MAN3303 Theories of Leadership Personal Leadership Reflection Paper Instructions Introduction/Overall Goal: This course is about leadership theory, application and skill development. The self-assessment tests throughout the text illustrate the important concepts discussed in the course. The Chapter 2 \"Big Five Personality Assessments\" help determine your personality profile. [You must take this assessment, from the textbook, in order to write this paper.] Subsequent assessments assess how your personality affects your leadership potential. The goal of the Personal Leadership Reflection Paper (PLRP) is to develop your ability to apply what you read and build skills using the concepts so that you can better understand yourself and your behavior as it relates to leadership. General Requirements for the Personal Leadership Reflection Paper (PLRP) 1. The PLRP paper must be four to six (4-6) typed pages (not including the title page or works cited page), double spaced, one-inch margins, 12-point font, and written in the APA format. 2. The PLRP must contain four, clearly labeled sectionsPersonality Profile; Theory, Concepts and Application; Reflective Observation; and Personal Leadership Skill Development. 3. Grades will be assigned using a zero-based, twenty-five point (25) system. Your score will be multiplied by 4 in order to establish your grade on a 100-point scale. You will start out with zero points, receiving up to five (5) points for each section, according to the degree to which you fulfill the section requirements listed below. (20 total points available) An additional five (5) points will be assigned for the integration, synthesis, mechanics, and the general quality of your writing. (5 total points available) 4. The PLRP must be submitted on time. General Assessment: Integration, Synthesis, and Mechanics The best PLRP papers will not mechanically fulfill the requirements of the four sections, but integrate the four learning \"moments\" into an essay richly documenting your unique learning experience. A well-written PLRP focuses on an issue and creates a story line that runs through the paper. The learning you relate should mean something important to you. The paper will come alive and be integrated to the degree that you communicate the importance that the experience and learning had for you. In a well-integrated and well-synthesized paper, the reader can attend to the content without distraction. A poorly integrated, un-synthesized paper contains barriers and distractions that prevent the reader from gaining a full appreciation of the experience and the learning derived from it. Helpful Hints: 1. Integration and synthesis depend on good writing skills. 2. Keep in mind the following points: (a) Decide on what two or three main points you wish to convey and make sure that everything in paper supports or enables you to do that; (b) Transitions are important and help the paper to flow well. Poor transitions obstruct the flow of the argument. Pay attention to the transitions between paragraphs and sections. Criteria for Integration and Synthesis- 5 points Does the paper carry the themes through each section? (1 point) Are the sections labeled, well integrated and equally well developed? (1 point) Is the paper clear and well written? (1 point) Is the paper free from spelling errors? (1 point) Is the paper free from grammatical errors? (1 point) Section I: Personality Profile (1-1.5 pages) In this section, briefly describe your Big Five Personality Profile. (Chapter 2, Self-Assessment 1). Include both an objective and a subjective description of your learning experience. Objectively, present the data of the self-assessment without any attempt to analyze it. Simply report the facts and the relevant data. Then, subjectively, describe your feelings and perceptions as your personality profile was revealed. Helpful Hints: 1. Avoid presenting all the details of the profile, unless they are critical to the remainder of the paper. Personality Profile Grading Criteria- 5 points Does the section contain a clear, objective description of the facts of your self-assessment? (Up to 2 points) Does the section contain a subjective description of the thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that occurred after learning your personality profile? (Up to 2 points) Does the section provide enough information for the reader to understand the rest of the paper? (If too much irrelevant detail, deduct 1 point) Section II: Theory, Concepts and Application (1 - 2 pages) Relate the most important and relevant assigned readings and course concepts to what you have learned in your self-assessments (found in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10). While the course concepts will have varying degrees of relevance to your self-assessment experience, it is important that you refer to several of them and not limit your conceptualizing to just one or two pieces of information. By relating the course concepts to your self-assessment experience, you will demonstrate your ability to understand abstract material (theories). By reviewing the theoretical material, you will probably identify several specific concepts or theories that tie-in to your self-assessment experience. The tie-in should provide specific details of how the theory provides insight into your leadership personality and style. Does your experience refute the theory? Substantiate it? Modify it? Discuss in detail how you see the concepts relating to yourself. Avoid merely providing a book report of what you have studied. Theory, Concepts and Application Grading Criteria- 5 points Did you briefly define, explain, and reference at least three (3) different concepts or theories from the assigned readings that relate to your self-assessment experience? (Up to 3 points) Did you thoroughly apply the concepts/theories to your self-assessment experience? (Up to 2 points) Section III: Reflective Observation (1 page) In this section, look at your leadership profile, qualities and traits from as many different perspectives as possible. Gather as many observations as possible. Ask those who know you what they think. Reflective observation entails getting distance on your experience by taking in others' perspectives, \"reframing\" your experience in order to discover the personal meaning your leadership style has for you and for others. Helpful Hints: 1. Discuss the experience with others to gain their view and to clarify your perceptions. Ask them what they think of your leadership style and potential. 2. What would an unbiased observer have noticed about your personality and leadership style? How would they describe you? Reflective Observation Grading Criteria- 5 points Did you look at the experience from multiple points of view? From any additional points of view? At both your perceived strengths and weaknesses? (Up to 2 points) Did you attempt to figure out why people, and yourself in particular, have the perceptions they do? (Up to 1 point) Did the different perspectives and behavioral analyses add significant meaning for you? (Up to 2 points) Section IV: Personal Leadership Skill Development (1- 1.5 pages) Based on the self-assessment reported and the theories applied to it, what did you learn? What future actions might you consider which will make you a more effective leader in the future? How can you test the concepts you developed in section two (Theory, Concepts and Application)? These action ideas can be stated as rules of thumb, principles, or action resolutions. Elaborate on how you imagine carrying them out. Be specific and thorough. Helpful Hints: 1. Project a future experience in which you envision encountering a similar situation. Envision implementing your ideas from section II and then elaborate on how/what would occur. 2. Where do you imagine carrying out your actions? (Work, school, community, etc.) Do you need some support to make it happen? 3. Imagine the final results of your leadership experimentation. What do you expect might happen if you accomplished what you intend? Personal Leadership Skill Development Grading Criteria- 5 points Did you summarize the practical learning derived from the experience? (1 point) Did you describe what you learned about yourself as a result of writing the paper? (1 point) Did you describe at least three (3) actions you will take in the future in order to be more effective or to apply what you learned? Are these actions described in the form of guidelines or action resolutions? Do they address the major practical learning? (Up to 3 points) Personal Leadership Reflection Paper Grading Summary for_________________________ Personality Profile - 5 points 0 1 2 A clear, objective description of the facts of your self-assessment? [Results from the Chapter 2 \"Big 5\" assessment in your textbook.] 0 1 2 Subjective description of the thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that occurred after learning your personality profile? 0 1 Enough information for the reader to understand the rest of the paper? -1 Too much irrelevant detail? Paper 4-6 pages [no shorter/no longer]? Theory, Concepts and Application - 5 points 0 1 2 3 Define, explain, and reference at least three (3) different concepts or theories from the assigned readings that relate to your self-assessment experience? 0 1 2 Thoroughly apply the concepts/theories to your self-assessment experience? Reflective Observation - 5 points 0 1 2 Asked for feedback and looked at the experience from multiple points of view? At both your perceived strengths and weaknesses? 0 1 Attempt to figure out why people, and yourself in particular, have the perceptions they do? 0 1 2 Do the different perspectives and behavioral analyses add significant meaning to you? Personal Leadership Skill Development - 5 points 0 1 Summarize the overall practical learning derived from the experience? 0 1 Describe what you learned about yourself as a result of writing the paper? 0 1 2 3 Describe at least three (3) actions you will take in the future in order to be more effective or to apply what you learned? Address the major practical learning? Integration and Synthesis - 5 points 0 .5 1 Does the paper carry the themes through each section? 0 .5 1 Are the sections labeled, well integrated and equally well developed? 0 .5 1 Is the paper clear, well written? 0 .5 1 Is the paper free from spelling errors? 0 .5 1 Is the paper free from grammatical errors? ____ TOTAL/ 25 Comments