LDR/535: Leading Change
Wk 4 Summative Assessment: Innovative Leadership Report
Exam Content
1.
This week, you continue your assessment of the organization you selected in Week 1 when you prepare a report on leadership styles for the leadership team. The journey to successful organizational change can be long and requires you to demonstrate your innovative leadership skills as a manager to support sustainable change. Helping your leadership team recognize that what they’ve always done will not get them where they want to go, and that means a rigorous assessment of the leadership theories and approaches to support organizational change. Assessment Deliverable
Write a 700- to 1,050-word leadership styles report, including the following:
o Restate the needed change within the organization you have been working on throughout this course, based on your Week 1 and Week 2 assessments.
o Examine the various leadership styles you explored in Week 3 in the context of the organizational culture and proposed change. Explain the styles you considered and any supporting rationale for why you considered them.
Justify which leadership style or approach you recommend to best support the organizational change by doing the following:
o Explain how this style will support sustainable organizational success.
o Explain how this style integrates the organization’s mission and vision.
o Explain how this style will increase value for stakeholders.
o Format any citations and references according to APA guidelines.
Submit your assessment.
_____________________
Leadership Styles Report for Sustainable Organizational Change
Introduction:
The purpose of this report is to assess the leadership styles that would best support the organizational change within the selected organization. Throughout this course, we have focused on identifying the needed change within the organization and understanding various leadership theories and approaches. In this report, we will examine different leadership styles, consider their relevance to the organizational culture and proposed change, and recommend the most suitable leadership style to support sustainable organizational success.
Restating the Needed Change:
Based on the previous assessments conducted in Week 1 and Week 2, the identified need for change within the organization is to shift towards a more customer-centric approach. The organization has recognized the need to adapt to changing customer expectations and market demands, requiring a transformation in processes, systems, and organizational culture.
Examining Leadership Styles and Rationale:
Several leadership styles were explored in Week 3, each with its unique characteristics and applicability. The following leadership styles were considered in the context of the organizational culture and proposed change:
Transformational Leadership: This style emphasizes inspiring and motivating employees to exceed their self-interests and work towards collective goals. It encourages innovation, creativity, and a focus on long-term vision. Transformational leadership can be effective in driving change, as it inspires employees to embrace new ways of thinking and working.
Servant Leadership: This style prioritizes the needs of employees and aims to support their personal and professional development. By fostering a supportive and empowering environment, servant leadership can cultivate employee engagement, trust, and commitment. This style can be instrumental in managing change by focusing on the well-being and growth of employees during the transition.
Participative Leadership: This style involves actively involving employees in decision-making processes and seeking their input and feedback. By encouraging collaboration and inclusivity, participative leadership can foster a sense of ownership and commitment among employees. It can be effective in navigating change by involving key stakeholders and generating buy-in and support for the proposed changes.
Justification of Recommended Leadership Style:
After careful consideration of the leadership styles and their alignment with the organizational culture and proposed change, I recommend the adoption of a transformational leadership style to support the organizational change.
Sustainable Organizational Success: Transformational leadership fosters a culture of innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement. By inspiring employees to embrace change and challenge the status quo, this leadership style supports the organization’s long-term success by enabling it to respond effectively to evolving market demands.
Integration of Mission and Vision: Transformational leadership aligns well with the organization’s mission and vision. By emphasizing a shared vision and inspiring employees to work towards it, this leadership style ensures that the organizational change is aligned with the overall purpose and direction of the organization.
Increased Value for Stakeholders: Transformational leadership promotes employee engagement, motivation, and commitment. Engaged employees are more likely to deliver exceptional customer experiences, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. This, in turn, enhances the organization’s reputation and creates value for stakeholders.
For the successful implementation of the proposed organizational change towards a customer-centric approach, the adoption of a transformational leadership style is recommended. This style supports sustainable organizational success by fostering innovation and adaptability. It integrates the organization’s mission and vision by inspiring employees to work towards a shared vision. Furthermore, it increases value for stakeholders by driving employee engagement and delivering superior customer experiences. By embracing transformational leadership, the organization can navigate the journey of change more effectively and achieve its desired outcomes.