities assigned. Later, I involved my boss in my work progress since one of my responsibilities was to report to him in different phases of the project.

Trust and respect also played a role in building our relationship. Blanchard and Conley (2022) established that a leader’s honesty promotes trust between the leader and a follower. In this case, I trusted my boss’s vision for the project, and he did the same with my work. Equally, we respected each other’s strengths and weaknesses. These principles helped us work amicably and influence each other to become better versions of ourselves.

Finally, my relationship with my leader impacted my network, net worth, and professional development. For instance, this leader would agree without hesitation whenever I needed references for job applications. Additionally, I discovered that he wrote a positive recommendation about my work ethic and leadership on my LinkedIn profile. These contributions have helped me secure an internship and improve my professional development over time. Therefore, I appreciate the relationship I have with this leader to date.

References

Blanchard, K. & Conley, R. (2022). Simple truths of leadership: 52 ways to be a servant leader and build trust. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Indeed Editorial Team. (2021, November 4). 19 Tips to be an influential leader for your team. Indeed. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/influencing-leaders

Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and practice 8thed. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publishing.

Winston, E. B. & Patterson, K. (2006). An integrative definition of leadership. International Journal of Leadership Studies, 1(2), 6-66.