My Philosophy of Leadership
My leadership philosophy has been developed over many years of being a nurse in various settings. I am proud to be a nurse and I view nursing as a calling, as opposed to a job. I'm grateful and feel honored, every day, for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others including clients, families and co-workers. I believe the foundation of leadership is serving others and helping others to achieve a meaningful existence. Throughout my life, I have come across various leaders who have made an impact on my life, both position and negative, but either way, it has always provided me with a learning experience. These experiences along with my own personal and professional experiences as a leader, formal leadership training and self-study, have shaped by leadership philosophy. A leader may be in a position with millions of followers or can be a mentor to just one.
The foundation of my leadership philosophy is built on honesty, integrity, trust and respect. I believe that actions speak louder than words and believe in leadership by example. I feel to be an effective leader I need to consistently present myself and lead others based on my values, my organization’s values and what is in the best interests of my organization, clients, co-workers and the community.
I feel that leadership can be learned but certain qualities must be present to be a good leader. I believe that to reach my full potential as a leader I must continue to work to know myself first as it is difficult to attract followers if I myself have no firm direction. First and foremost, I have always had a strong desire to help inspire others to make positive changes and to be the best that they can be. I feel that trust and respect need to be earned, although my title may suggest a leadership role, my team will be the individuals who truly decide if I am a leader.
Leadership must involve people, without followers, there is no leadership. I continually strive to earn trust and respect, from myself and others, by showing good character, working hard, listening to understand, being honest, being decisive and true to my word. I also never expect others to do anything that I would refuse to do myself or that they felt strongly against and I offer to help with anything as needed. I strive to consistently lead with compassion, empathy, and honesty while meeting the needs of our team and the organization. As a leader, I do not need to feel powerful or important myself, my true motivation and happiness come from contributing to the success of others and empowering those around me.
Leadership is not necessary making people great but bringing out the greatness in people. The role of a leader is to provide the challenge and create a supportive environment. Leaders play a pivotal role in motivating, influencing and supporting followers to effectively fulfill personal or organizational goals. Good leadership can greatly influence an individual’s or employees’ motivation, performance and productivity.
Opportunities for leadership can be found in various settings and roles. I believe good leadership is built on the foundation of a strong desire to serve others and the internal motivation and happiness that comes from helping others to achieve their goals. As I continue through my personal and professional leadership growth, I hope to have the privilege to continue to lead many different people in many different situations and settings.