Discussion of the MBA Plan Table and Personal Reflection Essay for Dissertation
Introduction
Business leaders of tomorrow often have taken a salubrious, value-added approach, of their participation to commit to an MBA programme study of choice. Not all successful people who aim to excel in leadership positions have engaged in many years of formalized education, because as evidenced the identifiable skills necessary to be effective contributors in the development of managerial activities in the global economy often comes from direct engagement in business experience in the marketplace. In other words, real-life expertise often demonstrates excellence in leadership abilities. My MBA Plan of Action consists of elements relevant to my dissertation, which is entitled “Developing Potential Leaders within Talent Management.” Current scholarly research from one journal in the literature discusses the importance of authenticating leaders as a grounded theory. Fusco, O’Riordan, and Palmer (2015) argue that a grounded theory of leadership involves the twin, key characteristics of both coaching and leadership development. The model pertains to, and underpins, the purpose of my dissertation. The heart and soul of the MBA Action Plan herein consists of a review of identification of my skills, actions needed to capture success in achievement of the Master’s programme, and a rationale of how it will add value by widening my knowledge base despite the factor that I have been away from academic education for over 25 years.
Personal Reflection Essay
Anxiety and Fear of Failure
The best and most renowned of leadership figures in business have admitted to thoughts of anxiety and fear of failure. When I have listened to interviews, or read the comments of such important global investment giants such as Warren Buffett, I am reminded that all of us are certainly human. I was deeply struck that my own insecurities in moments, and felt like I was on the right path when I self-examine myself daily. In a recent interview I perused, the 84-year-old business master seemed so humble and approachable that it actually caused me to believe that regular self-reflecting can only help one to grow. Inspirational is a word not often associated with great, successful men in business, yet Warren Buffett so impressed me how such an important man can admit to weakness, gave me a wholehearted sense of developing my sense of talent acquisition skills. Feeling a bit of trepidation, I am passionately seeking to better understand my own inner motives, faults, and abilities to make the best decisions in timely ways. Since the global marketplace is constantly changing, I think my sense of flexibility and willingness to adopt changes in application of new theories is a plus.
However, I am not in denial. I know that not all new theories are effective when applied to a management situation. This is where my fear of failure sometimes lifts its ugly head. However, my deeply entrenched love of learning something new daily has made me want to understand even more and become a better person in the process. When I listen to Warren Buffett, I do not hear a conceited, greedy fellow and this lets me know my inner antennae is telling me the right thing in digging into my soul to really be aware what makes people tick. In other words, this is the core of how talent management can be defined, and developed. When I really think about it, everyone is so quick to discuss the new buzzwords in business about sustainability, and diversity. But the world has not changed at all, in terms that people are people with all their individual feelings, emotions, and styles of culture. When I traveled to different countries, as simple as it may sound, I found a smile to be a positive and most basic of the human language. Thus, bridging the gaps in communication I came to realize that one moment or one smile of understanding can make a difference.
Beyond this example of self-examination, or self-questioning, in terms of my doubt, I have learned to treasure the concepts of various theories that make sense to me. Gaining a clear recognition of learning and applying to how the MBA dissertation will meet my future plans of preparation is very exciting. Of particular interest that really brings me joy, and stirs a sense of special delight is how my role can be developed in identifying the perfect talent to enhance the productivity of an organisation. Oddly enough, I simultaneously explore the fears in the back of my mind, and am exhilarated about my future career development in talent management. When a person can put together the perfectly right person, who can perform and also fit into the company climate, this ingredient will help make that firm skyrocket in productivity. For example, if a person is smart and qualified for a certain business position but lacks the sense of innovative thinking of which that company is known for, then the outcome will not have performed a great fit.
High-Level Self-Reflection
When I think about learning theory and applying them to my career, I realize also that it is very important to keep reading. Current journal articles help to rectify any false assumptions, or misunderstandings about how to handle new management techniques and technologies. Craig (2015) argues that talent management can be defined as a combination of recruiting and attracting suitable candidates with performance abilities, and excavating the process as helping business owners to increase their success by the inclusion of such individuals. When I look around several situations and circumstances in my own life, I have witnessed the amazing leadership which has helped firms and department to thrive, and the failure when an employee was poorly matched to a task or certain sector of the company. All of my observations must be viewed from the context that I am a person who has been away from academic studies for over 25 years. I understand that applying to the process of completing my MBA dissertation will contribute to my future personal development, and my career. My personal commitment to excellence, honesty, and self-criticism in my opinion helps to prove maturity. It is hard to imagine any value-added approach without integrity, character, drive, and determination. The courage to admit my anxiety and doubt, since I have been out of the academic environment for so many years is not something I am trying to hide. The learning process within academia is a set of tasks I take most seriously and look forward to successfully conquering, and applying. After a recent reading of a journal article entitled, “Cost Effectiveness of Retaining Top Internal Talent in Contrast to Recruiting Top Talent,” the author discussed how both processes of recruiting and retention, in terms of talent management, can be crucial tools to lift a company’s competitive status (Craig 2015). Strategic challenges in this area will present a way for me to learn how I might incorporate the improvement of my skills in the motivation of talented employees, and how to implement recruiting new talent while having the wisdom of being frugal with spending money, while enhancing overall performance.
I try to think, write, and self-reflect in a way that first communicates with myself honestly. Sometimes when I think about how the social media world has affected the business affairs of today, I realize that all ideas can sometimes get lost in the process. In other words, I try to think of the dual audience in social media – both senders and receivers – and try to decipher how the messages are received. While it is true that I have been away from academic studies for over 25 years, one value of awareness that I have retained is my sense of the factor that the world is defined by each person’s perspective. Skills, assets, and knowledge of talent in the marketplace mean nothing unless companies are able to be skillful in communications with clients and stakeholders. I have learned that if I can be at my best in doing the right job, I can help and inspire others to move in the pathways which are a suitable fit for him or her. I know that although I am not perfect, but I have learned that as I stick to knowing myself, I will better appreciate and be appreciated for contributing my honest way of interpersonal communications with people, expertise of business skills gained thus far, and looking forward to be involved with making management processes be successful from the standpoint of my individual growth, as well as stepping up my game in terms of career development.
At the end of the day, it is all about inner growth of a soul. If that internal investigation process can simultaneously be applied to achieving better success in the pursuit of succeeding in business, then this is a situation most to be desired. Sometimes clichés can sound trite. But I think this one observation of an ancient proverb is true. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. For me, this is it.
References
Craig, M 2015, ‘Cost Effectiveness of Retaining Top Internal Talent in Contrast to Recruiting Top Talent’, Competition Forum, 13, 2, pp. 203-209, SPORTDiscus with Full Text, EBSCOhost, viewed 23 February 2016.
Fusco, T, O’Riordan, S, & Palmer, S 2015, ‘Authentic Leaders are Conscious, Competent, Confident, and Congruent: A Grounded Theory of Group Coaching and Authentic Leadership Development’, International Coaching Psychology Review, 10, 2, pp. 131-148, SPORTDiscus with Full Text, EBSCOhost, viewed 23 February 2016.
Ghorpade, J n.d., ‘Ethics in MBA Programs: The Rhetoric, The Reality, and a Plan of Action’, Journal Of Business Ethics, 10, 12, pp. 891-905, SocINDEX with Full Text, EBSCOhost, viewed 23 February 2016.
Wilson, S, & Galloway, F 2006, ‘What Every Business School Needs to Know About Its Master of Business Administration (MBA) Graduates’, Journal Of Education For Business, 82, 2, pp. 95-100, Professional Development Collection, EBSCOhost, viewed 23 February 2016.
