Justin's Leadership Philosophy

My Leadership Philosophy

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Throughout this semester, we learned the tools and makeup of what makes a great leader. This world won't function properly without leaders. As this class comes to an end, the main question for us moving forward is, “What is your leadership philosophy?” My answer is simple and can be broken down into four main points.

Communication:

In my opinion, I believe this is the most important quality a leader must possess. How can a leader be great without having proper communication skills? In the book, 7 Habits of a Highly Effective Teens, Sean Covey emphasized the importance of to seek to understand, and then to be understood. Covey is telling us that with good communication, comes good listening. As a leader, you should seek to listen to others first and then to express your own voice. This skill was vital in the birdhouse activity we did. Select people were forced to keep quiet throughout the entire activity which was painful for them. The point of the activity was to show that leaders sometimes need to take a step back and let others communicate and voice their opinions. In addition, in the DECA Case Study we did, we learned the importance of a breakdown in communication between the manager and the employees of Pacific Surfboards. It’s vital for a leader to effectively communicate between their employees and vice-versa. Without this, there would be no delegation. The good news is that with today’s modern technology, there are so many ways to communicate with others through the use of social media, texting, emails, or over the phone. Therefore, the sender and receiver must know their own responsibilities which will avoid any barrier or conflict in communication.

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Leading by Example:

Look at all the great leaders in this world, Martin Luther King Jr, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Abraham Lincoln. What do all of these leaders have in common? They led by example and had the ability to inspire. They were role models for others to follow. After finishing our Leadership Impact Project of promoting school spirit, one vital thing I learned was how to pass this project to the next class. Mrs. Ingersoll and Dr. Tarjan stressed the fact of passing the baton for the next class to follow. A leader is someone who leaves their mark with a system that everyone can follow moving on. They are the ones who can step up and delegate a group of people and create a domino effect. One activity where leading by example was effective was the interview activity. Each group needed that one leader who stepped up and galvanized everyone else to take control of the interview. After that leader stepped up, it made the activity more comfortable and engaging for others. This is also vital for sports. A true leader is that person who shows up to practice first and is the last to leave. They are the bridge between the players and the coach and they are the ones who sets an example for their teammates to follow.

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Passion:

It’s vital for a leader to have passion. Who wants to work in a group where the leader aren't passionate with their employees or what they do? Leaders who have passion bring an unique energy to a group. I believe this was evident in our class field trip to the Teams Challenge Course. Each student was passionate about our group dynamics which created a great vibe. This made the whole activity much more fun. Group dynamics from Dr. De Bono can affect how passionate and invested a leader is. In addition, passionate leaders have the ability to acknowledge their employees’ strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, leaders can adjust their decision making styles with autocratic, participative, or free-rein. Good, passionate leaders have the ability to know which style is best for the group.

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Planning/Organization:

Planning and having a game plan ready to be executed is a necessity for being a leader. A leader must plan accordingly in order to reach a specific goal. Having a plan before executing makes everybody’s lives easier and can help you achieve the end result. In our Crisis Management scenarios, we had to plan and prepare for certain problems that may occur. Also, one of the 7 Habits is to put first things first. This also relates to planning because as a leader, you should prioritize the more important tasks that need to be done first. For organization, good leaders follow a schedule. This creates order and minimizes chaos among the group. Organized leaders know how to manage their time efficiently and are able to meet goals and deadlines.

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