My Career Goal - Human Development and Leadership Expert - Essay Example

Case Study My Carrier Goal I can be a very good leader because I have got all the required qualifications to undertake such a position. Throughout my life, it has been my passion to nurture myself as a reputable leader. This explains why I dedicated my time to work so hard in school before successfully graduating with Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. However, after getting the feeling that working at the Saudi embassy requires more educational qualifications, I enrolled for my master’s degree. Thus, if all plans go well, I will, in December 2014, graduate with my Master’s degree in Human Development. I therefore feel competent to undertake any task at the embassy and join my father there. A part from receiving lots of mentorship from him, I know, for certain, that my current course will add a lot of values to me. Besides, my time at the Murray State University will also add into it. As a student on exchange program, I must point out that I have really benefited here. Just like in my college, I have been handled by a team of highly trained lecturers who have been teaching me different courses. Each of them has important contributions to make towards my success as a professional. First, it is my pleasure to appreciate the contributions of ADM 630: Methods of Research towards my career development. In this course, I got an opportunity to learn much about research methodologies and skills. As a professional, I was told to be serious about research as it plays a very significant role in any discipline. Among the lessons learnt here were different types of research strategies that can be employed in conducting qualitative and quantitative studies. Besides, I learnt about the use of different questionnaires, direct observation and interviews as major tools used in the collection of data. Indeed, this course was of much value to me. As a Human and Leadership Development professional, I need to know that research is one of my roles. Therefore, it should be upon myself to possess adequate research skills. These are necessary because they can assist me in collecting information which can be relied upon to help in solving any problem at hand or helping in influencing the decision and policy making process. The information got from this course could also enable me to know much about the important procedures that can be used while analyzing and presenting the research findings. All these will be needed while working at the embassy. Besides, in HDL 625: Legal and Ethical Issues, I learnt about the codes of ethics which are required of any individual in the society. Here, I was told that morality is a universal concept that should be embraced by everyone. As the lecturer emphasized, each and very person should know how to determine the wrong and right actions at all times. This is necessary because it can help in improving their interpersonal relationships. All the aspects of ethics were highlighted in a very convincing manner during the entire course. As a Human Development and Leadership professional, I need to know much about morality. Since my job will entail dealing with human beings, I need to have morals. A part from helping me to relate with my seniors, it will guide me on exactly what to do. If I uphold the spirit of ethics, I will definitely become a good employee. Sit is only through this, that I can manage to learn to handle different kinds of people without conflicting regardless of the situation. In HDL 655-Social Intelligence: Interpersonal Processes, I was taught about different aspects of human relations. As a social animal, man needs to live in coexistence. Offices are created to solve problems that affect humans on their day to day lives. The course prepared me to be a leader who can effectively use his intelligence to understand other people. Understanding is a necessary requirement in a workplace since it guarantees peace, which is of course a means to success. For this reason, I would like to say that the course was relevant to me. As a leader, I need to be rational in my decisions. If I learn to use my intelligence, I will be in a position of making decisions which can be relied upon to transform the life of everyone. This is a trait which can help me to establish a healthy interpersonal relationship with others within the workplace. Since I will be attached at the embassy, I need to ensure that I develop good interpersonal skills to enable me fit into the system and enjoy my stay there. In HDL 670: Multicultural/Diversity Issues, I was taught about the diversity of the society. This course acted as an eye-opener for me because it enabled me to have a different view of life. It challenged me to look at life from a more diverse view than just narrowing it down into a small place. After all, the world has now become a global village in which people from different backgrounds live as one. Had it not been for that, I would not have comfortably fitted into this new institution. These lessons can be of great contribution to my job. In an embassy, I will be dealing with many people from different backgrounds. Whereas some of my clients will be coming from my country, the majority of the will be foreigners from other nations. Meaning, I will have to handle a large number of people from different backgrounds rather than mine. Hence, by applying the lessons from this course, I will manage to smoothly interact with them irrespective of their religious, geographical, political or ethnic origins. The other important course offered o me in this institution is DL 692: Individual, Group and Team Dynamics. This course is more or less related to HDL 670 in which we extensively discussed about diversities. However, it mostly dealt with the transformations that characterize the society. It gave me a chance to learn much about the dynamics of the society. Meaning, as a leader, I should always learn to be flexible in my actions. As a Human Development and Leadership expert attached to the Saudi embassy, I will not manage to realize any success without being dynamic. Meaning, I need to apply the lessons from this course. They will make me to be flexible and adaptable to all the changing situations in which I will be operating. Because of this, I will always be ready to undertake and appreciate any development that might come my way. It will transform me to be an up-to date leader. Murray State University also offered me a chance to study CNS 635: Human Development. Here, I learnt about the sophisticated stages of human development. As humans, we are biological creatures who experience constant physiological and physical changes which end up determining the kind of people whom we become as we mature up. The other important lesson gotten from this course is that human development is influenced by the environment. This explains why people always have different traits because they can become products of their immediate environment. The course played an integrate part in my career development. A leader who does not understand people is not worth leading. It should be my responsibility to ensure that I understand each and every person with whom I interact. However, without knowing about the process of human development, it might not be possible to achieve it. On the other hand, knowing about environmental contribution towards human development can help me to be an open-minded leader. Instead of discriminating anyone, I will have to appreciate them to be a product of their environment. As a result, I will manage to lead everyone within my group without experiencing many challenges. Last, but by no means the least, I studied HDL 660: Dev Human Potential Seminar. It was a very interesting course which focused on different aspects of human resource development. Here, I learnt that different people have different abilities and talents which determine their productivity in the workplace. However, for them to be motivated, they need to be given the necessary support. Meaning, they should be properly nurtured so as to improve the quality of their service delivery. Just like other courses, HDL 660 will be very useful to me. It imparted a lot of knowledge that if applied in my job, will enable me to be a great leader. As a leader, I was convinced to be motivational. Meaning, I should be keen on empowering my juniors. If entrusted with a leadership position, I should ensure that I identify and support my employees’ potential. This is the surest way of empowering them to accomplish heir own objectives along side those of the organization for which we work. In these courses, there were leadership theories and principles that were taught as well. If effectively applied, they can help me in executing my duties as a leader. First, I will have to prioritize the use of authentic leadership theory. In simple terms, it refers to the conducting of the planned activities after carrying pout a self-assessment to understand one’s strengths, weaknesses before taking the necessary action to bring together the in put of everyone. The conducting of self-assessment would be necessary for me as a leader because it would put me in the right path of preparing me as a professional leader. Among the most desirable qualities I would tailor are confidence, self-control, motivation, focus and collaboration. Upon taking such an initiative, it would definitely be easier for me to coordinate all the activities of the team. However, I would only achieve my goals if I create a conducive environment that accommodates all of them regardless of their diversities. Secondly, I will adopt use the principles of servant leadership theory. According to this theory, a leader should be ready to offer selfless services for the sake of others and the organization. As the name suggests, a servant leader should dedicate his time to serve people and prioritize their interests at all times. While working on this project, I will have to show a lot of care to all the team members. By operating in such a manner, I would be caring for the well-being of the team members. Meaning, in case they have any issue to be addressed, I would look for ways to address them. Once they feel satisfied, they would motivated to work hard for the sake 0f accomplishing the set objectives. Lastly, I would have to use the principles of transformational theory of leadership. As a transformational leader, I would have to engage in practices which can help in encouraging prosperity within the group. The most important thing to do is to act as a role model who can be emulated by the team members at all times. For me to promote productivity, I will have to enhance the performance of everyone. I believe that all the members will be pleased to be led by a committed leader who will be dedicating his time and energy to mentor them well. The overall professional and personal visions for each of the members would be achieved using this strategy. In conclusion, as one of the new managers at the Saudi embassy, I will have to ensure that I help it to accomplish its short and long-term goals. In my capacity as a leader, I will have to dedicate my energy and time to deliver my best. If my team is organized in such a manner, nothing will bar the embassy from achieving its short and long-term goals for which it was established. Even if I am not experienced, I have a high level of education as a professional leader. With a master’s degree in Human Development and Leadership, I will have achieved my life-long dream of joining the prestigious Saudi embassy to be an outstanding career leader. Read More