My Personal Leadership Philosophy (PLP)

I believe that all people are capable. Full stop. Whether that means they are capable of learning, capable of change, capable of doing their absolutely best, or even capable of just trying. I believe that anyone who is willing is capable of succeeding. With that being said capability is not a static ability, however it is dynamic, and malleable to each person and their circumstances. I truly believe that the support (sometimes the lack thereof) given to a person determines how and if they will succeed and when given the opportunity everyone will surprise you.

"Leadership, is defined as the ability of an individual, group, or organization to "lead", influence, or guide other individuals, teams, or organizations." (Wikipedia, 2021)

As a leader, I strive each day to be a positive leader in the various spaces I find myself, whether it is in the workplace, with organizations I volunteer for, or even with family. Growing up in a Christian church, there are a lot of values (goodness, justice, love, and kindness, just to name a few) that were instilled in me that laid the foundation for who I am today. For me having a firm foundation in faith allows me to view others through a more compassionate lens and it allows me to give myself and others a bit more grace and a little less judgement which I believe is a strong quality of any leader.

While faith is not the only characteristic that makes me a great leader, it is one of my core foundational values. Other values include:

• Curiosity - As a leader, I believe in everyone having the confidence to ask questions for clarity and understanding as well as for finding ways to illuminate change. Curiosity is a skill that I am proud to have and I think as a leader it should be encouraged as often as possible. 

• Adaptability - For me adaptability is two-fold. It is having the ability to adjust to the changing environment as society grows and evolves, but also it is being able to within the day to day situations. 

• Honesty - If a team cannot be honest with one another how are they going to succeed and grow together. Trust is vital in building lasting relationships. 

• Patience - I pride myself on being extremely patient in stressful situations. There is a clarity and calmness that comes with taking a beat in high-stress situations. 

• Respect - Respect is given is respect earned. As a leader, you have to respect the opinions, values, work, etc. of those around you. 

• Innovation - Due to the ever changing world, as a leader it is important to not shy away from innovation. It is not good to just embrace it, but it is imperative to also seek it out. Finding ways to improve processes and improve the quality of services or goods provided should always be a goal. 

• Transparency - While it is not necessary for a leader to share all the details of a situation, it is important for those around you to have a baseline understanding of all situations. Being transparent and open builds trust and allows for bigger buy in if those around you understand the why behind it. 

• Understanding - Last but not least, having a common understanding of what the overall goals of the team are and roles that each person needs to play in order to achieve them helps to foster an environment where everyone can feel comfortable, respected, and heard. 

  
  

These values are what make me a good leader, but they are also what I expect to see in those I lead. As a leader, I believe my teams should have shared characteristics that collectively lead us to success. The same kindness, joy, patience, passion, and respect I give my team is what they should be showing to one another. A team is only as good as its weakest link. I do not see that as a negative, but as an opportunity for us as a team to bolster then strengthen that link until it is strong. A core philosophy that I learned a long time ago is, if you have a problem with someone and you don't tell them, and they don't change, it's not their fault, it's yours. It is my responsibility as a leader to foster an environment where everyone embodies these traits, feels heard, respected, and emboldened to stand up for what they believe in. 

References:

Wikipedia. (2021, June 30). Leadership. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership#cite_note-1