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.