Leadership development refers to any activity that enhances the capability of an individual to assume leadership roles and responsibilities. This course was designed to help the participants identify their true potential and implement the qualities to become a great leader. It also gave them clarity and made them move forward to lead the team.
The course provided basic exposure to understand strengths and embrace weaknesses using self-assessment tools and define what differentiates you from the other individuals around you. It also highlighted the difference between leader and leadership mentioning the key components of leadership.
The course also provided insights to build trust and respect-based relationships inside or outside of your organization, clarify your vision for the future and understand ways to keep you and your team both inspired and motivated. Leadership is incomplete without effective communication skills, so the course also taught participants the tools of effective communication to improve their communication skills and transform their body language to gain confidence.
The course was facilitated by Ms. Pooja Dangol, Corporate Trainer. The session began with the general introduction of the facilitator. Then all the participants were asked to introduce themselves. The participants were asked to write what leadership means to them. Everyone shared their own perspective.
Leadership and Leadership Development
Ms. Dangol introduced the major difference between leadership and leadership development. She explained leadership as the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving common goals. Leadership roles are time and task-specific, focus on individual and building talents. It develops leadership skills in an individual person. Likewise, Leadership development focuses on building networked relationships among individuals in an organization, which is a continuous process, focuses on collective roles, and finally builds organizational capabilities.
Leadership= Trust + Respect
Ms. Dangol said, leadership is based on effective communication, mutual respect, and trust. Leaders that are consistent, high valued, honorable, fair, and respectable are likely to engage in voluntary cooperation and efforts that will ensure optimum performance and achievement of objectives. She also said that leadership is the product of Trust and Respect.
LEADERSHIP- RESPECT
A leader needs to have a respectful nature, demonstrating their skills so people get inspired, as respect is based on knowledge and skill. A leader needs to hear from other people, respect others’ opinions, and take the suggestions positively. Respect in Leadership is based on the use of appropriate leadership styles. She introduced the two leadership styles. They are Directive Leadership Style & Participative Leadership Styles. Directive Leadership Styles is when a leader makes his/her own decisions without consulting with others and Participative Leadership Styles denotes that leadership style when a leader asks for inputs from others before making any decisions. The most effective leaders use Participative Leadership Styles. A leader needs to have a good decision-making ability to gain the trust of people.
LEADERSHIP- TRUST
Trust is based on concern for people’s needs and feelings. Trust can be developed in leadership by showing care to the people, which encourages people to be honest with leaders, and build a strong relationship. The participant then shared their leadership experience.
Ms. Dangol conducted activity of Self-Assessment, where all the participants enthusiastically participated. They circled items that will make them a good leader in that activity. The most interesting part of the activity was a DOPE TEST.
Likewise, for the final day, there was a reflection of all the learning of the session and there were two interesting and engaging activities. Participants were divided into two groups and were sent to two Breakout rooms. For the first activity, Group A did the role of writing an email about launching the product in the market and Group B enlisted the advantages and disadvantages of written communication. Likewise, for the second activity, Group A enlisted advantages and disadvantages of Oral communication and Group B did role play by assigning CEO, Manager, and holding meetings. It was very engaging.
Then, the participants were provided with ideas on Written and Face to Face Communication, also about their advantages and disadvantages. She also explained the ways to polish yourself.
The three days of leadership development course ended with good feedback from participants. Everybody individual participants got an opportunity to develop the basic ideas on leadership skills and its importance in life.