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Psychology of Leadership – Assignment Guidance
One document to be uploaded via Turnitin
Element 1:
Learning Outcomes 1-2
A written document discussing the plausibility of theoretical models pertaining to the psychology of leadership when applied to a current leadership challenge in the workplace.
Students can attempt this assignment in the following ways:
Either: Take an existing leadership theory, for example
a) Authentic leadership
b) Transactional leadership
c) Transformational leadership
d) Identity leadership
and explore the psychological theories and models that underpin the selected leadership theory. You will need to explain the leadership theory, its relevance in your professional setting prior to critically examining the psychological theories that underpin in.
Or: Take an existing psychological model/set of theories, for example
a) Positive psychology
b) Emotional intelligence
c) Social Influence
and explore how this particular theory or set of theories underpin contemporary leadership theories.
Notional word count c.3500
Element 2:
Learning outcomes 3-4
A personal further reading plan for CPD in the field of leadership psychologies, with rationale. And a personal action plan demonstrating how they will apply relevant psychological approaches to leadership in their future leadership practice.
In order to better understand the interplay between psychology and leadership, you are to put together a CPD plan identifying your own areas for personal development, articulating clearly and concisely exactly your rationale for needing to develop your understanding in this area.
Please note: rationales such as “to make me a better leader” are not acceptable.
Notional word count c.1500
Introduction:
The psychology of leadership is a vast field that includes various theoretical models and concepts that help to understand the behavior, motivation, and decision-making of leaders in different settings. The aim of this assignment is to discuss the plausibility of theoretical models pertaining to the psychology of leadership when applied to a current leadership challenge in the workplace. The first element of this assignment requires us to explore an existing leadership theory or psychological model/set of theories and its relevance in a professional setting. The second element requires the creation of a personal further reading plan for CPD in the field of leadership psychologies, along with a personal action plan demonstrating how relevant psychological approaches will be applied to leadership in future leadership practice.
Element 1:
The psychology of leadership is a complex subject, and many theoretical models and concepts are available that help us understand leadership behavior. One of the popular leadership theories is transformational leadership. Transformational leadership is a leadership style where leaders inspire and motivate their followers to achieve their goals and work towards a common purpose. The theory is based on four components, namely individualized consideration, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, and idealized influence. According to this theory, leaders who exhibit these components can effectively transform their followers to become better individuals and work towards achieving organizational goals.
The psychological theories that underpin transformational leadership include self-determination theory, social cognitive theory, and social identity theory. Self-determination theory explains the intrinsic motivation of followers, while social cognitive theory explains how leaders can influence the behavior and attitudes of followers through observational learning. Social identity theory explains how followers identify with their leader’s characteristics and values, leading to a sense of belongingness and commitment towards the organization.
In my professional setting as a manager in a technology company, transformational leadership is highly relevant. As a leader, my aim is to inspire and motivate my team to develop innovative solutions that meet our customers’ needs while maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency. I can apply the principles of transformational leadership by providing individualized consideration to my team members, encouraging intellectual stimulation through training and development opportunities, setting inspirational goals, and being a role model for my team by exhibiting idealized influence.
Element 2:
The psychology of leadership is a constantly evolving field, and as a leader, it is essential to keep up with the latest developments and research. To enhance my understanding of leadership psychologies, I plan to undertake the following personal further reading plan:
Reading books on leadership psychology: I will read books by renowned authors such as Daniel Goleman, Simon Sinek, and John C. Maxwell, to gain insights into the latest leadership theories and concepts.
Attending leadership seminars: I plan to attend leadership seminars and workshops to learn from experts in the field and network with other professionals.
Participating in online courses: I will enroll in online courses that focus on leadership psychology, such as those offered by Coursera and edX, to learn at my own pace and gain knowledge from experts worldwide.
Collaborating with other leaders: I plan to collaborate with other leaders in my organization to gain insights into their leadership styles and approaches, which will broaden my understanding of leadership psychology.
The rationale for my personal further reading plan is to gain a deeper understanding of the psychology of leadership and how it can be applied to my professional setting. This understanding will help me become a more effective leader, inspire and motivate my team, and achieve organizational goals.
In terms of a personal action plan demonstrating how I will apply relevant psychological approaches to leadership in my future leadership practice, I plan to:
Focus on individualized consideration: I will understand the unique needs and aspirations of each team member and tailor my leadership style to meet their needs.
Encourage intellectual stimulation: I will provide my team members with opportunities to develop their skills and
