Mgt 521 - Leadership and Your Career Paper

1. Leadership and Your Career Paper

2. Renita Fortson

3. MGT/521

May 2, 2016

Instructor Linda Kulka

1. Leadership and Your Career

“Be a leader not a follower!” Isn't this an age old statement that we have heard once, twice, or maybe even several times in our life. Whether it be from our teachers, parents, family members, coaches, or even our bosses at work; this slogan is definitely one we can all attest to hearing before. But how easy is it? Can one just wake up one morning and say, “Today I will be  a leader!” or is this a characteristic that you have to be born with or maybe even trained to do? When it comes to the adult working world we all must be leaders in our own right. Although we have supervisors, managers, and directors there is a sense of leadership and accountability we must all be held to in some on an individual basis.

Transformational Leadership Approach

Of all the different leadership approaches discussed in Chapter 14, I would have to say the “transformational leadership” approach would best suit my current professional work environment. Working in the commercial real estate sector is an ever changing roller coaster filled with last minute changes, spur of the moment decision making, and Plan B-C-and D back up systems. Transformational leadership looks at the bigger picture and how to get there efficiently.

You can never predict how a day is going to pan out. With a transformational leadership approach, I would be able to better manage the real estate “bigger picture” and handle its protocols. The transformational leadership mode depends on advanced levels of communication from upper-management to reach goals. Effective leadership propels a team and heightens productiveness and skillfulness by way of communication and broad perception. This manner of leadership necessitates the participation of management to attain goals. Leaders zero in on the bigger picture within a business and designate menial projects to the team to carry out various goals. 

As it relates to my current work environment, transformational leadership will be the best approach as it encompasses four (4 ) key elements: Idealized Influence, Intellectual Stimulation, Inspirational Motivation, and Individualized Consideration. (Schieltz,2012).

Transformational superiors are in role model positions and exhibit a magnetic personality that empowers others to want to be more like that particular leader. Idealized power can be declared through a transformational leader's willingness to take chances and abide by a foundational set of beliefs, convictions and moral laws in the actions he or she takes. Because of  this concept of “idealized influence” that the leader creates trust with his or her team members and they, in turn, develop confidence in their superior. In the real estate field there is management, brokers, engineers, contractors, etc that come together to make the overall project run smoothly. Everyone must be on the same side and be moving towards the common goal: to get commercial spaces leased to full capacity. No management company wants empty property sitting and not collecting any profits. Because of this it is the job of management to motivate and encourage the team as a whole to get the job done – quickly and effectively