Personal Leadership Plan

Introduction
Bus 297D has been an eye opener to me in assessing my own strengths and weaknesses in various walks of life through well-established and thoroughly-researched instruments. Even though I initially questioned the veracity and application of these instruments in practical issues, after analyzing my own traits and leadership styles through my own assessments and also through my peers’ assessments, it has now come home to me regarding the vital information these instruments provide for the improvement of one’s own developments in various walks of life. Notwithstanding the fact that some of the instruments may provide inconsistent results unlike others, I have taken each of these inconsistencies into account to find out the deeper meaning with an open mind. Prior to taking these instruments, I had always thought of myself as a perfectionist with extraordinary people-skills. Despite my initial skepticism for finding any holes in my own style through any of these instruments, I was startled when I lighted upon the fact that I too had several inconsistencies and hence needed improvement in my style.
Contrary to my opinion about me that I was very theory-Y oriented and a very dynamic adventurous leader, I was intrigued when I found that I was in fact as task oriented as I was people oriented. From these instruments -to my consternation -, I found that I was averse to taking risks and also that I loathed adventure and dynamism. The GCI instrument further corroborated the fact that I was really very process oriented, thereby implying my tilt towards hierarchy and structure. From these results, I was duly reminded of the fact that everyone’s foot is made of clay, and hence I have set about making changes to both my personality and in my leadership style. Although I know that I cannot change overnight, I am planning to change in a phased manner so that I can align myself with theory-Y orientation, empathy, and at the same time being a dynamic leader by being divergent and influential, as required in my line of field.

1. Based on this review and class activities, summarize what you have learned in the course about intercultural competence and global leadership.

This course has taught me several valuable details—both minor and major—we often fail to pay attention to while handling our colleagues and customers at work. Hailing from India, and having lived in the US for the past 12 years, I have always believed that I have become more adept in cultural aspects when it comes to building relationships with people. I feel that the basic quality a global leader should have is open-mindedness. If the leader suffers from ethnocentrism, at best, he or she can be a leader of the group. Global leadership is more complex, and handling people from various walks of life on a daily basis requires the global leader to be on his/her toes all the time.
Every moment in global leadership is precious, and hence there cannot be any loose ends when it comes to management, however short they may be. Jiving with the diverse group to successfully managing and leading the group requires plenty of intercultural competence, respect for other cultures, sharp mind, and abundance of patience and listening skills. For all these, the basic quality is the Global knowledge, after all, in today’s global environment, every business has operations or sales or design overseas!

2. What are your personal strengths in the skill areas we have studied? Use the feedback from your assessments, simulations, and peer evaluations to support your analysis.

These simulations provided me the much-needed feedback for my self-development. CPQ for instance provided me feedback that I believe that people are good in general. So, I am glad that I am an optimist in life. I also believe in mastery of the environment with a firm belief on the present. This gels with my deep-rooted belief that “time is short, and hence we need to take the bull by the horns to outwit any challenge.” I believe in constantly working on my duties like an eager-beaver, bearing out with my true nature quite accurately.
Globesmart assessment indicated me how much I have changed after I came to the country 12 years ago. I now believe in risk taking (although not to the level of my friends born here), open-mindedness, and on achievement. It needs to be noted that India is a bit particularistic and ascription based when it comes to cultural dimensions.
GCI hit the nail on the head by accurately describing me very well! From the perception side, I am non-judgmental, have a low risk tolerance(quite sadly), but very cosmopolitan. I am deeply inquisitive, perform very well in interpersonal engagements due to my open-mindedness, and am constantly aware of myself. My stress management, emotional resilience, self identity, and optimism are very high and are of a step with my very nature.

My peer evaluations have been mostly positive—analytical, thorough in my research side, open, understanding, culturally competent, etc.

Although my engineering profession gives me a bit of scope for my personality development, I somehow feel that it is also a stifler to my energy levels. I sometimes feel like a bird in a cage since I love talking to people and making friends the most! I should have become a doctor since I believe in sharing others’ problems and making others happy. Now that it is too late, I am planning for a switch to politics, and I expect my fellow team members along with our Professor to vote for meJ Please!

3. What are your personal weaknesses in these skill areas? Use the feedback from your assessments, simulations, and peer evaluations to support your analysis.

I feel that I could at times be gullible, hasty in jumping to conclusions, and too much concerned on external focus of control. This stems from the fact that people in Asia in general believe in Karma, and not a day goes by when I don’t think of that. It helps me in some respects, since it lets me with positive energy with a mantra, “Live ! Let others live!,” but at times when I need to take harsh decisions in business and work, I am often caught in the horns of a dilemma.
I am too trustworthy and of the conviction that people are mutable! I should be more practical of course. I can improve my communication skills to say the least, for good measure. When it comes to handling troubled relationship with my superiors, I could be either too passive or have a tendency to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I should be more phlegmatic and handle issues with aplomb.

4. Write a thorough action plan to improve one of your major weaknesses. What specifically will you do to develop this weakness and by when will you do it? Action plans should be specific and measurable.

I am glad to have every opportunity at my workplace to improve on my weaknesses on a daily basis. Since I handle our high volume customers on a daily basis, I am going to do a lot of homework on the cultural aspects of each of our customers so as to strike a friendship and camaraderie immediately. I will try to monitor myself whenever I get fidgety, slow down, and try to pull myself together instead of cracking up then and there.
I will also try to slow down at home, since I know that my son is going to follow me, and I try everyday to get better at least to be a good role model for my cute 3 ½ year old son.
As with the case in which a manager goes to Panama to meet a head there, I will try to select a good mentor, who is aware of the local customs and traditions, before embarking on expatriation and business trips. I am going to be more open-minded and strive to contribute to the unfortunate ones as our Professor’s friend is doing in Uganda. This incident has made an impact in me, and I—with a belief that Service to man is Service to God—am planning to visit these places during my vacation times and hope to my bit for the enrichment of mankind!

Regarding my relationships, I am going to be more open to folks I manage and will seek feedback from them regarding my managerial skills on a periodic basis. I will also be proactive in getting feedback from my manager, and will also pay attention on the career development plans of my subordinates.

5. When you find yourself in intercultural settings in the future, how are you planning to behave differently as a result of this course? In other words, what are your biggest practical take-aways about intercultural competence and global leadership?

Since I need to travel regularly, I will approach other cultures and strangers with warmth and affection. Being non-judgmental and giving time to people who need time are the main takeaways. I believe that haste makes waste! So, I will certainly try to look for gestures, cues, etc in getting the opinions while handling people from high context communication! I will also try to give in a bit rather than put my foot down in stakeholder discussions, since long term relationship is very often the key in business dealings!

In a nutshell, with a firm desire to become a global leader, I will try my best to be confident in dealing with others, build trust with others by my cheerfulness and open-mindedness, and make an impact by my intercultural competence!

Thanks very much Professor for teaching the course! I will miss the program as much as I miss my home relatives! It has been a fabulous program, and I am immensely thankful to the program for the amount of stuff I have learnt in these 2 ½ years!