| Leadership comes in many different shapes and | | | | Showing enthusiasm shows a sincere interest and |
| forms. As leadership comes in different shapes and | | | | enthusiasm in the performance of your duties. It will |
| forms, so does leadership philosophies. There are | | | | make your employees more enthusiastic and |
| people from all walks of life who have their own | | | | motivated about their work, which will lead to better |
| philosophy on leadership. Who's to say which is right | | | | productivity and working atmosphere. |
| and which is wrong? But if you expand your mind | | | | Having loyalty shows you are devoted to your |
| and allow your leadership to grow, you will benefit | | | | organization, seniors, peers, and subordinates. You |
| any organization. | | | | have a sense of responsibility to everyone who is |
| Followers expect leaders to show them the standard | | | | involved in the organization. You are loyal enough to |
| and train them to reach it. They expect leaders to | | | | know if things begin to get unethical, you know how |
| lead by example. Additionally, they expect leaders to | | | | to separate yourself from it, and continue to do the |
| keep them informed and take care of them. Being a | | | | right thing. |
| leader will require you to ask others to make | | | | Integrity is one of the most important traits within |
| extraordinary sacrifices to achieve goals. Leaders | | | | my leadership philosophy. People can take many |
| may have to call on them to do things that seem | | | | things from you, but integrity is something you can |
| impossible. However, "If leaders have trained their | | | | only give away. It shows that you are truthful and a |
| people to standard, inspired their willingness, and | | | | person of your word. When integrity is consistently |
| consistently looked after their interests, they will be | | | | applied, it will build good morals and ethics within any |
| prepared to accomplish any goal, anytime, anywhere" | | | | organization. |
| (Reeves, 2004). | | | | The most vital leadership trait is courage. Courage is |
| Leadership philosophies are based on opinions and | | | | the foundation on which all things start. Having these |
| experiences of an individual, which is why philosophies | | | | other traits are pointless if you don't have the |
| may not necessarily coincide even though you may | | | | courage to apply them. Without the courage to |
| have the same common goal. The best thing about | | | | succeed and the courage to stand up for what you |
| leadership is that it will always evolve if you expand | | | | believe, you should not be placed in any leadership |
| your mind. What maybe your leadership philosophy | | | | position, because you lack what it takes to be a |
| today may not necessarily be your leadership | | | | leader. And if you lack what it takes to lead... who will |
| philosophy tomorrow. | | | | follow? |
| Many of my philosophies were influenced by traits | | | | Applied knowledge is the understanding of a science |
| that are used by the U. S. Marine Corps and standard | | | | or art and applying it. Knowledge means you have |
| maxims, which will work well in any organization and | | | | acquired information and you understand people, |
| some of them are: justice, judgment, dependability, | | | | emotions, and actions. Applying knowledge means |
| initiative, decisiveness, integrity, enthusiasm, loyalty, | | | | you will take acquired information and share it with |
| and courage just to name a few. Another important | | | | your employees to make them better, mentally |
| skill that must be implemented for all of this to work | | | | stronger, and more eager to learn. |
| is applied knowledge. | | | | To support my leadership philosophy, I have maxims |
| Justice teaches you to be fair and consistent. No one | | | | that I follow, which are known to the U. S. Marine |
| can ever say that you are showing favoritism. Using | | | | Corps as leadership principles. One of my maxims is |
| judgment gives you the ability to think about things | | | | to know myself and seek self improvement. This is |
| thoroughly and rationally. Good judgment leads to | | | | done by working to improve my weaknesses and |
| sound decisions, and sound decisions leads to better | | | | utilizing my strengths based on thoughts and |
| quality. | | | | experiences. I also must be technically and tactically |
| Dependability "is the willing and voluntary support of | | | | proficient. Before I can lead, I must be able to do the |
| the policies and orders of the chain of command" | | | | job. If I can't do the job, I can't set the example. |
| (Wright, 1984/2002). You must show that you are | | | | Albert Einstein said it best, "Setting an example is not |
| dependable, and it is needed because it shows you | | | | the main means of influencing another, it is the only |
| can be relied upon to your superiors as well as your | | | | means." Lastly, I must know my employees and look |
| employees. It means you can be trusted to complete | | | | out for their welfare. As a leader, I am responsible |
| your job. It also means that you will be trusted by | | | | for my employees' welfare and well-being. Their |
| your employees, which will build a better rapport and | | | | welfare must come before my own. To put yourself |
| enhance communications between you and them. | | | | before your employees is to show disrespect |
| Initiative runs hand in hand with dependability. | | | | towards them and the organization, which will |
| Showing initiative means doing something before you | | | | ultimately lead to destruction. |
| were instructed to. It shows you are dependable and | | | | Many leaders' leadership philosophies are very |
| can think ahead and look at the big picture instead of | | | | different, but in any attempt to lead, you have to |
| what's in front of you. | | | | have a philosophy. You may read many articles on |
| A decisive person shows they have the ability to | | | | leadership, attend leadership seminars, or even take |
| make good decisions without hesitation. It allows you | | | | leadership classes that offer many different |
| to get the facts, analyze them and come to the | | | | philosophies on leadership. However, I am not trying |
| best possible decision while maintaining a high level or | | | | to change your philosophy on leadership... I am just |
| professionalism. | | | | trying to expand your mind. |
| . | | | | |