Assessment item 2
Learning Journal
Length: 3,000 words
Submission method options: Alternative submission method
Task
Complete four learning journal entries by responding to the questions stated
below:
Upon completion of a variety of self – assessment instruments, you are encouraged to develop a
deeper understanding of the importance of self-awareness in relation to leadership. Your learning
journal is based on your insights and provides you with an opportunity to reflect on the ways in which
the issues and concepts raised in the course affect you personally in your role as a manager and
leader.
Learning Journal Requirements:
Based on the self-assessment instruments used in the course respond to the following
questions:
1.Choose four areas in Leadership for your self-analysis and justify your choice. Length
400 words
2.Summarise the results of the relevant self-assessments in your learning journal. Length
700 words
3.Share your results, insights and conclusions with someone you trust and respect. Ask them for their
reactions and comments.
Length 700 words
4. Discuss in the journal:
• What you learned about yourself
• How your perceptions of yourself are similar and different from the perceptions of the person with
whom you discussed your assessments
• How your style could affect your relationship with others, particularly your work relationships.
Consider its influence on how you see and relate to others, how others react toward you, and
implications for the kind of work you prefer
• Given this information, what can you do to take advantage of your strengths and minimise your
weaknesses as a manager/leader? What barriers and opportunities exist for the implementation of
your personal leadership plan in your student/professional life?
Length 1200 words
Rationale
Management research indicates that developing self-awareness has several advantages: personal
growth, career development, and an enhanced ability to understand and have empathy with others. In
their studies of managerial and executive derailment, the Centre for Creative Leadership found that
successful managers:
(1) understand their values, personal styles, and strengths and weaknesses;
(2) know the impact of these values, styles, strengths and weaknesses, on their ability to effectively work
with others and achieve their goals; and
(3) are quick to reflect upon and learn from their own experiences.
Despite these advantages, we often resist opportunities to increase our self-awareness. We try to
protect our self-esteem. We fear that learning something new about ourselves will be painful or may
require us to change. We may think that we already know ourselves well enough. Or we may not want
to take the time out of our busy schedules to engage in self-reflection. In short, developing a
willingness and ability to engage in self-reflection, is a critical leadership skill that is not easily learned
yet reaps many rewards. Keeping a learning journal is a structured way to develop this skill. This
journal is a confidential, written record of your personal development through the class. The learning
journal helps you to reflect on how your personal styles influence your interpersonal relationships,
particularly in your role as a manager and leader.
The completed assignment should be about 3000 words in all and double spaced. Your
learning journal is a confidential document. Only your course facilitator will read it. You are
required to identify your learning journal by your name and student number.
This self-assessment prepares you for the analysis of other leaders in Assessment 3.
The assessment assesses the last learning outcome in relation to leadership selfdevelopment:
be able to develop a leadership plan and implementation strategies.
Marking Rubric
Criteria
FL: Fail
(0-49%)
PS: Pass
(50-64%)
CR: Credit
(65-74%)
Content &
knowledge of key
leadership
theories and
frameworks
including
breadth/depth of
knowledge, use of
literature/evidence
of research and
an ability to
integrate these as
relevant into
analysis. (10
marks)
Knowledge of
principles and
concepts
insufficient to
communicate
intelligently about
the topic.
Demonstrates very
little evidence of
having read
material presented
in core texts and
readings.
Inaccurate or
inconsistent
acknowledgment of
sources.
If evident, key ideas
are presented
uncritically in a
purely descriptive
manner.
Limited knowledge
of key principles
and concepts
presented in the
Unit of Study
Limited ability to
apply these in a
consistent and
appropriate
manner to real life
situations
Learning journal
shows limited
reflection on your
own experiences
and limited
evaluation and
impact of your
values, attitudes
and behaviour on
self, others and the
organisation.
Limited ability to
evaluate
strengths and
weaknesses
Barriers and
opportunities to
developing a
Knowledge of
principles and
concepts sufficient
to communicate
intelligently about
the topic.
Demonstrates
evidence of having
read material
presented in core
texts and readings.
However literature
is presented
uncritically in a
purely descriptive
manner.
Content
acknowledged but
not really taken into
account.
Some ability to
apply these in a
consistent and
appropriate
manner to real life
situations.
Sound
knowledge of
principles and
concepts.
Relevant key
theories, ideas
are included in
the work in an
appropriate
manner.
Demonstrates
thorough
understanding of
material
presented in core
texts and
readings.
Ability to apply
these in a
consistent and
appropriate
manner to
some real life
situations
Learning journal
shows some
reflection on your
own experiences
but limited
evaluation and
impact of your
values, attitudes
and behaviour on
self, others and
the organisation.
Satisfactory effort
made to evaluate
strengths and
weaknesses.
Very limited
identification of
barriers and
Learning journal
shows some
reflection on
your own
experiences and
reflects some
evaluation and
impact of your
values, attitudes
and behaviour
on self and
others
Good ability to
evaluate
strengths and
weaknesses.
Limited
identification of
Demonstrate a
willingness and
ability to engage
in self- reflection.
Examples
provided from
personal
experience.
Shows
understanding of
the
consequences of
personal values,
attitudes, style,
behaviour etc. on
self, others and
the organisation.
Demonstrates a
DI:
Distinction
(75-84%)
HD: High
(85%+)
Assignment
demonstrates good
selection and
integration of
theory.
Able to consider
topics and issues
in the broader
disciplinary
context.
Demonstrates
breadth and depth of
understanding and
has insights and
awareness of many
of the deeper more
subtle aspects of the
topic content.
Evidence of
having read
beyond the core
materials. Ability
to apply these in
a consistent and
appropriate
manner to real life
situations
Assignment work
demonstrates
appropriate
selection and
integration of
theory.
Able to consider
and expand on
topics and issues in
the broader
disciplinary context.
Demonstrates
breadth and depth
of understanding
and has insights
and awareness of
deeper more subtle
aspects of the topic
content.
Evidence of
having
researched/read
more widely
beyond the core
materials.
Ability to apply
these in a
consistent and
appropriate
manner to real life
situations
Learning journal
shows some critical
reflection on your
own experiences
and reflects some
evaluation and
impact of your
values, attitudes
and behaviour on
self, others and the
organisation.
Good ability to
evaluate
strengths and
weaknesses and
to identify barriers
and opportunities
to developing a
Learning journal
shows critical
reflection on your
own experiences
and reflects the
evaluation and
impact of your
values, attitudes
and behaviour on
self, others and the
organisation
Excellent ability to
evaluate
strengths and
weaknesses and
to identify barriers
opportunities to
developing a
willingness and
ability to take
steps towards
personal change
and the ability to
develop a
personal
leadership plan
and
implementation
strategies. (20
marks)
Written
Composition:
The learning
journal is
professionally
presented: wellorganised and
well written
(including
spelling and
grammar) (10
marks)
personal
leadership plan
and
implementation
strategies not
identified.
opportunities to
developing a
personal
leadership plan
and
implementation
strategies
barriers and
opportunities to
developing a
personal
leadership plan
and
implementation
strategies
personal
leadership plan.
Some good
discussion of
implementation
strategies.
personal
leadership plan
and
implementation
strategies
Rudimentary
skills in
expression and
presentation of
ideas. Not all
material is
relevant and/or is
presented in a
disorganised
manner. Meaning
apparent but
writing style not
fluent or wellorganised,
Grammar and
spelling
Some skills in
expression and
presentation of
ideas. Meaning
apparent but
writing style not
always fluent or
well organised.
Grammar and
spelling contain
errors
Good skills
in
expression
and
clear
presentation
of
ideas.
Mostly fluent
writing style
appropriate to
assessment
task/document
type. Grammar
and spelling
accurate.
Well-developed
skills in
expression and
presentation of
ideas.
Fluent writing style
appropriate to
assessment
task/document
type.
Grammar and
spelling accurate.
Highly developed
skills in expression
and presentation of
ideas.
Fluent writing style
appropriate to
assessment
task/document
type.
Grammar and
spelling accurate.
