Many years ago, when I was undergoing leadership training in the Army, I learned about the 11 military principles of leadership.
It’s clear that these principles have informed both my personal and professional leadership journey over the years. While they are rooted in military service, I now recognize just how much these principles have broad application across different businesses and organizations as well.
The first of the 11 principles is to know yourself and seek self-improvement.
Personal leadership focuses inward, while professional leadership is ultimately about service to others. So, how do we motivate and inspire ourselves and others to achieve meaningful goals and objectives? How can we create connections between shared personal beliefs and the collective values of an organization?
To clarify your focus going forward, I invite you to take some time to craft (or review) your leadership philosophy. A leadership philosophy is your “true north” – a set of guiding beliefs that shape your leadership actions and interactions. It also reflects your values and approach to achieving organizational goals.
For inspiration, you might think about leaders you admire and identify what it is about that resonates most. Or you can review various leadership theories or styles. You might say to yourself, I want to be a transformational leader. Or I aspire to be a servant leader. You might also think about how you would like to be described. What are adjectives for how you want your leadership characterized by others? You might consider sending a text message or email to solicit feedback.
Writing a leadership philosophy can help you rise above the noise by providing clarity and direction for your leadership journey.
On a personal level, a leadership philosophy is helpful for self-accountability. You’re establishing a standard for yourself and, in so doing, you’re also leading yourself and leading by example, too.
And, by sharing your leadership philosophy on a professional level, you can communicate your expectations and standards more effectively to your team and help strengthen trust, understanding, and collaboration.
How to Create Your Own Leadership Philosophy
A simple template for crafting your leadership philosophy:
My purpose as a leader is to _____. I will put this into action by 1) _____, 2) _____, and 3) _____.
For example: My purpose as a leader is to inspire and elevate those around me. I will put this into action by:
Setting the example and establishing high standards for myself and others
Learning from and with others with humility and a sense of curiosity
Communicating with the intention of making others feel seen and valued (active listening, clarity, transparency)
Who we are on the inside informs how we (choose to) show up in the world. When there is alignment between personal and professional leadership, we can perform at our best, both individually and collectively. Know yourself and seek self-improvement. We are never done growing as leaders.
