My Leadership Philosophy

In my opinion, leadership is more than just someone who can enlist the aid of others to

accomplish a specific task. It is a characteristic and a lifestyle of a person. True leadership is not

displayed on days we feel like it. It is a constant display of ones actions to accomplish tasks and

set an example for others to emulate. A leader is someone who can be turned to in the absence of

knowledge or direction and will either have the answer or know where to get the answer.

Ultimately leadership is the ability to develop qualities in others to enable them to assume

greater responsibilities, be technically proficient, and have moral courage and the ability to

inspire others.

LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES

The leadership principles to me
are one of the most important things a leader can

comprehend. Simply knowing them is not enough to develop Marines. Understanding them and

knowing how to employ each and every one will ensure Marines are all treated fairly and held to

the same standard. “Know yourself and seek self-improvement” is one that we as Marines should

strive to maintain on a daily basis. If you cannot recognize your own weaknesses then you will

never know what to improve on. If your proficiency is not to standard you cannot expect your

Marines to hold that same standard. “Know your Marines and look out for their welfare.” This

principle can be understood in many different aspects. Each Marine is unique and while yelling

at one Marine for something may work for that specific Marine it may not work for another.

Understanding your Marines will help you identify how to get through to each and every one of

them. To ensure optimal proficiency out of your Marines you need to know what is going on in

their lives. For example, if a Marine is having family issues he may not be focusing completely

on the mission. Identifying this early will allow you to get the Marine the help they need and

back on task as fast as possible. “Keep your Marines informed” not only keeps Marines on track

but will allow them to think outside the box and potentially develop a solution on their own. It

will also allow them to plan accordingly in their off duty lives. “Set the example.” As leaders we

need to ensure we are doing the right things for the right reasons even when we believe no one is

watching. Marines are constantly developing their own leadership style based on what they

observe through the actions of other leaders. If you are not setting a good example then you are

potentially building a leader with poor quality. “Ensure tasks are understood, supervised and

accomplished.” Always be clear and concise when giving guidance or tasking Marines.

Supervision is necessary to ensure the job is done correctly and completed successfully.

Supervision will also help identify who is lacking proficiency or who is ready for bigger tasks

and greater responsibilities. “Employ your Marines in accordance with their capabilities.” Once

you have gotten to know your Marines and found out who is proficient and who is lacking, you

will be able to task accordingly. If you have a mission that has to be completed in a hurry you

would want to task the most proficient Marine. On the other hand if the mission is not time

sensitive you should put a Marine who either has not done the job before or who is lacking

proficiency in order to gain experience and knowledge. “Make sound and timely decisions.” As a

leader we need to have the courage and judgment to make decisions in both high stress and

casual environments. It is not whether or not you made the best decision. It is the fact that you

assessed the situation, came up with what you believed to be the best course of action and acted

upon it. “Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions.” You should always know

what the responsibilities of your supervisors are so when it is time for them to move on you can

be the first to claim the position. As leaders we pride ourselves on having situational awareness

and being the one who has all the answers, but that is not always the case. When bad decisions

are made it is our responsibility to recognize our fault and adapt from the mistakes. “Train your

Marines as a team.” Marines are always training together to build teamwork and camaraderie as

a unit. Sharing hardships not only builds loyalty among Marines but strengthens the unit’s

morale and spirit which plays a key role in success. “Be technically and tactically proficient.” In

order to lead anyone you have to be able to perform. Answering questions and demonstrating

competence will show that you are capable of performing and will make you a more respected

leader who is sought out in the absence of knowledge. “Develop a sense of responsibility among

your subordinates.” In order to build leaders we need to give Marines the opportunity to lead

others. By allowing Marines to delegate authority and demonstrate initiative you show trust in

their ability and build their confidence which will increase their desire for greater

responsibilities.

MY APPROACH TO LEADING MARINES

As a leader, when I join a new unit or receive new Marines I set a baseline. This

foundation will eliminate any doubt to what my expectations are and also minimize the amount

of reprimands that have to be given. The logic behind this method is simple. If I am stern from

the beginning and make it clear that I will not tolerate any misconduct, Marines are more likely

to respect my authority. If I fail to establish this in the beginning then I will constantly have

Marines that will push to see how far they can go before any serious reprimands will occur. As a

leader I need to be tough but approachable. This is a pretty unique task but possible. Marines

should understand that repercussions for misconduct are to be expected and as a leader it is my

responsibility to implement them. At the same time as a leader I should make myself available

for guidance and counseling as needed. If Marines approach a situation they feel they do not

know how to handle they should make an attempt and then approach their leadership for

guidance. As a leader I understand that being a Marine is not just a job but a way of life. I expect

but do not require Marines to come to me for advice whether it is personal or business related.

This will also help build trust between the Marines and myself.

WHAT DO I EXPECT FROM MY LEADERS

I expect my leaders to be clear and concise from the start and convey their expectations

of me. Communication plays a key role in accomplishing anything as a team. Leadership should

be approachable and willing to help with any problems that may arise. This will alleviate any

stress that may cause problems down the road. Leaders should focus on mission accomplishment

but also on developing their subordinates and ultimately looking out for their welfare. They

should be willing to sit down at any time if available and be willing to mentor Marines whether

work related or questions Marines may have about life in general.

WHAT CAN MY LEADERS EXPECT FROM ME

My leadership can expect me to focus on mission accomplishment and time management.

I bring esprit de corps to the fight and constantly look for ways to better myself. When a problem

arises I will attempt to solve it at my level. If that cannot be accomplished I will bring it to the

attention of my leaders for further guidance. To me communication is important not just for

accountability but to ensure everyone is informed on the agenda.
I strive to be in top physical

shape and try to set the best example possible. I also keep focus on family to ensure home is

taken care of and no issues arise at work.

WHAT EVENTS HAVE SHAPED MY LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY

Over the years I have learned something simple that has helped me constantly improve

my leadership. Inherit the good qualities from leaders and dismiss the poor qualities. It is still

important to recognize the poor qualities in order to learn from them. There is not one specific

method of leadership that is perfect. You may have to attack each situation in a different way

which means you need diversity. Diversity comes from dealing with different situations that you

may or may not have handled appropriately. Learn from each situation and if something worked

previously then work on perfecting it. If something did not work then change it and act

differently the next time the situation arises.

In closing, my philosophy of leadership is not based on a certain event but through trial

and error. I am constantly focusing on the environment I am in and adapting to it. With knew

environments come new Marines. Set a baseline and make changes as necessary. This
will

ultimately make you a well-rounded leader.