INITIAL LEADERSHIP REFLECTION AND EXPECTATION SUBJECT CODE: LB5241 SUBJECT TITLE: LEADERSHIP FUTURES

Introduction Leadership is an important factor that defines the future of societies, businesses and numerous fields of organizational activity. It involves leading people and organizations towards a specific purpose using persuasion, inspiration and direction (Schedlitzki & Edwards, 2018). Historically, there have been changes in the concept of leadership where it has evolved from being synonymous with military might to the complex and evolving leadership today. The Great Man Theory, Trait Theory and Transformational Leadership theories provide insights into how different characteristics and behaviors enhance leadership (Chou, 2015). For instance, the Great Man Theory of the 19th century postulated that leaders possess inherent traits that make them apt for leadership (Benmira & Agboola, 2021). Pertaining to this point, theories such as the Transformational Leadership theory have explained that a leader should be able to motivate his/her followers beyond expectations (‘Transformational leadership,’ 2023). This paper aims at clarifying the concept of leadership in relation to the individual Leadership experience and expectations within the context of this module. Initial Reflections and Expectations In my high school, I was elected as the captain of the soccer team and being given the responsibility of leading the school project then. As a soccer team leader, I learned important lessons about encouragement and morale. In the school project, I had to lead a group comprising several members in the delegation of tasks and in decision-making and that made me realize how crucial these aspects are for a leader. My perception of leadership then was immature. Leadership is important not only in the business context; it is also significant in regulating family matters, implementing educational programs and interacting with the community (Sutherland et al., 2022). In the business context, responsible leadership that refers to values, accountability, and long-term orientations is very important (Chemers, 2014