LD7090 Leadership in a Digital Age Assignment Sample 2023

1.0 Introduction

Leadership plays an innovative role of strategic transformation in the digital era. Excessive use of information technology enhances the job market as well as corporate culture. Thus ancient leadership models are needed to modify with the help of digital media to get better outcomes into business. In this paper of leadership in the digital age we are going to learn in depth knowledge of key concepts and various innovative theories. Self analysis on leadership skills in the digital era is also going to be described on the basis of contingency theory or Trait theory. The various capabilities and required behaviors to promote leadership skills are also analyzed here. In this section transformation of business working procedure along with personal development will be described. At the end of this paper the effects of leadership skills on individuals digitally will be mentioned.

2.0 Section 1: Leadership & Self Analysis

2.1 leadership models/theories in light of digital leadership

Theory of Traits

A great performance is required to solve any goals, to achieve goals and complete a task by the help of leadership skills. Basically leaders always motivate their individual both mentally and physically to achieve the goals within time. Another trait is called self confidence. Leaders boost up self confidence of employees through a positive mindset and creating a sound working environment. There are various theories already mentioned about leadership skills. Among the theories, theory of contingency is widely accepted in terms of leadership skills in the digital age (Ademola, E.O., 2018). Like Great Man theory Trait theory in leadership depending upon innate qualities of employees and based on the situation. Meanwhile leadership theories are classified on various activities such as: presence of mind, elf confidence, determination, integrity, sociability and intelligence. Leader got priority rather than the followers in Trait theory.

The process of applying theory of contingency suggests that a strong leadership network can be formed through participating in different competitions at the organizational level. In this way individuals can realize their benchmark at the work field and get a clear direction to individual growth as well as growth of organization with time. For this purpose, use of advanced technological tools and instruments attracts the employee learning something new and working in an easier way (Balan, A.C. and Cavendish, K., 2017). This helps to increase better performance of the individuals and boost up their potential into various works. A huge impact created on leadership skills by Leadership Trait Questionnaire (LTQ). There are very few organizations that apply personality development tests of the employees for recognizing efficient people with efficient traits.

Theory of Situational leadership

Various challenges and situations are responsible for this theory of leadership. Basically situational theory depends upon two factors: proper decision making skills and different leadership skills as per the situations. In two ways leaders solve the situation by critically judging the conditions and by facing the challenges. Meanwhile this is proved that situational theory is the best way to neutralise the negative situation in any organisation. This particular leadership style is focused on commanding personality, delegating, participation and persuading demands etc. In this way a flexible working environment generates automatically in an organisation (Benson, L.E., 2018).

Let’s take an example as a manager it is needed the proper estimation of the projects with time. Some opposite challenges can come while working. Effective decision making skills increase the confidence level of the employees. This helps to finish the required work in a project in time. This enhances the responsibility of work.

Theory of contingency

The theory of contingency of leadership describes that a leader can be formed by some distinguishing characteristics and innate qualities. These virtues of a good leader depend on personality development qualities, psychologically stable and physically fit etc. not only the leaders but also leaders personal qualities are liable to the growth of an organization. This theory acts as a tool for a leader in place of work. In nutshell, theory created by various research and implementations recognizing the good will of the organization and efficient employees (Castles, R., 2017). The main purpose of this theory is to create effective leaders and increase the leadership ability for overcoming any negative situations in the workplace.

Let’s take an example: according to a project manager it is very important to build good communication throughout the subordinates. So encouraging subordinates to contact via emails and messages from time to time is the fruitful way to build friendly relationships among all. This process really worked in reality.

The trait theory is conceptualized on behalf of effective healthy communication. Good leaders possess certain natural qualities to build strong leadership through management. Meanwhile Excellent listeners and communicator ability helps create good leaders.

2.2 Identify digital leadership traits

Digital leadership is termed as leadership 4.0. As per several analysts, digital leadership is an advanced style taken over by leaders to develop a new management system and transmit a huge change among employees digitally. The main purpose of this digital leadership is creating business processes more easily and clearly. This leadership comes under non judgmental. This helps to communicate easily to individuals in less time. The reason behind being more flexible and agile is because of its capacity of tolerance for ambiguity and agile is because of the speed of change overcoming various challenging situations in the digital age. An ideal leader can recognize the different traits in organization level through self analysis (Gowing, N., 2018). The pivotal traits are: insight personality, workplace culture, leadership management skills, strengths of teamwork and communication, emotional control and motivating employees at work.

Leadership strengths and areas for development

Strength of leadership is the most crucial section in an organization. No company able to run without having effective leadership strategies in the digital age. An efficient leadership skill must help the individuals to get employment in an organization. Beside this, having multiple accessible characteristics in a company can increase productivity on a long term basis. It is possible to get all the opportunities to achieve the goals with time. Different kinds of theories and leadership models on leadership also develop the growth of the employees along with its entire growth. The strengths of efficient leaders having various leadership styles are described below:

Workplace culture

This is necessary to create a high performance environment in the workplace and helps to grow regularly. It is very crucial to succeed in a business platform in this digital age. Sometimes individuals get confused for easily using technology. It must be kept in mind that we have to grow with the people , and mindset and behavior of using technology effectively. Main source of development comes from information technology that creates the automation of work. Leaders are liable to create premium business models digitally. That must be used easily, quickly and effectively in the workplace at less cost (Klein, M., 2020). I believe that having such qualities have to create a high performance working environment for the organization in the digital world and achieve inevitable success in future.

Personality insight

According to Graham Wilson, “effective leadership skills are not about doing but it’s all about being a leader”. It is mainly created over high performance teams by the help of role models. Sometimes understanding people’s mindset to gain trust is also required here. That helps to build confidence about the policies getting better results. Sometimes I have seen managers of few organizations having lack of knowledge and confidence to boost up the individuals. As a result it reduces the confidence and will power of employees. Thus good results cannot be achieved by them. So leaders must have the awareness towards results (Larson, L. and DeChurch, L.A., 2020). So they can motivate their individuals to perform better. Supporting behavior is also important to ensure the safety and security of the individuals. In this way employees can be developed through this strategy of leadership.

Motivation at work

This comes from the ability to communicate and implement the goal by the leaders. They must motivate their subordinates’ handling ability in a complicated situation. Peculiar ideas and models can develop the attention of the employees. Encouraging dialogues and quotations regarding work performance can highlight them. As a good leader, the main aim is to build up trust among the individuals professionally. It will help getting better performance related to results. An effective framework must provide the flexibility towards achieving goals with time.

Strengths of Teamwork and communication

Effective uses of digital media helps individuals stay connected easily to the team members. Meanwhile communication during work helps to understand about the topic as well as it reduces the problems. As per a survey of MIT, communication is the pivotal part to get success over time. The effective application of communication encourages the individuals and boosts up the mobility to work rapidly. That helps to increase day to day better performance (Ong, Y.S., 2019).

Good communication helps to grow relationships among the members and create supporting characteristics in co-workers in an organization. It gives the capability to understand the subordinates and customers. It also gives the idea of problem solving skills and neutralizes work stresses. Behaviors like Open minded, honestly clear speaking, focused on goal signifies the ethical leader in an organization. It empowers the group by creating values, consciousness and monitoring skills through the employees.

Management skills

A high performance is required to create a benchmark in terms of accepting opportunities and overcoming challenges. Otherwise the growth rate will decline in this competitive market. Team performance becomes high by various terms such as: fully functional, virtual sound, remote and global awareness. Leaders must be more comfortable while communicating with individuals and motivating them. A well established collaboration and empowerment are also required to build sustainability in terms of good performance in a team (Krisee, K. and Metheevarachatra, A., 2021). Leaders should reduce the ambiguity and complexities through implementing various strategies for better performance. By the help of virtual meetings it becomes very easy to solve these problems at the fingertips. An effective multi discipline can be formed by accepting different commercial opportunities.

Development areas of digital leadership

There are mainly five ways to develop leadership skills digitally. They are mentioned below:

Practice with discipline
Learn to follow
Development of situational awareness
Keep learning
Neutralizing conflicts

Good leaders should work on these factors to develop skills in a better way for the future growth of the organization.

3.0 Section 2: Leadership Capabilities and Behaviors

A peculiar set of leadership capabilities is required driving success of leaders as well as organizations in this digital age. There are several capabilities of digital leadership that highlight the overall workforce and business process allowing advanced technologies easily implementing them into the operational field. Their detail description with real life experiences is enlisted below:

Communication

A strong network is developed automatically by effective use of digital media. It helps to gather people from top to bottom in an organization through communication. Digital leaders should possess that strategy for implementing and maintaining an efficient team.

Let’s take an example to understand this. As a team leader in digital marketing virtual meetings through various apps in digital media it is very easy to get in touch with people in less time. It saves important time because it is connected from anywhere anytime with the people virtually.

Vision

Presence of mind is very important in building clear vision. A strong clear vision helps to increase the workflow in a team and create self belief of the individuals. Indeed with this capability grows digital leaders in this competitive market.

Digital literacy

Converting ancient business strategies into digital business models leadership skills is creating a huge revolution in this digital age. Many researches and reviews have been coming up regarding the digital business model. They always believe that several negative things like right strategy, skills; operating system has been improved by adopting digital leadership model. But there is one problem regarding digital literacy. Employees and leaders are unaware of handling advanced technologies. But it can be solved through regular practices. Using various tools and techniques in terms of digital technology is all set to learn by the digital leaders to get better success in their respective field.

Strategy

Strong vision and proper understanding capability of problem solving helps to get an effective strategy for implementation. Utilization of proper strategy improves the digital culture internally in an organization. As a result, huge changes can be shown by the employees and leaders in the workplace.

Innovation

Digital leadership including advanced technologies has evolved in the digital era. So the digital workforce is created by flexible uses of digital media. Let’s take an example, as a team leader in a corporate company i get success by inventing strategies like “cutting-edge alternatives to the programs outdated and legacy systems”. The innovation of digital media reduces the risks and problems in the workplace. Being a team leader I reduced maximum problems with the help of a sense of curiosity digitally. Leaders always fasten key skills and goal oriented personality into employees. Sometimes they encourage the individuals for better creativity (Kyriazis, S.J., 2021).

Risk management

Leaders give a particular direction to the digital transformation and attracting innovative talent of individuals by the effective uses of digital media. Sometimes they neutralize the upcoming risk by the problem solving ability. Frequent practices can provide the confidence of dealing with various situations. They need to understand the uses of digital media in leadership skills categorically. So that creates a phenomenal effect into the corporate world efficiently. Let’s describe with an example. As a project manager in a corporate company I benefit by adopting the capability of risk management strategically. I reduced the risk of lack of confidence of employees while working something new by the help of digital media. They can easily understand that particular work and complete it confidently within time. I must say not taking risks is the biggest risk in our life.

Adaptability

A digital leader must be adaptable in nature with the arriving various changes in an industry. This capability creates different kinds of strategies reducing the problems. As a team leader in a corporate company I needed to adopt the adaptability nature with experiences. I ensure that adaptability is the pivotal capability for any digital leader. It helps to work in any situation in any environment. Members of my team are meeting within themselves using social platforms. That helps to generate bonds with them. It is also helpful for their profit related goals.

Talent spotting

An ideal digital leadership strategy should contain the ability of spotting new talents and creativity for the growth of the organization. It increases the efficiency of individuals achieving the target and innovate creative ideas as well. Good digital leadership capability motivates the employees and moves forward the entire workflow of an organization towards completing goals regularly. Let’s take an example, being a team leader I observed that productivity increases based on effective creative skills and performances on a daily basis. Problem solving skills and ability to take workload and maintain accountability develops the organization to promote higher levels (Lim, C.H. and Teoh, A.P., 2021).

Behaviors of digital leaders

Digital leaders think out of the box

Digital leaders should be thinking beyond the boundaries of industry to innovate various peculiar ideas and strategies. They need to find various gaps and loopholes in the organization. Then an effective strategic plan of action is needed to evacuate them suddenly. The help of various latest technological inventions should be adopted carefully for the well being of the organization.

Always curious about new

Creative leaders should possess the curiosity about the new ideas, inventions etc to do better performance. Various peculiar things are developed through Path breaking practices. They always give a breakthrough timely to attain inclined progression in the market. The key nature of successful digital leaders is that they don’t hesitate to get their hands dirty in trying new things, practicing new technologies etc. (Larson, L. and DeChurch, L.A., 2020). They are always playing a forward role to experiment and try to make new in this digital era.

Masters in networking

Such an innovative mindset of digital leaders is excellent in making networks through the people. They have the build quality to motivate themselves as well as others. The innovative ideas and clear vision engaged people towards the leader. No uses of power and position are required here. They have the potential to adopt various cultures of digital dexterity in the organization and make themselves a part of it. They contain the awareness and presence of mind from manufacturing to delivery as well as each and every constructive project in the organization.

Reimaging and experiment

Effective leaders spread out their innovative ideas and strategies to the people of the organization to create an innovative and creative environment in the workplace. The use of digital media transforms the path easy and simple. They have the encouraging ability to reduce the fear of experimenting new. By the help of this a leader became successful and designed the future of the organization in such a way it became realistic.

Lead teams minimizing adversities through collaboration

Digital leaders implement the strategies to reduce adversities by adaptation in a team. They also follow the theory of contingency to collaborate achieving organizational goals while necessary. The culture related to Goal oriented knowledge and sharing ideas need to be adopted for neutralizing certain changes and adversities in an organization.

4.0 Section 3: Business Transformation

Digital leadership skills in Business transformation create fundamental changes in terms of digital media, business and industries. Business market is developed by the help of business transformation. There are various reasons behind the enormous transformation of business and the implementation procedure on business transformation in this digital age. They are described below:

Coordination with employees

It is very necessary for successful business transformation. Various things like strategies, implementation procedure and changes of schedule are needed to know the employees in time. This helps to understand respective works clearly as well as their role in the business transformation. Digital leaders should maintain coordination and cooperation characteristics to the individuals to increase the transformation of business (Mihalcea, A., 2017). Being a leader in a group collaborates with our more than half employees to get huge opportunities in the market. Knowledge sharing models and more team oriented capabilities are adopted by the digital leaders except using the traditional hierarchical structure of an organization.

Well defined short-term and long-term goals

Employees get inspiration and clear ideas through defined short-term as well as long-term goals in the stage of business transformation. Fulfilling small tasks within time gets confidence to do better in the next challenging work. This also helps to increase their moral values and problem solving capabilities as well. Supportive characteristics help to get prepared to overcome larger goals. Long term goals setting are important as short term goals to get better results in future. It helps to grow individual risk taking ability and proper estimating capacity of any project.

Avoid fear and Address

Uncertain changes are not suitable for the employees. Awareness of employees regarding new work and information systems is also important to overcome concerns of employees for the transformation procedure. Understanding ability increases by sharing information in a transparent manner. Fears from uncertainty and inhibitors can be reduced by coordination and meetings to transform business digitally. Let’s take an example, As a Leader I should have a sound knowledge of digital media. The ability helps to connect with their subordinates digitally. A clear vision, bold personality and goal oriented path is required for an effective digital leader.

Encourage departments for collaboration

It is needed to encourage all the employees of a team in an organization. Proper business transformation can be generated by collaboration. Sharing ideas and valuable information is important to the subordinates boost up the transformation also. Communication among the subordinates is created through cross-department collaboration (Rascão, J., et al, 2018). Upcoming various changes and uncertainties can be adopted by the company. Teamwork always proved the benefitting characteristics of growth like everywhere. Team work through experienced subordinates is beneficial for business transformation. Team Members sharing their ideas and views managing the team through their daily work to fulfill the targets are helpful for subordinates. Those views also motivate the people to achieve their own goals at times. This boosts up the overall performances of a team.

Communication strategy

Generating a sound communication environment is necessary for the growth of business. Frequent transformation of business is conducted by developing communication strategy. This helps create a plan of action toward goals before beginning business. It also provides bonding and manpower to make a good team (Wong, J.L.K., 2020). Let’s provide an example. As a skilled communicator I get excellent results following some steps to increase the business over time such as: setting a goal, researching credentials, counseling members, sharing proper information, instructing subordinates in a very efficient manner.

Business transformation helps to provide a suitable direction to the organizations. The strategic mindset developed from effective implementation of leadership style for the growth of the organization as well as individual growth of the employers. Accepting digital leadership skills through using digital media leads to digital marketing widely. The procedure of digital transformation continues through communication leadership to understand marketing tactics, short term management to lead forward for a change and also rapid solutions arrives by help of digital support. Authentic leadership skills can be developed by good leaders. Leaders should need to share authentic information ideas in a positive and healthy manner (Sahyaja, C. and Rao, K.S., 2018). He must be comfortable as well as vulnerable to the individuals while sharing the ideas. Self awareness is also required while delivering speeches. It’s all about managing the system in a proper way. Generally employees are well aware of excessive uses of digital technology. So they follow only when100% authentic data is provided.

Effective uses of digital leadership skills in business transformation also helpful for communication and solving problems to internal employees and external customers. Individuals can demonstrate leadership skills using digital proficiency and learn efficiently corporate social responsibilities of organization level. So here we learn that acquiring digital proficiency helps collecting information regarding learning, applying them into work, and helps to live in society through technologies.

5.0 Section 4: Personal Development Plan

A full proof detail plan is maintained to progress better obeying digital leadership capabilities in an organization. Daily basis consistent performance helps collecting, organizing the collective goals during work. Experiencing effective digital leadership goals are demonstrated by the help of SMART goals which helps to develop my personal growth professionally.

Specific

Being a leader I was specific in various actions and clear in plan helps to get an outcome within time. This helps me to get a position of managing a development team in a corporate company.

Measurable

Proper estimates of resources in a work help to measure the progress in time. This process helps me to achieve managing positions in an organization.

Achievable

Always setting smaller goals and completing them within time gives significant progress in business. This strategy helps to be confident regarding goals all time.

Relevant

As a leader it gives advantages of choosing a plan of action and strategies relevant to management skills, strengths of individuals in an organization. So adaptation of advanced technologies to transformation business is required.

Time based

Following the digital leadership model it is needed to complete tasks within a certain time being a leader. This will give better outcomes in the progression of the future.

Detailed description of my experiences is enlisted below while working as different posts following digital leadership strategy in an organization. The practicing experiences about leadership management increase my capabilities to succeed professionally in this way.

Set small goals and achieve it

Personal development of individuals has been raised professionally by setting small realistic goals and achieving them within time. Sometimes it takes more time to complete a larger goal. Thus reducing confidence and growing motivation throughout the work because of not making progress for a long time (Woods, A.D., et al, 2019). Meanwhile in terms of smaller realistic goals progress of work attained quite easily and quickly. And it’s possible to stay motivated and connected up to completion of work.

Preparation for uncertainties

Various setbacks regarding experiencing mistakes, kind of failures happen during working in an organization. Leaders should learn the proper decision making ability as per different challenging situations to succeed in professional life. Understanding the situations well helps to get prepared from beginning is necessary for a digital leader.

Implement strategic approaches

Strategic approaches act as a role in the professional life of a digital leader for better improvement. This trait helps to recognize the strengths as well as competencies in the present digital age .It also prompts the digital leadership skills in the field of implementation of projects. The chances of entire project success are enhanced by the help of implementation of effective strategies (Yu, S.O., 2019). This also reduces the competencies and creates the easiest pathway to grow better in future.

Include mixes of training types

An ideal leader should use mixes of training types to execute the plan for a better outcome. Effective professional training helps to grow skills and organizational behavior of the individuals. There is lots of career growth training provided that helps to learn and do better in the workplace.

6.0 Conclusion

In essence, Leadership skills arise digitally and bring revolution in industries, business and also corporate sectors. This paper discusses relevant theories and critical awareness of digital leadership in the digital era. The procedure of development areas of adopting digital leadership and capabilities and behaviors should be followed for better performance is demonstrated with various examples. The way of business transformation following digital leadership style is also described in this assignment. At bottom-line personal development plans are required to be an effective digital leader and are also implemented for better proceeding in future digitally. Here comes to an end this paper enhances the digital leadership skills of leaders and managers in any profession establishing an impactful career.

References

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