Leadership Styles

We all as humans are created in our own way, and have our unique ways of doing things. Leadership to me is the ability to motivate, support and influence the positive outcome of achieving a common goal. This leadership skill can be accomplished in many of different ways. Some of them are autocratic, managerial, collaborative entrepreneurial, servant, and transformational. All of these styles range from being a dictator to being the listener. After a brief analyzation it is believed that I share two of these leadership styles. The styles that I come into agreement with are servant and entrepreneurial leadership.
 I am a young adult that grew up in the Bahamas my entire life. It was important that I adhere to all the elderly communities’ needs whenever I can. Some of the times it was because of religious beliefs but many times it was rom my heart. I was trained to serve others and giving myself the least good treatment. According to Robert K. Greenleaf leadership is defined as a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world (Greenleaf, 2012).  
Traditionally, leaders have been valued for their communication and decision making skills. Servant leaders should have all of these skills by making it a priority to listen to others and take it into consideration. Servant leaders try to identify and clarify the will of a group. They try to listen for anything that was said and not said. Listening also gives the servant leader the chance to listen to one's inner voice, and seeking to understand what one's body, spirit, and mind are communicating. For example, a number of times here in the kitchen labs at JWU there are usually groups, and in my most recent class I was in a group with a variety of mixed emotional people. I understood that it was my job to listen to all of the suggestions (being the group leader) because sometimes people would get mad that I listened to one and not the other. As a result I listened, evaluated and we all came up with a plan to solve the problem.
 Servant-leaders also try to understand and empathize with others. People should accepted into society even if they have unique spirits and styles of living. As mentioned above, everyone are made in their own image. Some of the more common examples of people not being accepted are homosexuals and bisexuals. Some people have issues with others because of their beliefs mainly because of their personal religion or beliefs. One should look at people for what they can do and not for their beliefs. Servant leaders believe that people have an higher value than them. As such, servant leaders are concerned about  personal, professional, and spiritual development in each worker. Servant leaders are aware that the shift from local communities to large institutions as the primary shaper of human lives has changed our perceptions and has caused a feeling of loss. Servant-leaders seek to identify a means for building community among those who work within a given institution.
 One of the great strengths of servant-leadership is the potential for healing one's self and others. In "The Servant as Leader", Greenleaf writes, "There is something subtle communicated to one who is being served and led if, implicit in the compact between the servant-leader and led is the understanding that the search for wholeness is something that they have." (Greenleaf, 2012)
Unlike autocratic leadership style, servant leadership style uses persuasion in making decisions. Servant leaders seek to convince others, rather than coerce compliance. For instance, while in that group at JWU culinary labs, there were been times that we were making dishes and I would want something a certain way that I know is right so I will try my best to persuade them while taking their opinions into consideration. Some call it a slick way of getting your own way, but I consider it being considerate. This particular element shows the difference between traditional authoritarian model and servant leadership. The servant leader is effective at building form of unity in groups.  
Another important style that I feel fits me is the entrepreneurial leadership style. Along with servant leadership style brought ups, I also have entrepreneurial teachings. Living in a small town in Abaco Bahamas, my family owns basically all of the major business around such as the car rentals, grocery stores, gas station and clothing stores. When growing up, I had no other duty than to work at either one of those businesses’. While young I wanted to play instead of working, but if I didn’t work I would get punished. Being around the business related field so long, I have found myself growing towards entrepreneurial leadership styles. 
After reading “Leadership” by Andrew J. Dubrin I have realized that an entrepreneur is a person who founds and operates an innovative business. (Dubrin)Entrepreneurs are usually happy about their jobs and they are very creative. They are always enthusiastic about their achievements and goals. They are also the type to be in the work place at the whey hours of the night trying to accomplish success. They often take lots of risk just to make it in life. Although people might say that entrepreneurs take sensible risk, it is not the same because the entrepreneurs are almost always in control.  Entrepreneurs have a stronger urge to succeed in life than other leaders.  They are usually persuasive and very emotional. The enthusiasm of entrepreneurs often develops into a passion the late Anna Roddrick once said, “To succeed you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes reality. (Davis, 2013)
Entrepreneurs are known to seize upon opportunity. When a deal is up for grabs, they are usually the first ones to jump on it. If you know a n entrepreneur, you would know that they are always in a rush. It is not that they are trying to be rude but because they are so focused on a set goal, they put all of their energy into that goal. While at meetings, they are usually thinking about how he next meeting will play out. I think the right word to sum it all up is a far sighted person. Entrepreneurs also adapt a certain dress and life style, and are also very punctual.
            Throughout the assessments I have noticed that I scored a moderate score but for servant and entrepreneur leadership assessments I have hade exceptional scores. For example, on the risk taking test, my score was 54 out of 60. This indicates that I am a sensible risk taker and an adventurous person in a way that enhances your leadership appeal to others.  The final analysis of the assessment was that risk taking is important for leadership because of both charismatic and entrepreneurial leaders are noted their risk taking. In addition, it is difficult to bring about change if you are averse to taking risk. I think this puts me in a pretty good position of being a leader. From the assessments I have also noticed that I am a task oriented person. This is good to some extend, but to a certain extend it isn’t. ig is good because I get thing done and I don’t like to wait on people all the time. This is bad because sometimes I don’t take as much consideration as I should when in the kitchen and dealing with some of the different personalities.  
Seeing that I am a culinary art major I think these two leadership styles are suiting for me. In the kitchen, you are sounded around people with different emotions, spirits and work ethics. Being the servant and entrepreneurial leader, I feel I have what I take to manage both. For me, I put other first above me, I think its more about their satisfaction rather than me worrying about being tired or complaining. While being a in food business, I wish to open my own resort/ spa/ restaurant in the Bahamas. This is where the entrepreneurial leadership will come into play because now I’m not just dealing with a restaurant but I am dealing with three other departments. This will call for a high level of sensitivity to my leadership styles because I have to deal with a larger amount of clientele and employees. While owning this place, the job will also be even more intense.   
            Everyone has different leadership styles. Some are more demanding and some are more calm and understanding. Coming from a servant and entrepreneurial back ground, these leadership styles are without a doubt a match for me. With these two leadership styles I have the ability to cope with people’s inner feelings and there urge to work. Considering the field I am in, these leadership styles work out perfectly for me. this project has given me an open sight to all the different aspect of the leadership roles that I have to play when I get in the right position for it.


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