Week 10 Module 9: Introduction to leadership, power and influence

My first situation: biology lab. There was one of my group mates who isn’t as strong at english and struggles sometimes with keeping up and interpreting the data. I took on a leadership role and helped explain everything in simpler terms

My second situation: SCIE1001 poster data collection. Our data collection relied heavily on assumed knowledge from data science. I have never done this unit, so I took on a follower role. I assisted in data collection and had members explain how to interpret the data. This helped me in my role of writing the discussion.

Please rate the extent to which you engaged in
the following behaviours
As a leader
*** A great extent
** Somewhat
* Not at all
As a follower:
*** A great extent
** Somewhat
* Not at all


Informing 3 star, 1 star
Directing 3 star, 1 star
Persuading 1 star, 1 star
Collaborating 3 star, 3 star
Inspiring 1 star, 1 star
Reflecting 2 star, 3 star
Observing 2 star, 3 star
Active Listening 3 star, 3 star
Resolving Interpersonal Conflicts 1 star, 1 star
Giving Positive Feedback 2 star, 3 star
Giving Negative Feedback (eg.– criticising) 1 star, 2 star
Giving emotional support (eg. empathising) 2 star, 1 star
Giving task-based support (eg. practical help) 3 star
Giving Resource Support (eg. equipment) 2 star
Praising or encouraging 2 star
Expressing Humility 3 star
Empowering 1 star
Care and Consideration 2 star
Positive self-talk 1 star
Being proactive and thinking ahead 1 star


With your partner, review the list and consider the following discussion questions:
1. What do you notice about your leadership / followership style?
2. What traits and behaviours come ‘naturally’ to you as a leader / follower?
3. What links can you see to leadership theory?
Be ready to report some insights from your discussion with the whole class.

My insight: humility

Leader humility is essential because it fosters trust, openness, and collaboration within a team. A humble leader acknowledges their limitations, actively listens to others, and gives credit where it’s due, which encourages team members to contribute their best ideas without fear of being overlooked or dismissed. This approach not only strengthens relationships but also drives more effective decision-making and innovation.

Realizing the importance of leader humility was significant for me because it shifted my perspective on leadership. Instead of seeing leadership as about authority or having all the answers, I began to understand that true influence comes from empathy, self-awareness, and the ability to empower others. This realization made me more mindful of how I interact with peers, seek feedback, and handle challenges—recognizing that leadership is less about position and more about creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

TUTORIAL

What qualities do you associate with good leaders. Think of a leader you admire and state why you admire them?

  • Good leaders possess qualities such as empathy, integrity, humility, resilience, and the ability to inspire others. They communicate clearly, listen actively, and make decisions that balance both logic and compassion. They also show self-awareness — acknowledging their mistakes and continuously learning from them — which makes them more authentic and approachable.

    One leader I admire is Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand. I admire her because she led with empathy and composure, especially during crises like the Christchurch shootings and the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of relying on authority, she connected with people through kindness and transparency, showing that strength and compassion can coexist in leadership. Her humility and genuine care for others made her not just respected, but truly trusted — which is what I believe defines a great leader.

  • Instead of focusing solely on political or security measures, she led with deep empathy — wearing a hijab while meeting grieving families, expressing sincere compassion, and using her platform to unite the nation against hate. Her statement, “They are us,” became a symbol of inclusion and solidarity.

  • She also took swift, decisive action by introducing gun law reforms within weeks, showing that compassion can coexist with strong, effective leadership. This moment demonstrated how humility, empathy, and moral courage can inspire collective healing and trust — qualities that make her a leader worth admiring.

COMPULSURY READING

Hypotheses & Mechanisms

  • H1: Leader humility → collective humility (social contagion)
    The idea is that followers see their leader modeling humility, internalize those behaviors, and then replicate them.

  • H2: Collective humility → collective promotion focus
    When a team shares humble dynamics, it becomes more attentive to growth, improvement, and striving for higher goals.

  • H3: The serial mediation: Leader humility → collective humility → collective promotion focus → team performance
    In other words, leader humility fosters the team’s humble culture, which fosters a positive, growth‐oriented mindset, which in turn improves performance.

  • They also propose that task allocation effectiveness (how well the team assigns roles/tasks according to member strengths) might be an underlying mechanism that supports promotion focus. In post-hoc analyses, they show that humility can help better match people to tasks, which then supports growth orientation and performance.

ELEVATOR PITCH

“Hi, I’m Anna — I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce and Science at the University of Sydney, majoring in Accounting and Pharmacology. What’s always fascinated me is how creativity and precision can work together to tell powerful and unique stories — which is why I’m drawn to LVMH and its ability to blend heritage with innovation across its brands.

Through my studies, I’ve built strong analytical and problem-solving skills from accounting, and a scientific attention to detail through pharmacology. That combination helps me approach marketing with both creativity and structure — understanding not just the art of branding, but also the insights behind what drives people’s choices.

I’m passionate about brand storytelling and consumer psychology, and I’m looking for an opportunity as a Marketing and Advertising Intern where I can contribute fresh ideas, learn from world-class teams, and help strengthen the emotional connection between customers and luxury brands.”