Leadership Philosophy

Who I Am As a Leader:

Three attributes that define my leadership philosophy are meticulous organization, cultural understanding, and a dedication to listening in order to best understand a situation. 

One of the things I have come to like about myself is that I am constantly arranging things. For years I felt like this was a negative trait, but I have since realized that this habit leads me to be a highly organized person who is fascinated by the details of a whole. 

I have been married to my husband, Eric, for almost 20 years. Eric is a retired member of the United States Coast Guard, during his career I lived in states from Maine to Alaska and many in between, moving eight times in 20 years. I am proud to have learned about so many unique cultures within our country. I believe that knowing and appreciating people for who they are is fundamental to gaining their respect. 

As a public school teacher who works with almost 200 high school students each school year, I never tire of listening to their thoughts and opinions. Some people worry about the future but I do not, I know that our youth have big ideas. I genuinely care about hearing others' ideas, I have my own, of course, but I am an open-minded person who wants to know all sides of an issue. 

 

What Leadership Means to Me:

I believe that a successful leader combines their clear vision with a relentless drive, thereby enabling their ability to empower a team. 

A leader who focuses on innovation, and personal and organizational growth to achieve a shared vision, is a Transformational Leader. This approach goes beyond rewards for work by setting high expectations and focusing on building relationships, encouraging creativity, and empowering team members to take ownership of their contributions. (Burns, 2003)

I define a great leader as someone who focuses on a long-term vision by being diligent and driving organizational success. This person encourages kindness by concentrating on a commitment to people and culture. 

 

Operating Principles

Although I may provide a clear vision, this is a team of individuals with unique strengths needed to achieve success. 

With that in mind, each team member will work rigorously toward our goal. 

Team members will be dedicated towards achieving our common vision. 

Team members will be supported so that they may focus on our task. 

The team, as a whole, will accept acknowledgement of our collective success. 

 

Expectations for Myself

Here are my job duties, as I see them.

My number one priority is to support you in accomplishing your task. I realize that before you can achieve your professional goals you must first have your individual needs met.  Your total well-being is important to me. 

I will communicate clearly and listen effectively. I will not avoid difficult conversations and will give direct feedback when necessary. 

I will go beyond what is merely “good enough” and strive for excellence. 

I will show up with an attitude of commitment, and genuinely care about the work we are doing. 

I will maintain a calm and positive mindset. 

I will value opportunities for growth and innovation even when these opportunities arise on the back of an unmalicious error. 

 

Expectations for You

As the leader, I ask that you:

Work passionately toward our goal, but speak up when you see fit. 

Show up with an attitude of commitment.

Give your best effort every day, which can be different each day, but should still be your best effort on that day. 

Ask for assistance when you need it. 

Address all team members with respect. 

Remain curious.

Actively seek out new ideas. 

 

Personal Idiosyncrasies

My unique characteristics shape how I will interact with my team. I am a detail oriented individual. I know that the big picture is built of small pieces. This is true for our ultimate product but also for each team member’s well being. Being detail oriented means that I will get to know you as an individual, and the team will strive to support each member to maximize our ability to achieve objectives. When a small piece of our collaborative puzzle is missing, in any way, I will do my best to correct this error, whether through completing a task personally (no matter how trivial, like taking out the trash), or providing direct feedback to a team member. I believe that big picture success is made up of many small, consistent building blocks. 

 

Non-Negotiables

I insist:

All team members will share common vision and goals.     

All team members will remain curious and feel empowered to disagree with my ideas.

All team members will present a positive attitude.

All team members will participate in respectful dialogue. 

 

Commitment

I believe that our success depends on our total commitment to shared goals. I am committed to providing a clear vision while focusing on teamwork. I recognize the importance of operating with integrity, humility, and providing direct communication. As a member of our team, I will dedicate myself to being an effective listener. Our team will work together, not because we have to, but because we want to. I am prepared to accept responsibility when our team falls short, and give recognition to our team when we achieve success. 

 

Works Cited:

Burns, J. M. (2003). Transforming leadership: A new pursuit of happiness. Grove Press.