Evaluation of the implementation of the management/leadership theories

 

This part of the portfolio will reflect on the process and the outcomes of the implementation of the three leadership theories. This evaluation will be used to assess the successes and areas needing improvement.

 

 

Peer review feedback

Peer review feedback was used in order to establish how effective the use of these management practices were. At the event my management practices was used when dealing with three different groups of people; the artists, the volunteering staff, and the audience. I chose to focus on the relationship to the artists, as I worked with them during a longer period, while I only managed the staff for a few hours at the night of the event. I think that I would get better and more complete feedback regarding my management skills by focusing on this area.

 

I sent the three artists (Dressin Red, Arm Watches Fingers and Boooo) an email with some questions regarding the management. I had hoped to interview them right after the event in a focus group. But I decided that it would be better to give the artists some time to reflect on the event and the management before I started interviewing them. By letting them fill their answers in a document rather than having to tell me directly to my face could improve the answers and make them less biased. It still has to be mentioned that the replies that I got might still be biased, which creates a limitation or imperfection on the evaluation. I managed to get replies from both Dressin Red and Arm Watches Fingers, however; unfortunately I did not to hear back from Boooo.

 

I wanted to use the feedback to assess my current management skills and to find some areas for improvement.

 

It has to be mentioned that some external factors may have influenced my management approach to the artists. These conditions can for example be the very limited budget or the fact that I was holding the event as a part of a university course. The limited budget might have influence in a way where I did not want to put to much pressure and demand upon the artists, as they were all playing for free. On the other hand I might have been working harder and been more reflective towards my own practice, since I knew that I was going to evaluate my management approach after the event. It therefore has to be kept in mind that the feedback and the evaluation of my management skills will most likely be limited and slightly biased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Successes and areas of improvement

The feedback I got from the artist were all really positive and they showed that my aim of creating an environment, where the artists had full responsibility over the creative process was achieved, while I still had the right amount of control over the planning of the event.

 

Both artists mentioned this possibility to influence the event and their full control of the creative process. The way I wanted to show them that they could influence and control the process. One example on how I involved Dressin Red, was the way I involved him in the decision-making regarding the remaining line up. In the interview he actually mentions how this made him feel like an influencing part of the process[21].

 

Dressin Red mentioned how I allowed him to bring up suggestions for the remaining line-up; which I ended up following. While Arm Watches Fingers stresses his ability to have “free range over how I approached my set, and this was most important to me”[22]. The fact that he describes how this free range was the most important thing to him shows me how important it was to use the Laissez-Faire approach regarding the creative process.

 

One of my other aims was to ensure that there was good communication between me and the artists as well as establishing a relationship with them, where they would feel supported and free to approach me with any concerns. In my private life I have always been the person my friends and colleagues turn to if they had any problem. This is something I wanted to adopt within my management and leadership approach. The artists in regards to this both mentioned that they thought that the communication was great, and that they saw me as approachable and friendly[23].

 

I felt like I was successful in achieving my management aims and created an inspiring and motivating environment, where creativity could blossom. I tried to establish their motivation by allowing them to do whatever they wanted to and praising them for their work.

 

I asked the artists how they felt I could improve my management/leadership skills, however neither of them had any suggestions, as they felt that “the event was carried out in a very effective and professional manner.”[24] Personally I think I could have improved my management skills during the event itself. I could have been more confident and assertive when making decisions during the event; regarding the event schedule and breaks for example. Future improvements could also include more communication regarding what expectations I have towards the artists and a clearer definition of how I want to manage them.

 

In conclusion I believe that the implementation of the management plan was successful. The last question in the interview shows that I should be content with my work; as all of the artists said that they would play at an event managed by me again[25], which for me is the best feedback I could have received.

 

Word count: 927

 

References

[21] Dressin Red, question 3

 

[22] Arm Watches Fingers, question 2

 

[23] Dressin Red and Arm Watches Fingers, question 2 + 5

 

[24] Arm Watches Fingers, question 6

 

[25] Dressin Red and Arm Watches Fingers, question 7