Assignment: Personal Leadership Philosophies
Many of us can think of leaders we have come to admire, be they historical figures, pillars of the industry we work in, or leaders we know personally. The leadership of individuals such as Abraham Lincoln and Margaret Thatcher has been studied and discussed repeatedly. However, you may have interacted with leaders you feel demonstrated equally competent leadership without ever having a book written about their approaches.
What makes great leaders great? Every leader is different, of course, but one area of commonality is the leadership philosophy that great leaders develop and practice. A leadership philosophy is basically an attitude held by leaders that acts as a guiding principle for their behavior. While formal theories on leadership continue to evolve over time, great leaders seem to adhere to an overarching philosophy that steers their actions.
What is your leadership philosophy? In this Assignment, you will explore what guides your own leadership.
To Prepare:
- Identify two to three scholarly resources, in addition to this Module’s readings, that evaluate the impact of leadership behaviors in creating healthy work environments.
- Reflect on the leadership behaviors presented in the three resources that you selected for review.
- Reflect on your results of the CliftonStrengths Assessment*, and consider how the results relate to your leadership traits.
The Assignment (2-3 pages):
Personal Leadership Philosophies
Develop and submit a personal leadership philosophy that reflects what you think are characteristics of a good leader. Use the scholarly resources on leadership you selected to support your philosophy statement. Your personal leadership philosophy should include the following:
- A description of your core values.
- A personal mission and vision statement.
- An analysis of your CliftonStrengths Assessment summarizing the results of your profile
- A description of two key behaviors that you wish to strengthen.
- A development plan that explains how you plan to improve upon the two key behaviors you selected and an explanation of how you plan to achieve your personal vision. Be specific and provide examples.
- Be sure to incorporate your colleagues’ feedback on your CliftonStrengths Assessment.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
A leadership philosophy is a set of beliefs and values that guide a leader’s behavior and decision-making. In this assignment, students are asked to develop a personal leadership philosophy by reflecting on their core values, personal mission and vision, CliftonStrengths Assessment results, and two behaviors they wish to strengthen. The goal is to provide students with an opportunity to clarify their leadership style and create a plan for improving their skills.
Answer:
To develop a personal leadership philosophy, I identified three scholarly resources that evaluate the impact of leadership behaviors in creating healthy work environments. These resources emphasized the importance of communication, collaboration, and empathy in effective leadership. Based on these findings, my leadership philosophy is centered on the following core values: authenticity, transparency, and empathy.
My personal mission is to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential. I envision a world where everyone has access to opportunities for growth and development, and where leaders prioritize the well-being of their employees and communities.
According to my CliftonStrengths Assessment results, my top strengths are empathy, adaptability, positivity, developer, and relator. These strengths align with my core values and support my leadership style. However, I recognize that I need to work on two key behaviors to become a more effective leader: delegation and conflict resolution.
To improve my delegation skills, I plan to identify tasks that can be delegated to others and work on building trust and communication with my team. I will also seek feedback and support from colleagues and mentors to help me develop a more collaborative leadership style.
For conflict resolution, I plan to practice active listening and seek to understand the perspectives of all parties involved. I will also explore different approaches to conflict resolution and seek guidance from professionals in this area.
In conclusion, my personal leadership philosophy is based on the values of authenticity, transparency, and empathy. I am committed to inspiring and empowering others, and I recognize the importance of continuous growth and development as a leader. By focusing on my core values, strengths, and areas for improvement, I hope to become a more effective and compassionate leader.
