The dominating trait is the most remarkable of the leadership competency, according to my DISK assessment results. This personality is goal-oriented, resourceful, critical of others, especially when it comes to certain standards, and authoritative in order to accomplish the desired results. As a result, the characteristics contribute considerably to effective leadership competencies while starting a small firm. The trait, in particular, promotes the development of the company's culture and vision.
In terms of vision, the dominating personality helps to the creation of an achievable, realistic, and up-to-date statement that directs the direction of the enterprise's and the sole proprietor's goals. A business structured with a good vision and competent leadership of the person in charge can enhance the process of socializing the same by employees.
Self-awareness is critical in shaping a small business since the leader can align the goals and vision of the employees towards that of the firm. The rationale is that once leaders are aware of their personality they can accommodate other employees, hence, promote a healthy working environment.
Secondly, a leader in a starting small business needs to build and socialize a strong culture of the organization to the workforce. Some of the norms of a workplace include the working hours, compensations framework, code of conduct within the work place, channels of communication, vision, mission, and values. The socialization process through the dominant personality of a competent leader can increase the level of understanding by the employees to be able to communicate effectively, motivate, and encourage them to do their work in alignment with the business goals.
Question 2
Employees are the backbone of any organization since they drive the performance and success of the entity. Even in the age of mechanization of firms, the computers still require workforce to operate them (Gabčanová, 2011). Besides, machines cannot make a decision such as adapting to market changes for a company to remain relevant and competitive. On the other hand, the workers have this ability hence the most valuable. In this regard, the there is the need for a competent leader to use their best skills or tactics to mentor both the informal and formal leaders a person hires in their businesses. Some of the most important traits\skills include surgency and adjustment.
For the formal leaders, the competent leader can mentor them through guiding them on how to make intelligent and quick decision making. The attributes arising from the surgency traits can make the individuals save on time in reaching decisions, hence quick solutions to new problems. Also, it enhances creativity in responding to various work challenges with other employees hence improving teamwork (Gabčanová, 2011). On the other hand, the informal leaders are individuals who inspire other through their knowledge, capabilities, and charismatic as part of the qualities of good leadership. The first step is to identify the people and allocate them leadership task to increase their ability to make good decisions. Another step is to assess the personalities of the informal leaders to determine the areas where they are weak and need exposure to managerial experience. Also, working closely with the leaders can help them recognize their leadership strengths and establish areas that need improvement to deliver effective leadership for the business (Gabčanová, 2011). Lastly, through encouraging the development of SMART goals in the informal and formal leaders, the individuals can be able to realize their potentials in their line of expertise or leadership. Some of the ways include motivations, performance appraisals, and capacity building through training them to gain skills and knowledge to deliver on their mandate competently.
Question 3
The path goal leadership theory fits me best since it shows that a leader with strong intellect inspires people, improves performance among team members, and achieves high output. The method requires the leader to empower employees through clear communication and leadership to produce the desired outcome. When done effectively, the results are outstanding as employees can realize high-performance levels.
In this theory, a business can achieve its goals if the individual in the managerial position is useful in decision making, able to guide and inspire other employees to work towards a particular direction. As a result, the team through the leadership can meet set objectives within the given timeframe. Also, the employees can be able to achieve their targets since through an inspirational leader they can get the motivation to increase their performance levels which in turn leads to the success of the organization. The employees will also tend to identify with the business goals and work towards achieving them. The path goal theory is compelling as it inspires effective leadership leading to timely service delivery. Lastly, customers expect an organization to deliver quality, satisfactory, and on-time products and services. Therefore, the leadership in the theory of path goal can increase the level of satisfaction and quality management since a leader who has the capability of leading a team to perform tailored services to client requirements can meet the expectations.
Question 4
The two top most challenges of leading a change include resistance by some stakeholders and a conflict of culture and strategy (Dallas, 2015). In the first problem, a leader in an organization responsible for transformation has to identify the behavior of the interested parties and influence the resisting ones to see the effectiveness of change. Besides, proper communication on the process of the need for change to the employees and stakeholders helps achieve a joint agreement for the same purpose. Additionally, getting rid of the most resistant people can assist in reducing the level of conflicts (Dallas, 2015). The second challenge involves the need for leadership to align the culture of the organization to strategy. The significance is that there will be less conflicting interests between a strategy by a leader and the norms of the firm.
Question 5
One of the skills in facilitative leadership is questioning techniques. The method is efficient to the enterprise since it is a faster way of gaining information that can enhance the process of decision making (Defining Leadership, 2017). The process increases the level of understanding on a particular issue, seeking clarity, expansion of data, or facilitating the critical thinking in a team. Therefore, the skill helps employees run meeting and projects effectively through extensive sourcing information, critical evaluation of decisions and data, as well as informed points of view to consider in the successful completion of the project. Another skill is to communicate effectively through verbal and non-verbal ways (Defining Leadership, 2017). The process enables sharing of information and good avenues to monitor the progress of a project. Also, it complements the running of meeting through useful contributions towards a topic. Lastly, clear channels of communication can make people avoid conflicts or misinterpret some of the information. Finally, the skill of building a rapport makes the employees establish credibility and make the contribution of other employees such as in a meeting to be effective (Defining Leadership, 2017).
Question 6
Based on the study of leadership skills and concepts, it is evident that a proprietor needs drawing organizational visions, mission, and culture that guides the operations of the business. There is need to make realistic objectives and encourage teamwork in working towards the same. Also, as a leader, inspiring the employees to socialize the culture of the organization and align their goals to that of the company. Lastly, through the involvement of skills such as effective communication and job satisfaction, one can encourage the flow of operations and teamwork in achieving high performance.
References
Dallas, H. (2015). Mastering the Challenges of Leading Change: Inspire the People and Succeed (pp. 6-88). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
Defining Leadership. (2017). Facilitative leadership style - an understated leadership secret?. Defining Leadership. Retrieved 6 September 2017, from http://www.defining-leadership.com/facilitative-leadership-style/
Gabčanová, I. (2011). The Employees – The Most Important Asset In The Organizations. Human Resources Management & Ergonomics, V(1), 1-12. Retrieved from https://frcatel.fri.uniza.sk/hrme/files/2011/2011_1_03.pdf
