Having Clarity on Your Leadership Philosophy, Style and Behavior
A leadership philosophy is a set of core beliefs and principles about leadership that strongly influences how you interpret reality and guides how you react to people, events and situations. Research has shown that consistent leadership behavior and actions require a clear personal leadership philosophy.
A written leadership philosophy helps leaders demonstrate and communicate to team members and others what they expect, what they value and how they will act in any given situation. This helps to make their workplace environment less stressful and more productive, as well as keeping them on track and aligned with their core beliefs and values.
Having a written personal leadership philosophy is one of the distinctions between great leaders and average leaders.
Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic in Japan, is known in that country as the “god of management” for his writings and speeches on leadership and management. He wrote, “If you are a leader, you must have an ideology of leadership. If you lack an ideology, and attempt to decide everything on a case-by-case basis, you will never be capable of strong leadership.”
When a leader is consistent, they are able to inspire trust; whereas an inconsistent leader causes confusion, anxiety, angst, and uncertainty within their troops.
As you can tell, it is extremely important that leaders gain clarity about their own leadership philosophy, style and behavior.
This article is excerpted from Steven Howard’s new book 8 Keys To Becoming A Great Leader (With Leadership Lessons and Tips from Gibbs, Yoda and Capt’n Jack Sparrow), which will be published in mid August. You now can order an advance copy of the Kindle version.
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