Weekly Reflection 11: Short Talk Presentation - Contingency Leadership

 Weekly Reflections 11 (26^th June 2024)

SHORT TALK – CONTINGENCY LEADERSHIP

Week 15; This week was all about presentation of “short talk” by all classmates related with topic given, which was Kepimpinan Kontegensi adalah Sesuai Untuk Kepimpinan Abad 21. During this session all classmates shared their knowledge and opinion regarding this contingency leadership style, either it suitable to be used within this 21^st century or otherwise. They shared their views, ideas and opinions about contingency leadership style in various ways and situations. There were 19 students in total that participated in this short talk presentation.

 The 19 Short Talk’s Presenters

I am the number 4 that presenting on that day.

Generally, this contingency leadership was prominent since 1970 to 1980. This contingency leadership is focuses towards 2 things which are situation and relationship. As a leader, we need to be able to focus on specific situation in order for us to deliver our leadership’s effectively. Besides, we also need to be able to adapt him or herself in order to become an effective and good leader. There are 4 model that related under this contingency leadership style, which are:

 1.     Fiedler’s Model: developed in 1960 by Fred Fiedler and he emphasised that leadership style is to be fixed and unchangeable. As a leader, we need to aware with our own leadership style and alert with situational favourableness. Leader that able to match his or her) style with situation that he interested with or like to do will perform better as an effective leader.

2.     Situational Model: developed by Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard in 1969. In this situational model noted that an effective leadership is when the leader able to adapt his (or her) behaviour with the demand of situation. They able to adapt by telling, selling, participating or delegating with the team members.

3.     Path-goal Model: developed by Martin Evans in 1970. Evans enhanced as a leader he (or she) need to be able to extremely flexible with the team members. He needs to be able to adapt his behaviour and have realistic expectation towards the team members. This flexible leadership and realistic expectation will be able to give the positive outcome to the team members.

4.     Decision-Making Model: developed by Victor Vroom and Philips Yetton in 1973. This decision-making model also well known as “Vroom and Yetton Contingency model”. This model focuses on the crucial element in leadership which is the decision making. It also determines the relationship between the leader and the team members. As a leader we can decide by 3 style; which are the autocratic, consultative and collaborative.

 During my short talk, I also focused on highlighting what is effective leadership? Basically, there is no solid effective leadership style that match to all. However, this contingency leadership style is one of great style for the leader to be able to manage and understand him (or her) self, and also understand the situation that he will be in-charged. I also highlighted that as a leader we need to be able to have clear objectives and aims towards our organisation. By having clear objectives, we able to manage ourselves by perform strictly as a leader, and/or sometimes be able to be adapt within the situation or the needs of our team members.

My recorded presentation can be watched at YouTube at attached link: https://youtu.be/Pas8XcByfoo?si=KM06xpEaK4_d21lv

It was strongly a great experience for me during this short talk, where I am able to learn and get new ideas related this contingency leadership. Basically, my classmate explains clearly by giving example within the family, classroom, school, as research students, as horse rider and during Covid-19 situations. Besides, some of the classmate also explained this contingency leadership style with our current Prime Minister and also new era leader like Elizabeth Holmes.

Elizabeth Holmes.

Inconclusion regarding this week reflection on short talk, as a leader we can apply this contingency leadership. This leadership mainly about the flexibility of the leader, ability to adapt with specific situation, the important of communication with team members, take responsibilities towards decision that had been made and able to have a directive focused or aims.

 Our classmate had shared a quote from our previous Khalif about leadership, which leadership in Islam. The quote was: 

Saidina Umar AL-Khattab: Kalau ada seekor anak kambing mati kehausan di tebing Sungat Furat (kerana tidak sempat sampai ke sungai untuk minum air), sudah tentu aku takut Allah akan menghisab Umar (sebagai khalifah) kerena hal tersebut.

From this quote we identified that the leader holds a strong responsibility towards the organisation. It is not only about him (or her) self, it also involved the team members or people around him. This quote also showed how big the relationship of a leader. So, as a leader, all responsibilities are on our shoulders. As a leader is important to bring our organisation and team members towards positive relationship and situation, and towards positive outcomes for both leader and team members.

At the end of the class, Prof. Dr Yusof Boon had shared some knowledge related with public speaking or presentation style. Mainly as a speaker the most important thing is time consume, we need to focused on time that we use that need to be follow the rules and guidance. Besides, Prof Yusof also highlighted about our dress code during presentation, observe our audience and must be able to manage our language that match with our audiences. Prof. Yusof also highlighted regarding the important of contingency leadership in this 21^st century. Our talk should meet with the audience’s needs, alert with situation and lastly what we been talking is understand by the audience.

Our lecturer for UHPS 6013, Prof. Dr Yusof Boon

 This week is the last week for this semester. It was great when we can gather for the last time in the class face to face and have this great sharing opinions. It was great journey with guidance of our lecturer Prof. Dr, Yusof Boon. Besides, it was an honour for me to be able to be in the class and learn about this subject Dynamic of Leadership (UHPS 6013). Alhamdulillah, for all the knowledge and experienced gathered since pass 4 months. Insya-Allah, a great leader is always someone who benefits others.