Assignment 4: Reflective Journal

Part A:

This self-reflection path has made me more conscious of how my actions impact not
just my own development but also the lives of those around me. As a future leader, I've
come to understand that the atmosphere I foster for other people is shaped by my
actions, choices, and relationships. Writing in my journal has served as a mirror for me,
enabling me to examine my decisions, responses, and capacity for leadership. I now
have a better understanding of the value of empathy, accountability, and the
consequences of my actions for both myself and the people I aspire to lead thanks to
this practice. It's a continuous process that has helped me understand the areas in
which I still need to improve as a leader.

Furthermore, this trip has had a big impact on how I identify with myself. I now have a
better understanding of my characteristics, especially my introversion, and how it can
occasionally get in the way of my leadership. I can now understand how my tendency to
retreat into quiet thought and my resistance to taking on forceful leadership roles can
be obstacles in my way. But this newfound understanding is liberating since it enables
me to identify these patterns and deliberately strive towards harmonising my innate
tendencies with the leadership traits I want to develop. The more I comprehend the
reasons behind my actions, the more prepared I am to change into a leader who can
uplift and encourage people while remaining loyal to who I am.

Keeping a journal has been essential to helping me better understand my behaviour

under diLerent conditions. I've been able to detect trends in my behaviour and pinpoint
opportunities for improvement by routinely keeping track of my everyday actions and
reactions. My awareness of how I interact with my environment has increased as a
result of this exercise, and I can now understand how my emotions and thinking aLect
the choices I make. This has helped me become more clear about when I need to
adjust, maintain composure under duress, or take on a more supporting position, all of
which are crucial to my growth as a servant leader. Together with the knowledge I gained
during the course, this self-reflection has given me the ability to lead more eLectively by
being more deliberate and measured in my replies.

I've developed a lot as a leader over the course of the semester by gaining self-
assurance and adopting a genuine leadership approach that prioritises adaptation and
servant leadership. I've discovered that it's important to put others' needs first, foster
teamwork, and modify my strategy while handling power or influence. One of the most
useful skills I've learnt is to not take things personally. This has allowed me to remain
impartial, make more informed decisions, and remain resilient under duress. This
increased sense of confidence and emotional self-control has improved my capacity to
lead well and handle diLicult situations with calmness and clarity.
My tendency to please people has frequently held me back and stunted my
development as a leader by causing me to become unduly preoccupied with what other
people think of me. I've occasionally been prevented from making the diLicult choices
required for eLective leadership by my fear of being judged negatively. But I've come to
understand that being genuine and upholding my morals will help me advance in both
my personal and professional endeavours. I see room for improvement in the future
from putting resilience into practice, taking criticism in stride, and never stopping
improving as a leader. Even though developing into a strong leader takes constant work,
I'm determined to embrace the process because I know that every step including the
mistakes I make will make me a better leader.

Part B:

Upon rereading my initial assignment, I saw that I had, and still do, draw attention to the
ethical leadership of figures such as Ratan Tata. His strategy is in line with the ethical
leadership paradigm, which places a strong emphasis on moral rectitude and
judgement based on values. Tata's dedication to moral behaviour has not only
increased trust but also maintained his leadership over a number of decades,
supporting the notion that moral behaviour may result in long-term success.

“The Chairman-Emeritus of Tata Sons fought many a battle, both inside for the control
of the group and outside from the competition, but emerged unscathed as a
magnanimous industrialist and a philanthropist with a heart of gold.”1

Apart from his moral position, Tata is a prime example of visionary leadership, which is
centred on motivating and steering groups towards an imagined future. His capacity to
put long-term, sustainable goals like entering international markets and advancing
social welfare ahead of short-term earnings demonstrates how visionary leaders can
successfully adjust to change and leave lasting legacies.

“servant leadership is an infinite loop of positive influence that develops strong leaders
by serving the needs of others first”2

Tata constantly puts the welfare of his team members, stakeholders, and communities
first, the servant leadership idea may also be used to explain his management style. His
leadership success has been characterised by his emphasis on social responsibility,
employee empowerment, and creating value for all stakeholders. He has been able to

1
Team, 5paisa Research. (n.d.). Ratan Tata: All you want to know about the visionary leader. 5paisa.
https://www.5paisa.com/blog/ratan-tata-all-you-want-to-know-about-the-visionary-leader

2
Ruggeri, C. (2023, August 4). Building stronger communities: The role of servant leadership in the
modern world. Leaders.com. https://leaders.com/articles/leadership/servant-leadership/
flourish as a leader for decades by combining visionary, servant, and ethical leadership
styles, which have influenced not only his businesses but also society at large.

My own style of leadership is diLerent from Ratan Tata's in a number of ways, especially
considering how I currently battle being assertive and having people-pleasing
tendencies. Though I frequently pause because I worry about how other people will see
me, Tata is a prime example of visionary and moral leadership. She courageously makes
decisions that are in line with long-term objectives and moral integrity. This distinction
restricts my capacity to respond decisively and maintain my composure under
pressure. Tata demonstrates how great leadership involves both empathy and boldness;
qualities I am still working on by striking a balance between ethics and a compelling
vision while keeping an eye on the bigger picture. This distinction has a big impact;
whereas his leadership fosters development and change, occasionally my hesitancy
keeps me from taking chances or making the diLicult choices that could

There are four essential steps that leaders need to take, in my opinion, in order to
successfully lead teams and organisations. In order to establish credibility and trust
within the organisation, a leader must first operate with integrity and ethics in
accordance with ethical leadership theory. Secondly, they need to be visionary leaders
that inspire a clear vision and lead their people towards a shared objective while
encouraging creativity. Third, flexibility is essential, which reflects elements of
transformational leadership, a style in which leaders welcome change and inspire their
groups to change with them.

Ultimately, fostering good relationships and enabling team members to give their best
work depend on meeting the needs of others, as demonstrated by servant leadership.
Together, these steps provide a resilient, well-balanced leadership style that can
successfully handle opportunities as well as obstacles.