Shelbi Booth's Leadership Style
Not every
individual is born with a drive to inspire people or to lead others towards
success. Few can portray the image of a leader and have excess qualities needed
to overcome every obstacle thrown in the way. Leaders depict very distinct
qualities such as courage, vision, development in relationships, problem
solving skills, and staying positive to keep the team motivated. There are
several different leadership styles, but the one that best suits me is
charismatic. According to Ronald Riggio, “Charismatic leaders are essentially
very skilled communicators – individuals who are both verbally eloquent, but
also able to communicate to followers on a deep, emotional level.” They are
able to articulate a compelling or captivating vision, and are able to provoke
strong emotions in followers.
Charismatic leaders are charming and
have a great personality. They are able to stay positive and work through
situations, allowing team members to want to be led by them. Characteristics
associated with charismatic leaders include: visionary, trustworthy,
communicator, full of energy, positive, motivating, quick thinker, problem
solver, and easily approachable. This leadership style can be depicted by
attributions people think of when observing someone. For instance, Martin
Luther King Jr. would be considered a charismatic leader who stayed positive
during harsh times and continued to inspire people despite criticism.
Communication plays a huge role in
being charismatic, due to the necessary positive interaction between a leader
and the team. When a leader is perceived to be charismatic, they tend to be
more respected and sought after for help if needed. As an honor student, classmates
typically seek my guidance to complete complex projects or assignments. My personality
allows me to attract new friendships wherever I go, while easily relating to
others and being trustworthy. Relationships between a leader and team members
are very important in the success of a business. The values
of the Charismatic Leader are highly significant. If they are well intentioned
towards others, they can elevate and transform an entire company (Conger 37).
Throughout my career so far, I have
developed and exhibited characteristics of a charismatic leader. As a manager
of Dunkin Donuts, I daily maintain interactions between employees and hundreds
of customers making sure to meet the quota for the day. I am expected to make
sure the flow of the business stays consistent and no delays allow for a long
wait time. Daily I manage a team of five employees, while making sure that
everyone stays on track, motivated, and happy to be serving guests their entire
shift. A smile is always projecting from my face and customers gladly compliment
me regularly. I make sure to not get frustrated, but to handle each situation
calmly and with positive intentions. Often during rush hour, I make sure to
remind my team that they’re doing a great job and to keep up the effort. My
employees and I have developed relationships inside and outside the workplace,
but they do understand I mean business when it comes to being at work and
efficient. The energy is never angry or upsetting because everyone communicates
and does the job correctly. When an issue comes along, I am sure to think it
through and make sure to handle it the best way possible. Within two short
months, I managed to work myself up to the position of manager for one of the
busiest stores in Miami, FL.
Keeping up with the fast pace of the
foodservice industry comes with its challenges, but for a task-orientated
person like me I can easily adjust. Having a background in business gave me an
advantage on adapting skills at an early age. Task orientation is important because
it can lead directly to goal fulfillment and increase productivity. Nevertheless,
a task-orientated person must be balanced with a strong social orientation and
interpersonal skills for maximum effectiveness (Dubrin 115). As an aspiring
chef, I plan to open fine dining restaurants all around the world for icons in
the culinary industry. My charming personality and ability to communicate very
well with others gives me an advantage on my dream. When I have a goal set in
mind, I do whatever it takes to accomplish my mission. I can keep the team
motivated, while increasing productivity and the knowledge for others around
me.
When a plan is presented, thoroughly I will analyze
each part and inform the team on the direction of the project. Right off the back,
I would set high expectations and standards to make sure I am maximizing the
team’s ability towards success. I have a history of taking risks and having
them pay off considerable. For example, I chose to take on a job and full-term
students hours, while successfully becoming a manger within two short months. I
went from making minimum wage to salary by applying myself and proving to be a
great leader. I am not afraid to ask tough questions even when I feel I would be
put in an awkward situation. I am very outspoken and this character trait has
driven my career past average employee positions. As a leader, I will continue
to impact others and create successful aspiring businesses. I always strive to
be the best, while informing others on ways to grow in their career and be the
best they can be.
When I actually sat down and
analyzed myself as a leader, I was quiet shocked at how much I impacted others
and how my personality stood out. I adapt well to individuals and relay a sense
of trust and power. I am proud of the charismatic traits I portray, but there
is always room for self-improvement. I am far from depicting ever quality a
charismatic person is said to have, but I will always do what’s necessary to
grow a business and persuade others to do their absolute best. As part of my
research, I have grown as a leader and learned how to approach situations with
a better outlook. I have gained knowledge on how to become more organized and
stern when it comes to making decisions necessary to grow a business. Ultimately,
charismatic leadership suits my personality the best because I have the charm
and unique ability to persuade others towards success. I understand it takes a
strong and motivated person to keep others positive and content with the tasks
at hand. There are always tough situations you will encounter, but you have to
look past the struggles to enjoy the accomplishments. As Warren G. Bennis once
said. "Great things are
accomplished by talented people who believe they will accomplish them."
Works Cited
Bennis, Warren G. "Quotes Of Achievement." QuoteWorld.org.
N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.quoteworld.org/categories/accomplishment/>.
Conger, J. A., and R. N. Kanungo (Eds), Charismatic Leadership in
Organizations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1998. Print.
DuBrin, Andrew J. Leadership: Research Findings, Practice,
and Skills. 7th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2013. Print.
Riggio, Ronald E. "What Is Charisma and Charismatic
Leadership?" Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a
Therapist. N.p., 7 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.psychologytoday.com >.
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