My Leadership Philosophy Essay
2nd LT Hankins, Nicholas W.
Leadership Philosophy
Leadership is about being a role model and having a positive impact on people through working and living by example. Leadership is about consciously changing and challenging yourself for a purpose you believe in. For example, when I started my college education, I didn’t know what leadership meant. During my years in college I began to understand and learned that leaders are not born, they are developed.
My leadership philosophy is rooted through my experiences as a student in college, summer jobs as a camp counselor and through my assigned responsibilities as an ROTC Cadet. As a leader, I believe in being accessible and mentoring subordinates. I am open to criticism and prepared to improve …show more content…
myself. I recognize that the success achieved by my subordinates is the result of overcoming their challenges through planning and hard work. If my subordinates are thriving, then I am successful. Having periodic meetings to evaluate and identify successful and unsuccessful initiatives and systems will provide me with the appropriate information to make the necessary decisions and changes in the Section and organization. Periodic meetings provide a voice for subordinates and makes everyone participate in the decision-making. This can make the Section and organization more competitive and provides a more productive work environment.
I believe in leading by example as my core belief.
I will never ask someone to do something that I am not prepared to do myself. I will demonstrate this to the subordinate through my actions as opposed to just with my words. I expect the same from all leaders under my supervision. With leading by example, soldiers would not only show respect to the leader but also give their loyalty as well. If a leader was incompetent and was not able to show their soldiers that they can live up to the tasks they give, they would be shunned and looked down upon. Without respect from your fellow soldiers, you would not be able to be an effective leader. This is why leading by example is at the core of my beliefs in leadership …show more content…
philosophy.
My first experience in a leadership position was during my time as a camp counselor in the summer. The job I was tasked with was to lead a group of about 15 to 20 kids and teach them how to play baseball. When working I saw that working with kids was going to be a much more difficult task. For kids being seen as the role model is especially important. From this I learned how important it is to lead by example and that when you act like a leader, people will follow you. Apart from teaching the kids how to play baseball, I also had to constantly watch and talk to the kids to make sure they were not being bullied and were enjoying their time at the camp. When I did find out that kids were picking on others, it was up to me to find the problem and resolve the issue. Because of the bullying, this child no longer wanted to participate in the activities and was scared most of the time. I learned that counseling and watching over your subordinates is very important. If my soldiers were depressed or sacred, they would not be able to be and effective soldier and the team would suffer as a whole.
When I started the Army ROTC program in college, very few of the officers and trainers had an “open door” policy. As a result, I was nervous about going to my cadre or ROTC leaders for help. I did find one particular cadre member who was unreserved and very supportive. He routinely checked on me to see how I was doing, and discussed how important it is to know your subordinates and to show them that you care. His concern and candor taught me how crucial it is to have open and two-way communication. It also showed that when a leader shows that they care for you, you are more willing to give your loyalty to them in return.
I also believe in providing a clear vision of what needs to be achieved with guidance on how it should be implemented. I believe in fostering an environment where questions and creativity are encouraged. Subordinates should be able to approach me with their concerns without fearing any repercussions. I believe in taking the time to assist subordinates in solving their issues and providing an appropriate level of coaching and mentorship until the individual can get on the right path. Ongoing interaction and communication with my fellow soldiers will ensure this becomes routine.
As time went on during my time as an ROTC Cadet, I gained leadership positions as a platoon sergeant, squad leader, and the Cadet S1. During my time in these positions I was put through great stress and learned to manage my time to the best of my ability. As the platoon sergeant, I had to constantly check on my platoon to make sure everyone was where they needed to be and that everyone was in good condition. With my weakness of being a soft spoken I knew I would have to improve myself to become the leader I needed to be as a platoon sergeant. Being in this position allowed me to see what being a leader was like. I not only had to watch for cadets who were having trouble in school but were also having trouble in their personal lives. Having this type of position taught me for the first time what it was really like to be an officer in the army. By being other people’s superior, they look up to you for guidance and as a role model. When I received the position of the Cadet S1, things changed in the role of a leader. I realized that looking after the entire battalion would be different and harder to keep account of all Cadets. After the first few days, I realized that in a higher position, the leadership styles would have to change a little. Since I was no longer able to work on a one on one basis with all my subordinates I had to really on my strengths in working as a team with the other leadership to get the job done.
In addition to my current beliefs, what helps foster a good working environment is recognition of success, discussions of sub-par performance, and resolving issues.
People want to be recognized when they work hard and are performing their job well. I will make sure I recognize individuals both publicly and privately in order to increase initiative and motivation and, if needed, redirect efforts when a subordinate is off task. If a subordinate has shown that they are unable to succeed at a certain task, I would pull that individual aside, or meet with them privately to discuss any observed problems and assist them in developing a plan to overcome them. This shows my subordinates that I, as the leader, and the organization, are concerned about them. They, in turn, will likely work harder and be more successful knowing that their leadership values their
success.
Lastly, I believe in the philosophy of leaving “No One Behind”. We are a family in the Army and we take care of each other. Knowing that the soldier next to you is going to have your back is one of the strongest feelings soldiers have in the army. The feeling that no matter what situation you are in you’ll always has someone to rely on allows soldiers to do their job with bravery. With this bravery, soldiers would be able to do things that seem impossible. Some of my most valued and trusted friends are soldiers in the Army and I will always have their back.
Each of us has some personal weaknesses. One of my weaknesses, especially during my years in college, is lack of confidence in my abilities and myself. I tend to speak softly in front of a group of people, giving the impression that I am weak. Since starting my career in the Army as an officer, I have been working on increasing my self-confidence level and learning to project my voice while public speaking. Learning various leadership styles and gaining more hands on experiences is giving me more self-assurance in my abilities. With these experiences I am able to become a better leader by shaping myself to my strengths.
During my time in Army ROTC and after college graduation I have been looking at my strengths, abilities and weaknesses. I am learning to resolve my problems and adapt to situations. I am also learning that I am a team player and I work well with others. By learning and gaining these leadership philosophies and skills, I can see where I stand as a leader and where I need to improve myself. Listening to constructive feedback and criticism from my fellow soldiers provides me with information to improve myself as a future leader.
Leadership Philosophy
Leadership is about being a role model and having a positive impact on people through working and living by example. Leadership is about consciously changing and challenging yourself for a purpose you believe in. For example, when I started my college education, I didn’t know what leadership meant. During my years in college I began to understand and learned that leaders are not born, they are developed.
My leadership philosophy is rooted through my experiences as a student in college, summer jobs as a camp counselor and through my assigned responsibilities as an ROTC Cadet. As a leader, I believe in being accessible and mentoring subordinates. I am open to criticism and prepared to improve …show more content…
myself. I recognize that the success achieved by my subordinates is the result of overcoming their challenges through planning and hard work. If my subordinates are thriving, then I am successful. Having periodic meetings to evaluate and identify successful and unsuccessful initiatives and systems will provide me with the appropriate information to make the necessary decisions and changes in the Section and organization. Periodic meetings provide a voice for subordinates and makes everyone participate in the decision-making. This can make the Section and organization more competitive and provides a more productive work environment.
I believe in leading by example as my core belief.
I will never ask someone to do something that I am not prepared to do myself. I will demonstrate this to the subordinate through my actions as opposed to just with my words. I expect the same from all leaders under my supervision. With leading by example, soldiers would not only show respect to the leader but also give their loyalty as well. If a leader was incompetent and was not able to show their soldiers that they can live up to the tasks they give, they would be shunned and looked down upon. Without respect from your fellow soldiers, you would not be able to be an effective leader. This is why leading by example is at the core of my beliefs in leadership …show more content…
philosophy.
My first experience in a leadership position was during my time as a camp counselor in the summer. The job I was tasked with was to lead a group of about 15 to 20 kids and teach them how to play baseball. When working I saw that working with kids was going to be a much more difficult task. For kids being seen as the role model is especially important. From this I learned how important it is to lead by example and that when you act like a leader, people will follow you. Apart from teaching the kids how to play baseball, I also had to constantly watch and talk to the kids to make sure they were not being bullied and were enjoying their time at the camp. When I did find out that kids were picking on others, it was up to me to find the problem and resolve the issue. Because of the bullying, this child no longer wanted to participate in the activities and was scared most of the time. I learned that counseling and watching over your subordinates is very important. If my soldiers were depressed or sacred, they would not be able to be and effective soldier and the team would suffer as a whole.
When I started the Army ROTC program in college, very few of the officers and trainers had an “open door” policy. As a result, I was nervous about going to my cadre or ROTC leaders for help. I did find one particular cadre member who was unreserved and very supportive. He routinely checked on me to see how I was doing, and discussed how important it is to know your subordinates and to show them that you care. His concern and candor taught me how crucial it is to have open and two-way communication. It also showed that when a leader shows that they care for you, you are more willing to give your loyalty to them in return.
I also believe in providing a clear vision of what needs to be achieved with guidance on how it should be implemented. I believe in fostering an environment where questions and creativity are encouraged. Subordinates should be able to approach me with their concerns without fearing any repercussions. I believe in taking the time to assist subordinates in solving their issues and providing an appropriate level of coaching and mentorship until the individual can get on the right path. Ongoing interaction and communication with my fellow soldiers will ensure this becomes routine.
As time went on during my time as an ROTC Cadet, I gained leadership positions as a platoon sergeant, squad leader, and the Cadet S1. During my time in these positions I was put through great stress and learned to manage my time to the best of my ability. As the platoon sergeant, I had to constantly check on my platoon to make sure everyone was where they needed to be and that everyone was in good condition. With my weakness of being a soft spoken I knew I would have to improve myself to become the leader I needed to be as a platoon sergeant. Being in this position allowed me to see what being a leader was like. I not only had to watch for cadets who were having trouble in school but were also having trouble in their personal lives. Having this type of position taught me for the first time what it was really like to be an officer in the army. By being other people’s superior, they look up to you for guidance and as a role model. When I received the position of the Cadet S1, things changed in the role of a leader. I realized that looking after the entire battalion would be different and harder to keep account of all Cadets. After the first few days, I realized that in a higher position, the leadership styles would have to change a little. Since I was no longer able to work on a one on one basis with all my subordinates I had to really on my strengths in working as a team with the other leadership to get the job done.
In addition to my current beliefs, what helps foster a good working environment is recognition of success, discussions of sub-par performance, and resolving issues.
People want to be recognized when they work hard and are performing their job well. I will make sure I recognize individuals both publicly and privately in order to increase initiative and motivation and, if needed, redirect efforts when a subordinate is off task. If a subordinate has shown that they are unable to succeed at a certain task, I would pull that individual aside, or meet with them privately to discuss any observed problems and assist them in developing a plan to overcome them. This shows my subordinates that I, as the leader, and the organization, are concerned about them. They, in turn, will likely work harder and be more successful knowing that their leadership values their
success.
Lastly, I believe in the philosophy of leaving “No One Behind”. We are a family in the Army and we take care of each other. Knowing that the soldier next to you is going to have your back is one of the strongest feelings soldiers have in the army. The feeling that no matter what situation you are in you’ll always has someone to rely on allows soldiers to do their job with bravery. With this bravery, soldiers would be able to do things that seem impossible. Some of my most valued and trusted friends are soldiers in the Army and I will always have their back.
Each of us has some personal weaknesses. One of my weaknesses, especially during my years in college, is lack of confidence in my abilities and myself. I tend to speak softly in front of a group of people, giving the impression that I am weak. Since starting my career in the Army as an officer, I have been working on increasing my self-confidence level and learning to project my voice while public speaking. Learning various leadership styles and gaining more hands on experiences is giving me more self-assurance in my abilities. With these experiences I am able to become a better leader by shaping myself to my strengths.
During my time in Army ROTC and after college graduation I have been looking at my strengths, abilities and weaknesses. I am learning to resolve my problems and adapt to situations. I am also learning that I am a team player and I work well with others. By learning and gaining these leadership philosophies and skills, I can see where I stand as a leader and where I need to improve myself. Listening to constructive feedback and criticism from my fellow soldiers provides me with information to improve myself as a future leader.