My Personal Leadership Philosophy

I’ve written before on the importance of having a clear, concise WRITTEN Personal Leadership Philosophy. Why You Should Have A Written Leadership Philosophy

Even if you don’t share it directly with others, it is worth trying because the exercise of reflecting and then trying to actually document and sum up your key values and explaining how you intend to lead is difficult but worthwhile if you are trying to become a better leader.

Here are some samples: https://academyleadership.com/LeadershipPhilosophy/

I have helped over 100 people write theirs and here is mine. I sit with each new employee and review and discuss it. 

Tom Deierlein Personal Leadership Philosophy

I am sharing this with the team so that we can all work better together to peak performance.  I am not perfect nor do I expect others to be, but I want to set proper expectations about how will we operate as a team. 

At West Point, I was taught that as the leader, I am ultimately responsible for everything the organization does or fails to do. I accept that and will set the example. 

My job as a leader is to influence people by providing purpose and direction to achieve our goals. I must focus on improving the organization and supporting people as they try to achieve their full potential. You can count on me to give you proper guidance, priorities, supervision, and feedback. I will provide the resources, training and support so we are all successful. I am concerned with both people and results.

The personal values I hold important are Integrity, Hard Work, Loyalty, and Respect for others.  

I expect 100% integrity in all we do. We will have the moral courage to make the right decisions regardless of the consequences. Trust is critical to team performance. If we cannot trust one another we will fail. Be trustworthy. 

We work as a team. We will all show genuine respect for each member of our team. We will recognize and acknowledge each person’s role and contributions as valuable.  Do what you say you are going to do and do it on time. Be dependable.

I expect you to give 100% effort all the time, not cut corners or skip steps. Take pride in your work which means the highest possible quality. Act as if the success of the team depends on your actions alone. Embrace the fact that we are all counting on you.

I will challenge you. If you are struggling, ask for help - you will get it. If you are going to miss a deadline let me know as soon as you know.   

Share bad news quickly so we can all react and address the issues.  It is never what happens; it is always how you react to what happens.

Feedback is critical to success. I will give frequent performance feedback and expect the same. I want to learn constantly and get better. 

I expect a bias toward action. Three things: Think like a customer, act like an owner and behave ethically. Anything else - including mistakes and failures we can deal with together if you adhered to those three guidelines.

I will always have a positive attitude and keep my sense of humor. Please do the same. 

I owe you personal and professional development so that you have the opportunity to learn and grow. Those who perform well will be acknowledged and recognized. Those who perform below standards will be coached and trained. Those who repeatedly cannot or do not meet our standard of excellence will leave.

Open Communication is key. I will listen to you whenever possible before making critical decisions. Talk to your teammates early and often. Please share your ideas with others and me.

I realize that you work to live not live to work. You have a full and rewarding life outside of work and I will leave your nights and weekends free except in times of crisis. I believe in the importance of vacations to spend time with friends and family.

I will not tolerate lying, cheating, or stealing. Neither should you.

My Personal Idiosyncrasies:

?          Be on time.

?          Don’t fail because you didn’t care enough.

?          Even when I appear busy I will make time for you. Just ask. 

?          When we are meeting please don’t allow me to look at my phone or computer. It is wrong.

?          I don’t play politics and I don’t like them. I promise to be fair.

I embrace the concept of servant-leadership. I see my role is to set the vision and strategy, hire the right people and then work for them to provide them with the resources, opportunities, and challenges they need to be successful.

My parting thought is that I will always put you and your family first.  I am available 24/7/365 for any emergencies.