This Weeks Focus Is On Developing Foundational Interpersonal Skills T This week's focus is on developing foundational interpersonal skills that will prepare you for professional practice as a leader and change agent. As a leader, how will you influence change in your professional specialty area? Identify two strengths you have that will promote strong leadership. Identify two areas of improvement to your skill in leading and influencing change. What are two priority strategies you will implement as professional development tools for leadership? at least 300 words with reference no older than 5 years and intext citation.
Paper For Above instruction Effective leadership in healthcare and other professional settings hinges on foundational interpersonal skills that facilitate influence and change. As a future leader and change agent, my approach to influencing change in my professional specialty area will leverage my inherent strengths while actively working on areas needing improvement, supported by strategic professional development initiatives. One of my key strengths is strong communication skills. The ability to clearly articulate visions, expectations, and feedback fosters understanding and collaboration among team members (Johnson et al., 2020). Effective communication helps in building trust and aligning team efforts toward common goals, which is essential when advocating for change. Additionally, I possess emotional intelligence—my capacity to recognize and manage my own emotions, as well as understand and influence others’ feelings—further enhances my leadership effectiveness (Goleman, 2017). This skill allows me to navigate resistance to change, empathize with colleagues, and motivate teams during challenging transitions. Despite these strengths, I recognize two areas for improvement. First, I need to develop more strategic influence skills beyond communication, such as negotiation and conflict resolution, to better manage differing viewpoints and facilitate consensus (Kouzes & Posner, 2018). Second, I aim to enhance my transformational leadership capabilities—specifically, inspiring and motivating others to transcend immediate self-interests for the collective good. This requires cultivating a compelling vision and empowering others, which is vital for leading sustainable change (Bass & Riggio, 2019). To address these areas, I plan to implement two primary professional development strategies. First, I will pursue targeted training in negotiation and conflict management through workshops and online courses, which will equip me with practical skills to influence stakeholders effectively (Fisher & Ury, 2019). Second, I plan to participate in leadership mentorship programs that focus on transformational leadership,