My Personal Leadership Philosophy

I believe leaders are agents of change.

I believe leaders must be committed to the organization.
I perceive leaders as the embodiment of well-honed attributes, which positively affect
organizations and their followers.
I believe my values are a moral compass and a demonstration of my personal character and
commitment to any organization.
I believe leaders must emphasize and uphold the importance of righteousness in organizational
practices, especially those concerning the use of human capital.
I believe credibility is the cornerstone of leadership.
I believe leaders are exemplary role models and cultivate leadership in their followers.
I believe leaders are inspiring and invoke empowerment with followers.
I view leadership as a function of the individual characteristics of the leader.
I believe the purpose of leadership is to make sense of events, and to envision and create change.
I believe leaders are lifelong learners.
As a leader, I will value contemplation and reflection as a guide for action and strive for
excellence in my capacity.
My credibility lies in the perception of my followers. From the leadership vantage point,
leaders are achievers, which challenge and support their followers. Good leadership inspires and
motivates followers to accomplish goals and to bring about change. Skilled leadership is the
ability to determine the strengths of the followers and of the team collectively, and how best to
utilized those strengths in driving the vision. Leaders openly praise their followers and privately
address serious issues and concerns with them. Leaders challenge their followers by setting high,

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but attainable expectations and must provide professional development necessary to meet those
expectations. Leaders must allow their followers the latitude to meet their goals and expectations
to become the best employee possible. Credible leaders receive recognition for their exemplary
talents and abilities by giving their followers something to believe in, all coming together
making a difference.
Leaders are professionals who are loyal to the organization and take personal
responsibility for themselves and for their followers. They bring valuable experience to the
position. They possess good personality traits, such as honesty, competence, intelligence,
commitment, integrity, courage, desire, motivation, straightforwardness, and creativity. It is not
enough to possess integrity, but leaders must be trustworthy and committed to truth, fairness, and
objectivity. Leaders must be welcoming and clearly communicate the vision, goals, and
objectives to everyone concerned, creating the willingness for followers to participate.
Leaders demonstrating high levels of commitment are not easily distracted while
reaching their goals. This creates a ripple effect within the organization. Commitment fosters
camaraderie, trust, and regard for the team. Commitment grows when groups build relationships
and work well together. They overcome obstacles, learn from mistakes, and successfully move
forward in successful projects. Groups hold one another accountable, holding each other to
highly ethical practices.
Leaders must be able to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the individual, which
may affect the team. The basis of team-building activities requires followers are engaged and
encouraged in active participation as valued team members. Each team member must be
challenged and given work to do, which matches their interests and within the scope of their skill
sets, so they feel they are making a significant contribution to feel committed to the vision.

MY PERSONAL LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY

Seeking the best self as a leader is putting into action self-reflection, balance, selfconfidence, and genuine humility. Self-reflection increases my awareness, affirms my
commitment to continuous improvement of my personal and leadership abilities, and helps me to
gain insight enabling me to pursue the best person I can become and inspiring others to do the
same. Balance ensures me I am carefully weighing issues from all angles while gathering input
from others. Reflecting on my self-confidence allows me to view my strengths and
accomplishments. Possessing humility helps me recognize the value of others and the importance
of treating everyone with respect. Being your best does not mean being a perfectionist. It is about
challenging yourself and convincing yourself there is always room for personal growth.
My emotional intelligence is highly imperative to leading any organization. I must be
aware of my actions and emotions and how this may influence my thoughts, behaviors, actions,
strengths and weaknesses, and self-confidence. I must be able to control impulsive feelings and
behaviors and analyze situations before acting. I must be able to understand and anticipate the
emotions, needs, and concerns of my followers. I must be able to notice social and emotional
cues and recognize the power dynamics of groups within the organization. My professionalism
must extend to developing good relationships and rapport with others within the organization. I
must clearly communicate, both orally and in writing. I must be an inspiration and positively
influence others.
Respect for others begins with respecting ourselves. We must recognize our own dignity
and intrinsic worth, free from the expectations and judgment of others. Our self-worth is
sustained by living an ethical life style. In respecting ourselves, we will not tolerate disrespect
for ourselves or anyone else. We must be quick to recognize disrespectful actions and correct

MY PERSONAL LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY

them immediately. If we do not demand respect for others, we are not recognizing the respect we
deserve. As a leader, I must find constructive resolutions to all conflicts, which may arise.
Respect extends to taking the time to listen to followers and developing meaningful
professional relationship with the people we work with. We should listen empathetically, not rush
to judgments when assisting followers. Followers must be highly regarded and appreciated for a
job well done!
As a leader, I must seek professional development and hone my leadership abilities and to
add new competencies. The better I can be as a leader creates stronger followers. I will be more
effective as a leader by developing my emotional intelligence for my followers and by
recognizing self-awareness. I must practice communication skills and develop professional
relationships to enhance my leadership opportunities. While developing professional
relationships I must be cognizant of extending my networking connections, which may present
itself in opening doors to additional leadership opportunities in organizations. I must always
remember to take time to relax and never take work issue home with me at the end of the day. I
am as important to me on my free time as well as when I am at work. If continuing problems
consume my time, I must take advantage of meditation and self-reflection. Journaling may prove
to be a useful problem-solving resource and strengthen my listening skills.