LeadershiP Philosophy
Leadership: Listen, Learn, Reflect, Grow, Repeat!
Authenticity
Authenticity is the basis of establishing trusting relationships. I believe creating a shared vision requires authentic leadership through understanding the self to be able to provide heart towards others (Northouse, 2019). Ultimately people follow others because they trust the leader’s personal integrity towards a stated vision (Kouzes & Posner, 2017). Knowledge of the self allows for vulnerability, and vulnerability can create a trusting space which empowers a whole team to be authentic and develop shared vision for the future. I am a leader who strives for authenticity.
Growth
A growth mindset redirects away from perfectionism into learning and creating better solutions from continual practice and feedback (Dweck, 2014). Only by understanding ourselves can we recognize the concepts that resonate within us and realize our biases and current mindsets (Palmer, 2017). This recognition provides us with the opportunity to develop areas of growth and become open to new ideas and ways of thinking. The intentional practice of listening with the heart and appreciative inquiry allows for the examination of my initial assumptions. This provides a greater depth of understanding. Using a growth mindset empowers me to make more informed critical decisions.
Community
The term ‘living in community’ represents the connectedness of the world and requires an understanding of followership, dialogical connection, fostering human development by seeing the contributions of all humans, and supporting a both/and mindset. I have a long-standing belief that you cannot change what others think, say, or do, you can only change what you think, say, or do. Although I cannot change minds, as a leader I can invite people into new ways of thinking through my own openness, understanding, and tolerance (Wood, 1997). Living in a community helps us to understand others’ values through stories and connect back to the humanity within each of us.
Transcendence
Ultimately, I believe our time on earth is dedicated to learning, as Senge (1990) writes, “real learning gets to the heart of what it means to be human. Through learning we recreate ourselves...Through learning we extend our capacity to create, to be part of the generative process of life” (p. 14). A leadership practice should constantly prompt learning and invite transcendence; the art of pausing and stepping outside of oneself and being able to reflect and see the connectedness of the world through openness towards growth and change (Carey, 1999).
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Although my leadership journey has started, learning is forever. I intend to continue my practice in leadership artistry through continued skill development leading to expertise and personalization and creatively enhancing my leadership practice.
Authenticity
“Authority is granted to people who are perceived as authoring their own words, their own actions, their own lives, rather than playing a scripted role at great remove from their own hearts.”
(Palmer, 2017, p. 34)