When I first considered applying for the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership & Research
Programme, I had only a vague idea of what I thought constituted good leadership, or what
qualities I might seek to exemplify as a leader. Now, over a year and a half later, reflecting on
my leadership development has become almost second nature. Through personal
development plans, essay writing, feedback from supervisors and peer-to-peer conversations,
I have had the opportunity to learn about my own leadership style and skills on a regular
basis.
Surprisingly, having experienced an immersive and comprehensive leadership programme
over the past year, I have come out with so much more that I would like to delve into moving
forward, than I would have previously thought. I have discovered new perspectives on
leadership development, beyond the cliché archetypes that are so frequently discussed. This
has allowed me to challenge my own beliefs, discover new ways of thinking and develop
valuable and versatile skills.
One of the most important messages that I have taken from my time with the Laidlaw
programme, is that leadership development is a continual process and good leadership
emerges not only from innate qualities but from critical self-reflection, awareness and
integrity. Many leadership concepts that we have gleaned over the past 18 months are not
necessarily ‘new’ and may even seem simple at first. But if this were the case, why do we not
see these qualities put into practise more frequently? Good leadership can take many different
forms and there is no one correct way to lead; good leadership does not have a formula or set
of instructions to follow. However, a quality which I think is universal among good leaders is
self-awareness, an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. This forms the basis for
integrity and credibility.
The importance of self-reflection is relevant not only from a leadership perspective but also
with regard to personal ethics. Many leaders who we would deem to be unethical are not
necessarily ‘bad people’ – this was something we discussed during London Business
School’s masterclass with Daniel Effron, where he spoke about the psychology of unethical
behaviour and the various factors at play in situations where our personal ethics may be
compromised. This reminded me that we all have ‘ethical blind spots’ which allow us to
violate our values without realising it and in order to become effective and ethical leaders, we
need to have the ability to critically reflect.
Through continued reflection on different leadership styles and methods, I have come to the
understanding that good leadership does not generally fall entirely into one category i.e.
authoritative, affiliative or coaching. Each style has its benefits and drawbacks, and there is a
skill in knowing when to take a different approach. Good leadership requires us to exercise
judgement, situational awareness and adaptability. This complexity highlights the importance
of continual reflection and personal development. Having actively observed many different
leadership styles over the course of my Laidlaw programme experience, I have come to the
conclusion that these different approaches share many common values which are necessary
for effective and ethical leadership.
My experience of leadership in research and subsequently leadership in action, has made an
invaluable contribution to my personal development. This has been compounded by the
insightful and engaging leadership activities that the Laidlaw programme has provided me
with over the past 18 months. From public speaking to conflict resolution, the variety and
depth of the workshops provided by the Laidlaw programme is truly impressive, and has had
a considerable impact on my understanding of leadership, ethics and personal development.
Having reflected upon my original Personal Development Plan, which I constructed in June
2021, it is remarkable to see the different ways in which my perspectives and views have
changed. The experience of carrying out independent research, publishing a paper, and
engaging in public speaking assignments and community work, has been transformative and
something which I will carry forward in my career and personal life.
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