My Personal Leadership Philosophy

Introduction

My personal leadership philosophy (PLP) is reflective of how I perceive my own leadership style and how I view strong leaders. Leadership is about creating an environment where people feel included, supported, and heard. I believe every team member has something meaningful to contribute, and true leaders bring together diverse perspectives to solve problems.

Leadership Approach

My leadership approach is community-focused. I view leadership as a collective effort rather than seeking individual accolades or success. As shared by O'Neill and Brinkerhoff (2018), "when collective leadership is happening, people are internally and externally motivated—working together toward a shared vision within a group and using their unique talents and skills to contribute to the success." My leadership style emphasizes inclusion, collaboration, and contribution. Though a leader helps to guide others towards goals or help them navigate change, they are also listening to those around them and allowing for multiple perspectives to be heard.

I find that my values of collaboration, empathy, creativity, and openness are non-negotiable. In order to move a project forward or to fully navigate through change, a leader needs to have collective buy-in and a sense of harmony among members. Empathy helps me understand others’ needs and goals. Using creativity, I and others can develop innovative solutions and adapt to change; solutions that worked before may not work in the future, and it's important to be open to changing course as needed. This openness builds trust and transparency. Providing team members with multiple ways to communicate allows them the flexibility to share in ways that feel most authentic and comfortable to them. As Patel shared (2023), "as a leader, you ​must​​​ understand that each team member's perspective of effective communication differs and might need the right channel to express themselves adequately." All of these values contribute to leading through community.

Leading through Coaching and Feedback

My leadership approach also incorporates elements of coaching. I support team member's self-exploration through asking reflective questions related to their interests, challenges, and professional goals. Rather than imposing my own solutions, I listen actively and give space for others to explore ideas. As shared by the Center for Creative Leadership (2025), "There are times to direct or give answers, but coaching conversations are about the other person’s learning — not about your opinion or expertise." I look to challenge my own assumptions but also ask that the team member also evaluate their assumptions and bias, and work together to identify growth opportunities. I am also a big proponent of ongoing feedback that becomes embedded in the every day operations an organization. "Soliciting clear, actionable feedback allows you to make better, more informed decisions and pivot when necessary" (Scott, Fosselien, and West Duffy, 2023). Feedback allows me to lead from a place of collaboration, transparency, and inclusivity.

Leaders I Admire

After nearly two decades in higher education, I admire leaders who are innovative and considerate of how change affects others. Strong leaders strike a balance between seasoned team members, which brings broad knowledge, with newer perspectives that offer new energy and creativity. Additionally, I admire leaders that invite individual perspective, challenges assumptions, and asking open-ended questions rather than taking it as a personal attack.

My Values

I believe that trust and harmony are essential pieces of my leadership style that is community-driven. Kind, empathetic, and self-aware leaders create environments where others feel safe to share ideas. "When employees trust their leaders, they are likelier to be engaged, motivated, and committed to their work" (Hacking HR Team, 2024). This openness increases the likelihood that others will contribute, learn, and even make mistakes. Leadership is truly about facilitating a growth mindset and developing connections with others. I consider how they engage with others in their role and their efforts to try new things, look for opportunities to develop, and their level of curiosity. I value commitment to shared goals over pure productivity.

Thus, my leadership philosophy is focused on community, inclusivity, growth, and trust. I aspire to lead with empathy and a collaborative-spirit, creating space for different perspectives to be heard and strengths to be recognized. Leadership, to me, comes from guiding, listening, supporting, and always learning together and from each other. Through this, I believe leaders build trust and create shared goals.

References

Center for Creative Leadership. (2025, March 19). How to have a coaching conversation(this link opens in a new window/tab). Center for Creative Leadership.

Hacking HR Team (2024, May 30). Empathy in action: A leadership toolkit for the modern workplace(this link opens in a new window/tab). hacking HR. https://hackinghrlab.io/blogs/empathy-leadership/.

O'Neil, C. & Brinkerhoff, M. (2018, February 1). Five elements of collective leadership(this link opens in a new window/tab). NPQ.

Patel, L. (2023, September 5). The power of effective communication in leadership. Forbes Council. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2023/09/05

/the-power-of-effective-communication-in-leadership/

Scott, K., Fosslein, L., & West Duffy, M. (2023, March 10). How leaders can get the feedback they need to grow(this link opens in a new window/tab). Harvard Business Review.